Dover AFB Fitness Center

Airmen and civilians walk into the Fitness Center Aug. 13, 2015, on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The Fitness Center made changes to its visitor access policy allowing military members to sign in multiple visitors for an unlimited amount of times. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover AFB Fitness Center

Senior Airman Steven Gray, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, uses conditioning ropes during the “48 Minutes of Hell” exercise program Aug. 13, 2015, at the Fitness Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Changes to the Fitness Center visitor access policy now allows military members to sign in visitors as many times as they want and visitors can participate in all of the fitness programs offered at Dover AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover AFB Fitness Center

Staff Sgt. Ryan Thompson, 3d Airlift Squadron loadmaster, right, and Airman 1st Class Eric O’Connor, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, use ab rollers during a “48 Minutes of Hell” workout Aug. 13, 2015, at the Fitness Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The “48 Minutes of Hell” program is available to all visitors who utilize the Dover AFB Fitness Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover AFB Fitness Center

Team Dover Airmen and civilian visitors participate in the “48 Minutes of Hell” fitness program Aug. 13, 2015, at the Fitness Center on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Civilian visitors signed in by military personnel are eligible to participate in the more than 30 fitness programs offered by the Fitness Center. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Dover AFB Fitness Center

Team Dover Airmen and civilian visitors workout at the Fitness Center Aug. 13, 2015, on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The Fitness Center and fitness programs offered by the facility are now able to be utilized unlimitedly by civilian visitors who are signed in by military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Johnson)

Fitness Center opens its doors to the community

Published Aug. 17, 2015
By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The Fitness Center on Dover AFB is continuing to strive to ensure Airmen have the greatest opportunity available to utilize the facility and be fit to fight.

On August 1, 2015, the Fitness Center made changes to its visitor policy to expand opportunities for civilians to use the facility with their military counterparts.

"Previously the Fitness Center guest access policy allowed a military member to bring one guest at a time and that one guest could only come four times a month," said Capt. Joseph Andersen, 436th Force Support Squadron Sustainment Services Flight commander. "To give greater access to customers and greater flexibility to the Airmen, we now allow them to bring in multiple guests at a time and there are no restrictions to how many times those guests can come each month."

The changes to the visitor policy were in direct response to customer feedback. Andersen said by reviewing comment cards, the Fitness Center is able to better meet their customers' needs.

"The Fitness Center hands out 100 comment cards per month," said Andersen. "We take those comment cards seriously and one of the things that kept coming up was greater guest access. So we went back and looked at the policy and expanded it to give Airmen greater freedom for their workouts."

Visitors to the Fitness Center are able to use the entire facility and are eligible to participate in the various workout programs such as "90+" and "48 Minutes of Hell," all at no cost to them. The only limitations to the policy are visitors are not given 24-hour access and they may only use the facility during staffed hours.

The expanded policy also serves as an opportunity for Dover AFB to showcase its fitness facility to the outside public. Tech. Sgt. Jeff Bellon, 436th FSS Fitness Center Non Commissioned Officer in Charge, said the Fitness Center can serve everyone, regardless of fitness level.

"I love to show off our facility," said Bellon. "I don't believe any downtown facility has the variety of equipment that we have here or that they are able to reach all the different kinds of fitness demographics that we can through our more than 30 workout programs."

Visitors are welcoming the new changes and Benjamin Mattocks, who is training to enlist in the U.S. Army, said the new policy keeps him in the gym and is helping him meet his fitness goals.

"These new changes help me keep a routine and not have to use other facilities," said Mattocks. "It's motivating to use the base's gym and I prefer it over downtown gyms."

The changes in policy are another step the Fitness Center has made to answer the challenge from Col. Michael Grismer's, 436th Airlift Wing commander, for Team Dover to reach 100 percent passing fitness assessment scores for all Airmen.

"We are seeing more people coming in now and working out with their friends," said Andersen. "And if that translates to more PT pass scores, then that's great and only makes us better."