Newly opened Soldier Activity Center offers swimming, climbing, more
Fort Bliss and 1st Armored Division commander Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard accompanies key players in standing up the Soldier Activity Center to cut the ribbon at its grand opening Aug. 2 at East Fort Bliss. Photo by Marcie C. Wright, Monitor Staff.
Marcie C. Wright,
Monitor Staff:
Fort Bliss opened doors to its newest adult recreation center during an Aug. 2 grand opening at East Fort Bliss.
The Soldier Activity Center sits on the turnabout shared with Sgt. Joshua W. Soto Physical Fitness Center and the AAFES Express building. It is free and open to the public.
The $8.2 million facility features an indoor climbing wall, a multipurpose gym, a multipurpose meeting room, a café and a game room. Included with the gym are a high-ropes course, ping pong tables and a basketball hoop. Separately, a library offers books, a lounge area and 16 computers. Out the back door is a swimming pool with tables and chairs.
Spc. Mexkai Keosaming of 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, demonstrates how to climb the wall inside the new Soldier Activity Center at its grand opening Aug. 2. Photo by Marcie C. Wright, Monitor Staff.
“This facility was designed by the Soldiers and was five years in the making,” said Mark Cauthers, Fort Bliss Garrison Command deputy director. “They designed it. This is their place.”
“It’s an amazing facility,” said Sgt. Charles Japalucci of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd General Support Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers participant. “Soldiers will utilize this to their advantage.”
Only here for five months, Japalucci found himself enjoying the BOSS program and was one of the first to climb the indoor wall. He shared what he thought to be the best part of the facility.
“The high-ropes course,” said Japalucci, “not only for the fun part, but for the team-building and leadership aspect as well.”
The center is the new home to the BOSS program as well as the East Fort Bliss ITR / Leisure Travel Services office. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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