WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Being a United States Airman isn’t easy.
Young Airmen are often living away from home, and away from their friends and family, for the first time. On top of that, they have to adjust to living in shared quarters with hundreds of people.
Fortunately, the 509th Bomb Wing has a plan to address those concerns.
When it comes to dorm living on Whiteman Air Force Base, Col. Daniel Diehl, 509th Bomb Wing Commander, seeks to make it feel like campus living. To accomplish this, his Mission Support Group team is working on a number of projects to improve the quality of life for Airmen living on base.
One of the newest renovations to the Atlantis dorm building, is the addition of a micro-market, giving Airmen that have a swing shift, or those just looking for a late night snack, another option, said Airman Dorm Leader Tech. Sgt. Crystal Brionnes.
“Pretty much anything the shoppette has you can find there,” she said. “That’s for anybody's convenience.”
Improving Airmen’s dining options doesn’t end with the micro-market. Renovations are planned for the Ozark Dining Facility to give it a cozier and more welcoming atmosphere.
Beginning last October, Whiteman collaborated with the Drafting Technology program students at the University of Central Missouri on a design for the renovations.
Recently, the students who created the design presented it to leadership from Whiteman AFB including Capt. Pamela Quigney, 509th Force Support Squadron, Sustainment Services Flight Commander.
“They got whatever information they needed to create a new design, and it looks really refreshing, and they did a really phenomenal job,” she said.
The students were able to present a design that stayed under a $500,000 budget.
Other campus improvements include a new 9-hole disc golf course near the Arnold gate and converting an old volleyball court to a basketball court near the dorms.
All of these quality of life improvements start with Airmen, said Airman 1st Class Kasey Kosciuk, 509th Medical Group Physical Therapist Assistant, and a member of the Airmen Dorm Council.
“We meet at the end of every month, and share suggestions for how things can be better, how to boost morale, and what events we can plan for dorm residents,” she said.
These suggestions go up the chain of command, where it is decided which ones to implement. For example, the mini-market was the result of an Airmen request.
These projects are only the beginning, Quigney said, with more quality of life improvements to come in the future.