Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Spc. Veren Govindeisami, gunner, native of Queens, N.Y., Company B, 64th Brigade...... read more read more
Subscribe
by Pfc. Paul J. Harris
3rd HBCT, 4th ID, PAO
BAQUBAH, Iraq -- The Norquist Morale, Welfare and Recreation building at Forward Operating Base Warhorse recently got a partial facelift. The building's former cardio room was closed down and transformed into an entertainment center for Soldiers and FOB employees.
With the conversion complete, a grand opening was held August 6 with a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Chaplain (Capt.) Leonard Siems, chaplain, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers.
The decision to make the conversion was prompted by MWR staff members who believed the room was under used, and that most Soldiers gravitated to the other two gyms, Salie and Cash, instead of working out at the Norquist cardio room.
The new Norquist Recreational Room is equipped with pool tables, a big screen TV, plush couches and ping pong tables. Since the entertainment center is connected to the Norquist phone and computer centers, which are open 24 hours, seven days a week, it will share the same hours.
With the upcoming football season rapidly approaching Soldiers like Spc. Travis Draper, combat engineer, Company E, 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, is already planning to spend Sunday evenings on some of the couches and beanbag chairs.
"I think a lot of people will make time for it now that it is here," said Draper. "It is not run down; it is a nice place to actually go play."
Before the grand opening Soldiers who wished to play pool were subjected to playing inside of the MWR hangar. With temperatures averaging around 120 degrees it was not the most pleasant of places to play. Now with the pool tables moved inside with air conditioning it presents a nicer area to relax in.
"I think people will look forward to it while waiting for the phones or computers," Draper said.
Maj. Bobby Haskin, chief of operations, 3rd HBCT praised MWR for their hard work.
"We do not say thanks enough to the MWR folks, who really do look out for our best interests," Haskin said to the gathered crowd. "They work just as hard as we do and it is not always appreciated."
The new addition will be open to all personnel who are approved by force protection to use MWR facilities.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2006 09:53 |
| Story ID: | 7456 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 67 |
This work, Morale, Welfare and Recreation upgrades its Norquist building by adding Entertainment Center, by SPC Paul Harris, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
