By Holly DeCarlo-White
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
Stuttgart community members may have noticed new equipment arriving into fitness facilities recently, but what happens to all the equipment that is removed from the fitness centers?
Historically, older or unused equipment would be turned in and later auctioned off. In this instance however, U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Europe and the Stuttgart Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation have partnered with U.S. Africa Command and Special Operations Command Africa to transfer the equipment over to support other deployed units.
The effort to secure fitness equipment for the deployed units who have been requesting it was led by the SOCAFRICA J-4 team, along with key support from the SOCAFRICA Security Cooperation team.
“In most locations where our service members are deployed, there are no gym facilities. Our service members find themselves in austere locations and unable to run outside the camps they are located, the various U.S. Embassies, or their team houses for various security reasons,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Thompson, logistics non-commissioned officer for SOCAFRICA.
“The IMCOM Europe MWR Front Office supported this transfer of equipment and felt it was a win-win for our service members deployed to various locations in 22 different countries, and for IMCOM. The AFRICOM/SOCAFRICA service members will receive serviceable equipment, and IMCOM won’t have to turn the equipment to DRMO,” said Thompson.
The equipment is scheduled to be prioritized to move out of Stuttgart onto its new locations as cargo aircrafts pass through Stuttgart on their way to the other countries.
Stuttgart Family and MWR has invested in approximately 80 pieces of new strength equipment and benches, and 65 pieces of user friendly cardio equipment including treadmills, elliptical and upright bikes. The new machines have the ability to track heart rate, calories burned, and headphones can be plugged in directly to listen to American Forces Network.
The total cost of the equipment was $252,000 dollars, funded by Family and MWR.
Oliver Stith, Family and MWR community recreation officer said he is hopeful the new equipment will enhance community members overall fitness and resiliency.
“The new cardio equipment has already been delivered and the strength equipment should arrive in the next three months,” said Stith.