ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – A place for Soldiers and Civilians to “recharge” themselves during the day was dedicated at U.S. Army Sustainment Command headquarters here Oct. 18.
The “recharge room” is actually comprised of two rooms: one to relax in, and one to exercise in. The relax room has massage and lounge chairs for employees to sit in. The exercise room has two treadmills, an elliptical machine, and a set of weights and weight bench.
The idea for the rooms was born in 2017. However, the process of selecting the area, identifying the equipment, and purchasing it, in addition to some unforeseen delays, pushed the grand opening of the room until now.
“The lengthy process once the contract was signed was the manufacturing and distribution issues that occurred during the pandemic,” said Linda Ottman, ASC human resources program specialist. Ottman, who headed up the project, said they had to wait for well over a year to finally get the equipment delivered.
She said the area is intended to improve both the mental and physical health of ASC’s workforce.
“It’s intended to be a break from your computer,” said Ottman. “We have a sedentary workforce, and we really want people to get up and move.”
Ottman said the recharge area is a dedicated space in the ASC headquarters building where Soldiers and Civilians can relax or exercise for 10 to 15 minutes, and then go back to their job.
Ottman said having a relaxation area and an exercise room addresses the different ways people refresh themselves.
The recharge area has been in use for a few months before the official dedication, Ottman said.
“Approximately 70 to 75 different people come into this room a month, and 150 visits is what we’re averaging currently,” Ottman said, adding she hopes that now the word is out, more people will take advantage of it.
During the dedication, Col. Scott Kindberg, ASC chief of staff, said that the idea for the area is for people to get away from the stress of their jobs.
After leaving the area employees are more focused and more recharged, Kindberg said during his dedication remarks. Kindberg added that he has used the exercise room to work out occasional stress.
The recharge room, and a variety of other programs available to ASC personnel, are in keeping with ASC’s “All Things People” campaign and align with the command’s Line of Effort 4: Develop, Empower and Protect a Professional Workforce.
It also supports the U.S. Army motto, “Mission First, People Always.”
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