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New 'old' gym opens at Selfridge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  Something old is new again for Airmen of the 127th Wing.

The old gym at Selfridge Air National Guard Base - a legacy building constructed in the early 1930s at the base - has been refurbished and is once again being used as a fitness center at the air base.

"This gives us a centralized location to not only conduct our physical assessment program, but also to allow people to work out and to participate in recreational fitness activities," said Senior Master Sgt. James Alves, superintendent of the Services Flight of the 127th Force Support Squadron, who now oversees the facility.

The gym building was built during the second-wave of construction on the nearly 100-year-old air base, shortly after the decision was made by the U.S. Army Air Corps to make Selfridge a "permanent field" shortly after World War I. It has been used primarily as a gym and fitness facility since then, though for a period earlier in this decade, it was re-purposed to house the 107th Fighter Squadron when that squadron's operations building was undergoing a major renovation.

"I'm excited to be able to offer a place where the different squadrons around the base can have a basketball tournament or people can come and play a game of racquet ball after work," Alves said. "Early in my career, when the gym was open, I made a lot of connections that have been valuable to me by spending time in this gym."

The opening of the refurbished gym allows the Services Flight to better track the 127th Wing's fitness program, said Senior Airman Anje Jones, a member of the flight.

Physical assessment periods are offered throughout the Wing's drill weekend, with Services personnel on duty to supervise and assist in the process.

"Having this located in one central place allows us to provide more manpower to oversee the process," Jones said.

The gym building offers a full basketball court, racquetball court, a number of free weights and various workout machines, such as treadmills and stair-climbers. Showers are also available. The building is only open to 127th Wing members.

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command operations by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 98th year of continuous military air operations in 2015.

About Selfridge Air National Guard Base
One of the oldest military air fields in continuous service, the military first took possession of Selfridge Air National Guard Base on July 1, 1917. The first military flight at the base took place on July 8 and formal flight operations began on July 16, 1917. Today the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard is the host unit at the base, which also houses units of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection.