RAF Mildenhall Airmen focus on recreation services

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Thomas Trower
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A focus group comprised of 11 Airmen met at the Bob Hope Community Center here to discuss ideas to make living at RAF Mildenhall more appealing to single servicemembers Nov. 4.

The group gave Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Hickey, 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief, an idea of what recreation programs Airmen are aware of and ideas for new services. It was orchestrated by the 100th ARW Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century office.

"We need to know how things look from your perspective," said Chief Hickey before the focus group got started. "Our senior leaders have a different viewpoint on things than single Airmen just entering the Air Force."

The endeavor began when an AFSO21 quality of life assessment committee determined that it was paramount that recreation and leisure resources here were evaluated, according to Staff Sgt. Ron Cooney, 100th ARW AFSO21 office.

"We have brought all of you here to make a difference on the base," said Sergeant Cooney. "Some of the changes we talk about here won't happen while any of us are here, but think of it as a way to possitively affect Airmen in the future."

The group evaluated services in three categories: on-base recreation, off-base recreation and education. For each of the areas they recorded how often the services were used, how they could be improved and submitted ideas for new programs.

"Overall, the bowling alley and [Galaxy] Club received high marks on food quality," said Sergeant Cooney as the group briefed Chief Hickey on the results of the study. "A recurring problem was the hours some services are offered."

"This information was very helpful for me," said Chief Hickey, who heads the RAF Mildenhall quality of life program. "There are a lot of new ideas here that I wouldn't have thought of."

As the study results are compiled, they will be presented to subject matter experts on base to help develop a survey that will be provided to recent graduates of the First Term Airmen Center. The survey should be ready in two to three weeks for last March's graduates, according to Sergeant Cooney. This will allow about six months for Airmen to draw conclusions on the quality of services.