Fitness center shines with 5-star rating

  • Published
  • By Renée Wright
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The fitness center here recently earned a "five-star rating" for its programs in 2008, placing it among the top facilities in the Air Force. 

Part of the Air Force Services Agency's annual Five Star Fitness Center Recognition Program, the five-star rating is recognition and acknowledgement for bases that have reached the highest standard of achievement in all aspects of program management. 

"This award recognizes our staff for all their hard work, dedication and professionalism," said Tom Lawson, fitness manager. "With our small staff, such a large facility and as many customers as we serve on a daily basis, they really work hard at providing quality customer service." 

The staff is comprised of 13 military members, four life guards and the manager who staff and operate the 107,000-square-foot facility. They manage an indoor pool, six racquetball courts, an indoor running track, as well as multiple fitness rooms and court areas housing 172 cardio machines, 54 selectorized weight machines and 98 free-weight benches or plate-loaded machines. 

In 2008, the center served 330,000 customers. Mr. Lawson said they can see as many as 2,300 people a day in the facility. 

"This is only my second base, but this a nice facility," said Staff Sgt. Sandra Jenkins, 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron, who has been assigned here for the past three years. She named the indoor track, weight equipment and the sauna as her favorite features. "Being able to have access to both an indoor track and treadmills is also really beneficial to PT testing," she said. 

This is the first time the center received all five stars. After Elmendorf opened the newly renovated facility in April 2007, the fitness center staff earned a four-star rating in the program that year. 

"In our first year we were lacking funding for sports officials," said Mr. Lawson. "In 2008, we had everything in balance." 

The recognition program outlines requirements in five areas: operations, programs, training, facilities and customer service. To earn the five-star rating, the fitness center must excel in every aspect including specific points such as hours of operation, intramural sports, staff qualifications, track condition, staff availability and even spacing around cardio equipment. 

"To us, this means we're doing what we're supposed to do; we're doing a good job," said Airman 1st Class Jennifer Adolphs, who has worked at the fitness center since May. 
"For our customers, it means they can come here for a clean facility, friendly people and a great workout." 

For 2008, the center earned 100 percent in all areas - a perfect score. 

"We can have 2,300 customers in a day and our front desk staff comes in contact with every one of them, whether it's checking ID cards, reserving courts or issuing equipment," Mr. Lawson said. "We're a customer service facility, and our staff is right on the mark."