Ministry center for Vance’s junior Airmen opens Friday

  • Published
  • By Joe B. Wiles
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  An Airmen Ministry Center for all E-4s and below at Vance Air Force Base will hold a grand opening at 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, in the Community Chapel Activity Center on base.

The center is equipped with $8,000 worth of furniture and games, including a foosball table, 60-inch television with Xbox and PlayStation, a mini-basketball hoop game and more, said Staff Sgt. Darick Alexander, the NCO in charge of Program Support at the base Chapel.

The equipment was bought with fall-out money from fiscal year 2012.

"We finally have a place for the ping-pong table we got last year," said Alexander. The center includes a pool table and free Wi-Fi.

"We have changed the room from just playing video games and watching movies to a multi-activity center," Alexander said.

The AMC will be available 24/7, thanks to cipher locks installed on the CCAC and the ministry room. The locks were funded by the 71st Flying Training Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant's office.

"Airmen who agree to take care of the center and respect folks using other parts of the CCAC will get the combination to the locks," said Alexander.

"Our Airmen want to find community and a place to call their own," he said. "At tech schools there isn't much the Airmen can do, so when they get to their first duty station, they buy a television and Xbox and never leave their room."

According to Alexander, survey results show that Airmen want a place other than a bar off-base where they can get together and meet folks. The AMC is in response to that need.

The grand opening Friday will be combined with the monthly Single Airman Night. Following the opening, pizza will be served. Festivities will move to the Base Auditorium for an ugly sweater contest and a showing of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

For more information, contact Alexander at 213-7211.