Rhode Island Army National Guard Sgt. Trevor Sampson, 19th Special Forces infantrymen, pushes a weighted sled at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., July 29. The 66th Force Support Squadron recently completed work on indoor and outdoor tennis courts and renovated the men’s sauna and installed artificial turf for high-intensity interval training exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Maki)
66th Force Support Squadron officials recently announced the completion of several renovations at the Hanscom Fitness and Sports Center here.
FSS partnered with the 66th Civil Engineering Division to add American with Disabilities Act-compliant walkways, fresh paint to interior walls and install monitors displaying the names of fitness staff in the lobby.
Fitness officials also re-opened newly surfaced indoor and outdoor tennis courts that include lines for pickleball. A coach is also available for those seeking tennis or pickleball lessons.
In addition to the civil engineering renovations, contractors added a new men’s sauna and a padded turf strip in the warrior athletic room.
“We’re excited to be able to provide enhanced fitness opportunities to all of our mission partners across the installation, including the members of our sister services who live in base housing,” said Paul Shoesmith, Fitness and Sports Center director. “These improvements help us with supporting fitness requirement for service members.”
The newly installed, 88-foot-long turf strip in the warrior training room is used for high-intensity interval training exercises including the tire flip and weighted sled push/pull, both designed to build strength and endurance.
“We replaced 95 percent of the exercise equipment in the past three years, whereas the Air Force requires base fitness centers to replace 20 percent of equipment in a given year,” said William Charlton, 66 FSS deputy director.
Charlton added that Hanscom’s Fitness Center officials are also looking at fitness trends to offer what’s popular.
“A lot of backyard sports have become competitive, like spikeball and angleball, which we have now,” he said. “These new sports aren’t all in the AFI [Air Force Instruction], but we’re giving people the opportunity to participate in fitness in different ways.”
The fitness center provides services, programs and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance and encourage physical fitness. The center is open to active duty, Guard/Reserve, retirees, federal civilians, contractors and dependents.
For further information or questions, contact the Hanscom Fitness and Sports Center at 781-225-6630 or visit their webpage at https://www.hanscomfss.com/fitness-sports-center.