CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Junior enlisted Airmen currently living in the dormitories will soon have a new Airmen's Center within their dorms due to the dedicated support of Air Mobility Command and wing leadership to improve quality of life here.
Air Mobility Command commander Gen. Arthur Lichte and Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander, each funded close to $40,000 to assist in the construction and renovation costs for the new Airmen's Center.
"The Airmen's Center will provide our junior enlisted Airmen the ability to leave their dormitory room and mingle in leisure with fellow Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer, 437 AW command chief master sergeant. "It offers a relaxing environment where Airmen can unwind from the demands of the military mission, play video games, watch movies, surf the Internet or do college homework."
Chief Belcer said the Airmen's Center will be located in four separate dorms and will allow Airmen to use any of them regardless of which dorm the individual lives in. The first two rooms, the Internet café and game room, are scheduled to open in late October.
The Internet café will be in Building 466. The room will be equipped with computer desks and computers, a cappuccino machine, TV, sofas and recliners and will be dually used as a ministry center as well. Base chapel members and volunteers will operate the café.
"This is another opportunity to reach and support Airmen in this case where they live," said Chaplain (Capt.) Frank Harris, 437 AW. "This will be a place for our Airmen who have returned from a deployment due to the high operations tempo in the Air Force to focus and re-gather energy they need."
Chaplain Harris said this type of ministry to Airmen is part of the overall vision of Air Force chaplaincy to have a greater influence and impact on Airmen lives.
The game room will be in Building 464 where it will have large TVs to play X-Box and Nintendo Wii systems, and other electronic games.
The billiard and game room will be in Building 460 and will have pool and ping pong tables and other games as well.
The final room will be a high-tech theater room in Building 473. The room will have a large screen TV and DVD player to watch movies.
"Improving the quality of life of Airmen living in the dormitories has and always will be a priority for the Air Force and this base," said Chief Belcer. "The areas are designed in a more convenient place for Airmen to relax after a long day of work that is safe for all to enjoy."
In order to have the Airmen's Center be a place people are able to use, the command chief said it will take the dedication and hard work of the volunteers who consistently man the center.
"Currently we have 15 volunteers who are very diligent about their duties and have established rules for the Airmen's Center," said Chief Belcer. "They are very excited and motivated looking forward to having the updated center open for their fellow Airmen."
For Airman 1st Class Samuel Schlatter, an Airmen's Center volunteer for the past year and member of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, having a new Airmen's Center is a good idea especially since it will be within the dorms.
"I am hoping that the number of Airmen using the center will increase quite a bit knowing that the facility will be more convenient and have new games and equipment for all of us to use," he said.
The new non-consolidated Airmen's Center will replace the current center that is in the former golf course club house.