366 FW hosts Airmen Center grand opening

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Andrew Kobialka
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE, Idaho- --  A fresh coat of paint covering the walls, complemented by a zig-zag patterned wood floor are among the first things Airman 1st Class Keelie Now, 391st Fighter Squadron weapons load crewmember, notices as she enters The Airmen Center. Venturing further, Now finds the theater room with a large flat screen TV and rows of comfortable reclining seats. Overall, Now’s first impression of this new environment is described as clean, friendly and open.

“It reminded me of home,” said Now.

Many Airmen like Now experienced the Airmen Center, which is attached to Mountain Home Air Force Base’s Gunfighter Fitness Center, for the first time during the grand opening ceremony Feb. 3.

"The Airmen Center is a space dedicated strictly for Airmen E4 and below,” said SSgt Dixie Lee Scott, 366th Force Support Squadron, Airmen Center NCOIC.

The center includes a wide variety of amenities to appeal to as many Airmen as possible, said Scott. Amenities include five themed rooms:
● Theater Room
● Game Room
● Great Room
● Music Room
● Study Room

“Airmen Committed to Excellence and volunteer members performed surveys and worked with contracting and civil engineering to plan the design and layout of the building,” said Carnely.

Airmen played a critical part in the overall process of the Airmen Center’s completion.

“We built this specifically for the Airmen,” said Scott. “It is whatever they want it to be."


The Airmen Center cost about $650,000 to build and is one of the most expensive Airmen Centers built in the last 20 years.

“This center provides a way to wind down and relax from the stresses of work,” said Scott. “This is one way to ensure our Airmen are ready to complete the mission.”

Scott said that The Airmen Center is a place for our Airmen to come together, grow relationships and build community.
“The Airmen Center has already begun to grow our base community and morale,” said Airman 1st Class Hannah Coon, 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner.

At the grand opening, Coon saw people getting out of their comfort zones and making new friends.
Coon said her favorite space was the music room because she is a musician. She spent hours jamming with friends, old and new.

“This is a cool place for Airmen to get together and bond after duty hours,” said Coon.

“This type of community center provides a place for Airmen to build mental and social resilience,” said Scott. “We want to ensure that the center is a place Airmen should and want to be.”

All our Airmen are encouraged to come by and check it out, continued Scott. The Airmen Center is still new and is continually looking for suggestions for how it can be made better.
“We built it for the Airmen,” said Scott. “It is fully theirs and it's a blank slate.”