Engineers forge new Combat Fitness arena

Published Aug. 29, 2014
By Senior Airman Gustavo Castillo
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- -- The new Combat Fitness facility inside the Skelton Memorial Fitness Center is scheduled to be complete Sept 30, 2014.

The 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron maintains its ongoing renovation of the old racquetball courts to turn them into the new Combat Fitness facility.

The construction began in May 2014 and as soon as construction is complete the 52nd Force Support Squadron will finalize the move from the old facility and drive the date for the grand opening.

"A lot of the demolition here included pulling out some of the block, reinforcing the walls and making the area structurally sound after pulling out all of the racquetball wood," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Eric Fick, structures technician native of Grand Junction, Colorado. "We are doing everything we can to make it easier for them to have an open space for fitness training."

Intense labor efforts include the tear down of wall openings to combine two separate spaces, removing large portions of concrete and the existing flooring and wall surfaces.

"There has been a continuous presence of at least four structures Airmen, contributing to over 1,500 man hours gaining vital skills that will be applied down range when tasked to do so," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Elliot Mendoza, 52nd CES structural section chief and native of San Antonio. "One to two pavement and equipment Airmen completed more than 40 hours of this job as well."

The estimated cost for labor and materials of the construction is $110,000.

Once the structures technicians finish remodeling the existing walls, new paint and new flooring will be added to the area.

Upon its completion, the approximately 310 square-foot new facility may house more than 150 people.

Mendoza also said the project has helped with training requirements set in place to keep 52nd CES Airmen deployment-ready all while providing a safe, effective and functional fitness facility for the Saber community.