JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The new Community Airmen's Center is scheduled to open at 1442 Concord Ave. (next to The Sports Page) at 4 p.m. Feb. 5 after the fourth quarter Joint Team Andrews awards ceremony.
It is a project that has been in the works since the merger of the 316th Mission Support Squadron and 316th Services Squadron in August 2008.
The center is the brain child of Master Sgt. (ret.) Jim Campbell, 316th Force Support Squadron chief of community services flight, and Col. Steven Shepro, 316th Wing/Joint Base Andrews commander.
"It was like the perfect marriage," said Mr. Campbell. "[The previous 316 FSS commander] and I brought up the idea to Colonel Shepro and he said that was exactly what he was looking for; something just for the Airmen."
Airman 1st Class Christopher Bunn, 89th Communications Squadron radio operator and head activities planner for the CAC, said he first heard the idea at a town hall meeting for the dormitory residents. It was proposed by Colonel Shepro and Chief [Master Sgt. James] Davis [316 WG/Joint Base Andrews command chief]."
The center will be open to Airmen E-4 and below. "This is for the Airmen; we didn't have anything," Airman Bunn said.
The new Airmen's Center is going to be a place on base where Airmen can go after work to relax and socialize. "They can come here on their time off and enjoy things that they like to do, such as sports games, pool tournaments, Xbox games and Wii," said 2nd Lt. Pauline Cooper, 316 FSS community services flight deputy commander.
The Airmen's Center will offer a variety of activities. "We're going to have special events here such as Pay-Per-View, UFC, boxing, pool, movie nights and a DJ on Friday and Saturday night," Airman Bunn said.
The center will also have game consoles for Airmen to use. "There are two Xbox 360 consoles, two PlayStation consoles, two Wii consoles and a variety of games to go with them," said Mr. Campbell.
The Sports Page also offers Karaoke every Friday night. They will be able to purchase food and drinks from their as well.
The goal of the center is to, "revitalize what the old recreation center used to be when I was in the military; a place for the Airmen to come to and provide them with entertainment," Mr. Campbell said.
Growth is also in the works for the center. There are hopes to build a barbeque outside on the patio along with an awning, more activities such as mini bowling lanes and pool tables. "[We are] trying to eventually expand upstairs," said Airman Bunn.
The new Airmen's Center will also be looking for volunteers to help manage the facility. "We're trying to start a volunteer course to help develop rules," but the main goal is to, "let them govern themselves," Mr. Campbell said about the Airmen who will be using the center.
Mr. Campbell, Lieutenant Cooper and their 316 FSS team have worked hard to make the new Community Airmen's Center the success they are hoping for, however, they did not do it alone.
"[The 316th Civil Engineer Squadron] was instrumental in coming in and installing the electrical boxes so that we didn't have wires dangling all over the place, and they also repaired a lot of the ceiling tiles," said Mr. Campbell. The 316th Contracting Squadron also played a big part in appropriating the funds, said Mr. Campbell. Like the comptroller cheer goes, "You got it, we bought it."
What the future holds for the new Airmen's Center is up to the Airmen who use it. "We're open to suggestions," Mr. Campbell said, referring to any new ideas and activities the Airmen would like to have.