Fitness is foremost at Fort Sam Houston.
To stay on track, the 502nd Mission Support Group inaugurated the newest addition to the post’s athletic facilities, the Fort Sam Houston Fitness Center at the Medical Education and Training Campus, June 20.
Members of the San Antonio Silver Stars WNBA basketball team and the U.S. Army Medical Command Band joined 502nd Mission Support Group commander Col. Mary Garr and a number of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen to celebrate the opening of the state-of-the-art gymnasium.
“When you finish your training here, we need to make sure you are well-rounded and trained mentally, spiritually and physically,” Garr said. “We want to make sure you are prepared to face combat and other adverse situations.”
The gym is located at 3569 Williams Way, Building 1369. It features 150 pieces of the newest in fitness equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, stair climbers, stationary bikes and four lines of weights.
The cardio equipment, with cable television, and a gymnasium with three full-size basketball courts each, have their own areas on the first level with a view to an elevated running track on the second level.
“If you don’t like running in 104 degree heat outside, you will really enjoy this indoor running track,” Garr said.
An exercise room with 20 spinning bikes and an extra room for aerobics or other classes rounds out the bottom floor. The exercise room also has a projection screen and DVDs, giving spinners virtual roads to travel on their journey to stay in shape.
Silver Stars forward Danielle Adams shot some hoops with service members on the new courts.
“It’s amazing to be here, surrounded by these people who serve our country,” said Adams, a member of the 2011 national champion Texas A&M;women’s basketball team who was drafted by San Antonio. “This is a great gym for them.”
Other service members gave the weights their first work out.
“This is very much appreciated,” said Pfc. Greg Bauer, with Company B, 187th Medical Battalion, who benched the brand-new free weights. “I want to be here every day. It is really nice that Fort Sam Houston is building facilities for us and keeping us fit,”
The ROSS Group constructed the $14 million dollar facility with the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers and the METC Transformation and Integration Office.
“The beauty of this is that we were able to take the best of all three services and tailor this gymnasium to the needs of our joint base here,” said Scott Griffin, the METC TIO facilities lead on the project, who worked with the Corps to assure an on-time, high-quality product for Fort Sam Houston.
The facility also features natural lighting and a air conditioned climate to keep service members motivated as they pursue their fitness goals.
“They come in here as Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen, but they leave here as teammates,” Garr said.
The fitness center is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all Fort Sam Houston service members, their families and DOD cardholders.
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