AETC approves funds for 'quality of life' projects Published June 5, 2009 By Carl Poteat MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Maxwell's Fitness Center, Youth Center, Airmen's Ministry Center, and enlisted dormitories will receive improvements this fiscal year thanks to recently approved "FOCUS" funds from the Air Education and Training Command, according to Chief Master Sgt. Mark Repp, command chief of the 42nd Air Base Wing. Chief Repp said the wing has been approved for $196,500 of the approximately $2 million that the AETC commander has set aside for "quality of life" projects for bases throughout the command. The chief explained that each base analyzed its needs and submitted a list of projects earlier this fiscal year. The contracting and bidding process for Maxwell's approved projects will now start. The goal is to have all the projects in work prior to the end of this fiscal year, or Oct. 1, Chief Repp said. The largest project will be to add kitchens to second floor day rooms of Maxwell's dormitories, Bldgs. 696 and 697. Currently there is one kitchen area in each dorm and each requires a full renovation to include appliances. Permanent party residents are not able to prepare food for social gatherings in the current kitchens. The next largest project is a "parent-child" room at the Maxwell Fitness Center. A 2007 Air Force instruction does not allow children under 6 in the fitness center unless the facility has a "parent/child" area for supervised play and/or watching a sports or special event. The parent/child area will have a clear partition that allows for line-of-sight supervision and isolates children from the adult workout area. The child area will be equipped with couches; child-sized tables and chairs; children's books, puzzles, and games; shelving units and a flat screen television with built in DVD player. Another project will renovate the four bathrooms in the Maxwell Youth Center. Renovations will include new doors with locks, new sinks and paper towel and soap dispensers at the appropriate level for children. The Airmen Ministry Center has been approved for new home theater style chairs for the viewing room which has a large screen television. Chief Repp said the Wing is constantly looking for ways to improve conditions for all Airmen assigned to Maxwell and Gunter. He hopes there will be other opportunities in the near future as other funds are made available.