Altus Airmen invest in family quality of life improvements Published Dec. 20, 2019 By Airman 1st Class Breanna Klemm 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Airmen from the 97th Mission Support Group, 97th Contracting Flight and 97th Comptroller Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. combined efforts to boost quality of life for everyone by purchasing base-wide improvements to be installed throughout the New Year. Most of the items purchased will assist in the improvements to the base which are designed to enhance the quality of living, intend to be used not only by Airmen, but to their families as well. “We have purchased a lot of equipment this year, and this time, it is not geared towards the military side of things,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Powell, the 97th CONF Base Support Element NCO-in-charge. “Of course we purchased a few items for our Airmen, but our main focus this year was to help improve the quality of life for the families living on base, so they have just as many opportunities as our Airmen do.” The team spent a total of $868,000 on the quality of life items throughout August and Septmeber of 2019. Some of the biggest improvements to the base include sun canopies for base parks and fitness centers, new Outdoor Recreation Center rental equipment and cold weather gear for Airmen assigned to the 97th Security Forces Squadron and 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The majority of those purchases are directed towards recreational year-round use for military members and their families. This year, the 97th LRS received new warehouse fans in August to help keep the workplace comfortable and cool for Airmen to complete their mission. The ODR received a brand new camper, pontoon and bass buggy for Airmen and their families to rent and use during the warmer months. Additionally, the 97th Force Support Squadron received a new beverage trailer which can be used during base and community events. In the New Year, Airmen from the 97th SFS and 97th LRS also plan to receive new cold weather and fire resistant jackets for upcoming winters, costing around $114,000. Some of the biggest quality of life items directed towards military families were the five outdoor sun canopies, which amounted to $154,000. Three canopies will cover Excellence Park, one will cover the Fitness Center and one will cover the Security Forces Warrior Training Center, providing a shaded area which allows the outdoor equipment to be used during the summer months. The canopies will be delivered and installed in January of 2020. In addition to the canopies, a $9,000 virtual reality playground will be installed in the Freedom Community Center in early 2020. This playground is a motion-sensitive projector which includes more than 20 games for children and their families to enjoy together when the weather outside is not suitable for an outdoor playground. “Not that we don’t like buying new computers or new office furniture for squadrons, but we don’t often get to see the fruits of our efforts,” said Powell. “These purchases are not only something we get to buy, but we also get to take a little pride in showing our families the impact we have around base. It provides quality equipment for the families around base and it gives us, in contracting, a visual conformation that we are meeting the needs to assist our Airmen. “We need to not just invest in the mission here, but we need to invest in the people as well,” said Powell. “You may always hear, ‘people make the mission happen’ and that statement is 100% correct. We want to invest in our people and the quality of life they have here so we can fully accomplish our mission.”