Comprehensive Airman Fitness: Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Airman Activities Center gives Airmen 'a place of their own'

Published Feb. 28, 2011
By Mr. Tyler Hemstreet

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Like a proud father, Staff Sgt. Nahkoma Doyle, 627th Civil Engineer Squadron dorm manager, sat at a table inside the newly completed Airman Activities Center here and gushed about the work a group of Airmen put in to get the project completed.

"This whole thing was their idea," said Sergeant Doyle. "It was a challenge for them, but they answered the call."

The center, which opened Feb. 11, provides an alcohol-free place for Airmen to relax and play video games, watch movies and surf the Web on their laptop. It features six leather recliners, six 42-inch flat screen televisions, six video game consoles and a theater room with surround sound and a 52-inch television.

The product of a brainstorming session focused on ideas of how to take care of Airmen living in the dorms, the center's formation took collaboration of several groups at different levels. After the idea for the center was generated, a group of Airmen -- with the help of Doyle -- chose what items would best suit the needs of unaccompanied Airmen living on base.

"The best thing was to see the original vision for the center, and see the group work to keep that vision even though they faced some hurdles," said Sergeant Doyle.

Once a more concrete plan was formulated, Sergeant Doyle took the proposal to leadership and was awarded $20,000 to remake the center.

"(Chief Master Sgt. Greg Warren, 62nd Airlift Wing command chief) fought for the money to do this," said Sergeant Doyle.

While Sergeant Doyle was in charge of purchasing everything, the Airmen were in charge of finding the items they wanted and budgeting everything -- all while still working their Air Force jobs and studying.

"This was a huge undertaking for them," said Sergeant Doyle. "Some of them are still very new to the Air Force and it's their first time living away from home."

The building was previously a "Cyber Café" which housed several computers where Airmen could check their e-mail or play games on. But the computers constantly needed to be serviced, said Sergeant Doyle. Now, the center is an entertainment oasis where Airmen can get out of their room, unwind from long day and get to know other Airmen in different units in their same situation.

"This is something that we can call our own," said Airman 1st Class Richard Lockhart, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We don't often get to meet other Airmen from different units and share stories. We can come here, relax and be ourselves."

The center also features a cappuccino machine, which United Service Organization volunteers will oversee and make drinks for Airmen during certain hours of the day.

"It makes me feel comfortable that the Air Force is thinking about first term Airmen like us and our needs," said Airman 1st Class Staci Ducusin, 627th CES.

"(The center) is a lot better than it was before," added Airman 1st Class Alicia Johnston, 62nd Operations Group.