Fitness Center program garners Five-Star status

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  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 62nd Force Support Squadron recently earned Five-Star status for the fourth time in the last five years for its fitness programs here.

The award, which is given by the Air Force Services Agency, provides annual recognition and acknowledgement for bases that have reached the highest standard of achievement in all aspects of program management. The program recognizes excellence in the five areas of operations, programs, training, facilities and customer service.

"Given that the award requirements change from year to year and typically become harder to achieve, it is no small feat to attain this award for three straight years," said Lt. Col. Christopher Lavallee, 62nd FSS commander.

Recent renovations to the locker rooms, which provided more showers and higher-quality lockers, as well as the refinished gymnasium floor played an important role in the center maintaining its Five-Star status, said Bill Johnson, 62nd FSS fitness center director.

"We've got incredible support from leadership in that they recognize that an Airman's ability to stay fit is an integral part in fighting the Global War on Terror," Mr. Johnson said.

Support from leadership also makes it possible for fitness center officials to maintain the current fitness equipment and replace older pieces, he said.

The fitness center staff has also used some innovative thinking to get the best possible use out of its facilities and keep it operating at the five-star status, Mr. Johnson said.

Ideas such as the Family Fitness Rooms are things that keep Airmen coming back to the facility and utilizing what it has to offer, he said.

"(The award) goes to show the great level of effort that the entire fitness center team display day in and day out," Colonel Lavallee said.

Past improvements have included converting some of the extra racquetball courts into rooms that give Airmen more opportunities to use strength equipment machines, while still providing the Air Force-required minimum of four courts. The center also poured extra effort into added amenities such as an artificial-grass athletic field and an in-line hockey rink, he said.

In 1998, AFSA realized the need for a formal fitness recognition program. As a result of combined efforts from base, major command and agency personnel, the Five Star Fitness Center Recognition Program was established in 2002.

Following the initial success of the program with fitness, libraries established their Five Star recognition program in 2003, followed by outdoor recreation, aero clubs and bowling in 2004, and golf in 2005.

Other Air Mobility Command bases awarded Five Star Fitness Center status for 2008 were Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.; Dover AFB, Del.; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Little Rock AFB, Ark.; MacDill AFB, Fla.; McGuire AFB, N.J.; and Travis AFB, Calif.

(Information from an Air Force News article was used in this article.)