FORT LEE, Va. (June 3, 2010) -- In keeping with the Army's Warrior Adventure Quest Program, Fort Lee's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate has just opened an approximately 37,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art paintball facility that features an urban speed course, inflatable objects and wooden berms.
The facility, which can accommodate 30 people at a time, was designed with the idea of Soldiers using it for team building, according to Matthew Haug, FMWR recreation specialist and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers advisor. Haug said the facility will be used for units coming back from deployments.
"WAQ is a 'reset' training tool designed to introduce Soldiers to activities that serve as alternatives to aberrant behaviors often associated with accidents involving recently redeployed service members," said John O'Sullivan, Outdoor Recreation program manager at the Army's FMWR Command. He said activities like paintball present coping outlets to help Soldiers realize their own new levels of normal and "move on," or reset, after deployments.
The Army Warrior Adventure Quest Program was developed in 2008 following an address from then Under Secretary of Defense, the Honorable David S.C. Chu, before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee.
Chu spoke about Soldiers redeploying from combat operations engaging in risky, adrenaline-seeking activities that may contribute to destructive behaviors and suggested development of recreation activities at installations as healthy alternatives.
Army installations all over the world have initiated adrenaline-boosting activities such as whitewater rafting, mountain trail bike riding, rock-wall climbing, and sky-diving. Fort Lewis, Wash., has already initiated decompression outlets such as bungee jumping.
The new paintball facility here is the first of such high-octane adventures for Soldiers.
The facility is available for the public to rent Monday - Saturday by appointment only. Participants can have groups of six to 30 people at a time, ages 11 and older.
For more information, call (804) 765-2212.
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