Photo By Tech. Sgt. Stephanie Serrano | 8th Civil Engineer Squadron Airman Dorm Leaders use gaming equipment in a newly...... read more read more
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KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Renovations have been completed for 15 dormitory dayrooms across the base, showcasing progress in quality-of-life improvement initiatives for 8th
Fighter Wing Airmen.
The project was made possible through collaboration between Airmen Dorm Leaders, the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron, the 8th Comptroller Squadron, the Army’s 411th Contracting Support Brigade, and Kunsan’s Quality of Life Task Force, all
sharing a commitment to improving morale and well-being for dorm residents.
“The dayroom project was long overdue,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Deandre Thomas, 8th CES ADL. “These updates were essential to give our residents something to look forward to while living in the dorms, and we wanted to create spaces they could be proud of and call their own.”
The project began in the middle of September, featuring several equipment upgrades including wall-mounted 65- to 75-inch TVs, reclining chairs with drink holders, couches, coffee tables, dining sets and sound bars. Larger dayrooms now also feature arcade games, such as basketball hoops, air hockey, a punching or kicking bag game, and retro arcade stations with classic video games.
“By providing a comfortable and enjoyable space, the updated day rooms can help foster community and a sense of belonging among residents,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Erin Diaz, 8th CES ADL. “This can have a positive impact on their overall well-being, especially during the holiday season away from their families and support [systems].”
The renovation process was expedited by the efforts of U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kim Hwasung, 8th CES furniture management section chief, and Staff Sgt. Kim Hwanhie, 8th CES ADL NCO in charge, two brothers who grew up in Gunsan City before moving to the United States. Both brothers utilized their professional expertise, such as prior resource advisor, logistics, contracting experience and native Korean language skills to gather pricing quotes and schedule seamless equipment pickup and dropoff, leading to significant improvements in less than eight weeks.
“The planning process involved gathering feedback from Airmen, particularly junior-level personnel, to ensure the renovations addressed their specific needs,” said the brothers. “These changes not only improve comfort but also foster a sense of pride and community, helping Airmen feel more at home.”
The modernization of the dorm dayrooms reflect the 8th FW leadership’s commitment to creating spaces that not only improve daily life, but also build the foundation for mission-ready Airmen.
“We have learned that for a relatively small investment, we can make major improvements to the feel of one common space per dorm,” said Air Force Col. Joshua "Falcon" Hawkins, 8th Mission Support Group commander. “We now plan to budget to scale more minor improvements
in all common spaces across every dorm, starting by expanding free WiFi to all common Spaces.”
Falcon emphasized the end goal is to provide multiple comfortable living environments for Airmen, creating spaces where Airmen want to come together to build community, share camaraderie, and connect with the Wolf Pack heritage.
“If people enjoy these spaces, we will be able to use more of our furnishings budget to expand improvements in more than just one common space per dormitory,” said Falcon. “In a place like the Wolf Pack where nearly 100% of our personnel reside on base, it is even more important that the common spaces are places you want to spend your time.”
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2024 21:59 |
| Story ID: | 487282 |
| Location: | KR |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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