Fitness access program underway at Northside Fitness Center

Published Jan. 8, 2016
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- With the holidays over and the new year underway, one resolution of many may be to exercise more and lose some of the weight that may have crept on recently.

One convenient option for those with base access is to use the gyms on RAF Mildenhall to help get back into shape. The Northside Fitness Center, available to Team Mildenhall members, recently changed its entry procedures, on its way to becoming unmanned but still accessible.

The gym recently implemented the fitness access program, which is being imposed Air Force-wide, and works by scanning either a member's common access card or alternatively, a special card issued to civilians and dependents.

This allows 24/7 access to the Northside Fitness Center on goal days, family days and U.S. holidays when the Hardstand Fitness Center is closed.

"The intent of that facility is to not be manned, but right now we man it for a certain amount of hours per day, strictly to register people," said Staff Sgt. Lateasha Shilling, 100th Force Support Squadron fitness NCO in charge. "Users must be military or military-affiliated, and as part of registration, the CAC is scanned into the system and the member's details entered, then the CAC-holder will put their card up against the scanner to check it works."

When going to register, ID must be shown and a statement of understanding completed and signed. The rules include not allowing anyone else in that does not have registered access, so friends cannot be allowed in if they do not have a base ID card or haven't registered with the fitness access program. Additionally, members must be fully aware of where the defibrillator is, and where the emergency exits and phones are to call first responders in case of an emergency.

Patrons also sign to confirm they know how to use the fitness equipment safely. For those unsure, the 100th FSS staff will run through how to use the weights and machines properly.

"Most bases have one gym, which is manned during normal duty hours, then after that it's card access only," explained Shilling. "It's to alleviate the fact that manning in the military is going down, but they still want people to have accessibility to fitness. We have two, and our goal is to have one that's completely unmanned."

One advantage for some using the gym is the parent-child area for ages under 6.

"It's a sectioned-off area where young children can play," the fitness NCO in charge added. "The equipment is located around that section so the parent always has eye contact with their child. There are two treadmills, a bike, elliptical machine and dumbbells. Bringing children in to this area is the exception to allowing others to use the facility."

Length of registration depends on the member's date eligible for return from overseas, and expires on that day. For civilians that do not have a DEROS, the date will be the same as the CAC expiration.

"The intent of the fitness access program is to make the gym accessible to everyone and not hinder the mission or stop people from being able to get their workout in," said Shilling.