TOP STORY>>Fun at the Pool

By AIRMAN 1st CLASS RUSTY FRANK

19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The summer is finally here, school is out and military families are having fun in the sun. One of the many ways families can relax and stay cool here is by enjoying one of the two pools located on the base.

The base pool offers different activities, such as a water slide, diving board and a kiddy pool for the children. When having fun at the base pool safety should be the number one priority. One should follow all pool rules and guidelines and obey all life guard instructions. The base pool opened Memorial Day weekend and will available through Labor Day. The hours are Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and on the weekends they open from noon - 7:30 p.m. The costs for the pool are: $3 (day pass), $50 (singles season pass), $90 (family season pass), Lap Swim: $1 (lap swim) and $96-$168 (pool party packages.)

The Welcome Center pool located in base housing is open for base- housing residents only, but residents can bring a friend. The Welcome Center pool offers sprinklers for the children to play in. At the Welcome Center pool you have to be very careful because there is no life guard on duty, so one has to be sure to follow all pool rules to be safe. The Welcome Center pool officially opened May 26 and will remain open until Labor Day. Hours of operation are Monday 12- 5 p.m., Tuesday - Friday 10:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. with lap swims at 9:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Some residents of base housing like the advantages of the Welcome Center pool because the cost comes out of the Basic Allowance for Housing pay, it’s closer to home, and it’s a shallower pool to help the kids learn how to swim.

“They like going to the Welcome Center pool because it’s included in his Basic Allowance for Housing,” said Staff Sgt. Adam Kidney, a 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron unit deployment manager.

“We attend the pool at least 3-4 times a week,” said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Fialkowski, a 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant non-commissioned officer in charge of passenger access terminal and fleet services.

With the base pool some people like staff that makes one feel like they are part of a community.

“The pool has a phenomenal staff we feel really good about bringing our kids here,” said Ray Johnson, military spouse. “Most of the staff can call our kids by their first name, know their capabilities, and how they swim, everybody knows everybody and that makes you feel safe with your kids.”

With the summer here, one thing to do is to relax, have fun and cool off at the base pools, and remember to walk and not run around the pools.