Hurlburt Airmen can dine ‘n’ dash

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
  • Air Force Print News
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Airmen here can literally dine and dash -- to the gym, that is -- after the opening of a combined dining facility and fitness center.

“Customers love it because it just makes sense,” said Nate Harris, Riptide fitness center manager here. “They like to work out upstairs, then go downstairs to eat.”

The facility is a first for this Air Force special operations base. It was combined not by design, but necessity.

It was a logical decision because the facility is located next to a dorm for enlisted Airmen. It will remain a temporary solution until fiscal 2010 when a “mega fitness center” is planned to combine two base fitness centers into one. Then, the Riptide will be changed into something else, like maybe a community center, Mr. Harris said.

In the meantime, customers like Tech. Sgt. Donelly Borough, of the 16th Special Operations Squadron, are enjoying the unusual combination.

“It like it because it’s good for the people who live in this area,” he said. “I would have liked to have had this when I was living in the dorms.”

The $10 million building officially opened in August, but it was not just the two-in-one concept that was original. The dining hall is trying to mimic off-base restaurants.

“We place our pastries in a display case and cut our cakes and pies to order,” said Tech. Sgt. Michelle Scott, dining facility manger. “However, some customers don’t like it because it’s different. They don’t like change.”

Other dining initiatives include a deli section with meat displayed and cut to order, plus espresso, ice coffee and banana splits and sundaes made to order.

Besides having the latest exercise equipment, the Riptide fitness center has a bar that serves smoothies, juice and water. Mr. Harris said center employees will soon offer sandwiches and soups for officers and civilians who are not allowed to eat downstairs.

The fitness center offers the newest technology-driven exercise equipment. It is like a computerized personal trainer.

After customers enter a four-digit code, a wireless computer device placed on select pieces of exercise equipment monitor weight lifted, repetitions or duration, then sends that information to the computer kiosk. Every 12 days, the computer gives customers a strength test so they can follow their progress. Customers can then adjust their training as needed.