Airman, civilians are heart, soul of fitness center

Published Sept. 9, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst offers a wide variety of physical fitness programs and training equipment, but without the servicemembers and civilians that maintain these things, they would not be available to the joint base.

"We have to wipe the equipment down throughout the day and test each piece to make sure it is safe and working properly," said Senior Airman Corey Doss, 87th Force Support Squadron fitness apprentice. "At the end of the day, we have to put all the equipment back where it goes and wipe it down one last time."

The joint base houses four fitness centers to include: the McGuire Fitness and Sports Center, the Griffith Field House, Doughboy Gym and the Lakehurst Sports and Fitness center. All four centers are open to ID cardholders.

Most JB MDL fitness centers include:

· Basketball, racquetball and volleyball courts
· Daily use of men's and women's lockers rooms and saunas
· Wide variety of free-weights to tension weights
· Up-to-date cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, elliptical, stair steppers etc. with remote head phones and satellite TV's
· Aerobic rooms
· Intramural sports, ranging from basketball to racquetball leagues as well as volleyball leagues
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The McGuire Fitness and Sports Center offers 25 instructional aerobics classes' weekly.

"The best part of these programs are the one-on-one training," said Billy Irons, 87th FSS fitness and sports director. "I get to help community members individually. I also take great pride in helping people reach their goals. I help people get as fit as they desire."

The McGuire Fitness and Sports Center also offers more than 160 pieces of individual equipment and outdoor facilities to include a rubberized track, soccer fields, flag football fields and even softball fields. Hours of operations are Monday through Friday, 4 a.m. to midnight and Saturday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The McGuire Fitness and Sports Center is a place where community members can achieve their fitness and health goals.

"We have all sorts of programs, classes, equipment and instructors that can meet everyone's fitness and health goals from fitness 101 to a five day a-week weight program to get you in your desired shape," said Irons.

The Griffith Field House offers a full-service fitness center, two massage therapists who offer sports, therapeutic, Swedish and deep-tissue massages. Hours of operations are Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday hours from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Lakehurst Sports and Fitness Center provides community members with a wide variety of special events such as the sports challenge, Captain's Cup, monthly 5K runs and walks, Joint Base 10-Mile Run and Lighter than Air Duathlon. Classes such as spinning, Pilates, yoga, Zumba® for all levels and body bump are also offered. Hours of operations are Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Doughboy Gym houses a physical rehabilitation center for Warriors in Transition, which is also open to community members. The gym has various free-weight and strength machines, as well as several cardiovascular machines. With two racquetball courts and a full basketball court the gym supplies community members with a men's and women's locker room to include showers and daily-use lockers. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"We offer top-of-the-line fitness equipment and aerobic programs to not only help servicemembers, but their families and DOD civilians stay in the best shape possible," said Irons.

With all the resources the joint base offers to community members there is no need to travel off base to go to expensive gyms and pay for memberships, expensive classes or instructors because everything is free. So if the goal is to lose weight or just get back into shape, JB MDL is the place to be.

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