A mural created by retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Raine Clotfelter was unveiled at the Fires Fitness Center ribbon cutting at Fort Sill, March 31, 2016. the mural includes images representing Geronimo, Civil War, the first and second World Wars...

FORT SILL, Okla. (April 7, 2016) --It was standing room only at the Fires Fitness Center ribbon-cutting ceremony March 31.

"The goal of the fitness center is the same as other fitness centers -- making sure we're ensuring all of our service members, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, whoever is here, have the opportunity to stay fit physically and mentally," said Shane Dunlevy, Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation community recreation officer. "We want to help them be prepared to do what they may be called upon to do."

Attendees wrapped the walls and ascended the stairs for the event which included the unveiling of a mural by a retired Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Raine Clotfelter.

"We have Geronimo in there, we have the Civil War, the first World War, the second World War, Vietnam, Korea and Iraq," said Clotfelter, who was an illustrator draftsman in the Navy. "Of course you can't put them all in there, you only have so much room. We only had 26 feet to paint."

Following the ceremony, the fitness center was open for tours of the new 90,000-square-foot facility. It includes an indoor track (approximately 175 meters or nine laps a mile), three basketball courts, exercise rooms, free and machine weights, two racquetball courts, two saunas and three cardio areas in addition to a designated Spin room.

The highlight of the fitness center is seen on the left and right sides of the entrance of the building: a rock wall and a child care facility.

"There are two big differences about this facility than the other three facilities," said Dunlevy. "We have a kids-on-site staff that will offer hourly care for moms or dads who bring their kids here and want to get a workout, and they can leave their kids and know they are well taken care of.

"The other major change is we have a rock climbing wall in the facility. We're pretty pumped about that. Our staff is certified so folks who come in to use the climbing wall, they touch base with the staff, go through a short training session, learn how to use the harnesses and all the safety gear, they'll get a card saying they've gone through the training and then they're ready to go."

The fitness center, which began construction in 2012, came with a price tag of $22 million. Guest speaker Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, said despite austere financial times, the Army will not cut funding for its fitness centers.

"There is an expectation that in the U.S. Army you are physically fit," said Rossi, "and this is a great facility to make sure that happens."

Dunlevy said the fitness center also has plans to develop a concessions area as well to meet the needs of service members and their families who may want an energy boost before or after workouts.

"We are contracting that out so we can get some folks in here doing protein shakes and other healthy vending," he said.