HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- A short walk from the 78 F-35A Lightning II’s parked on Hill Air Force Base’s flightline is a new center focused on sustaining the Airmen who maintain them.
“More than anything, I hope that everyone feels welcome here,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Jeffrey Larsen. “This is a place of rest, of recuperation, that’s away from the daily grind.”
The “Warrior Lounge” opened in December and is located on Canberra Drive, on the northwest corner of Bldg. 58. The center is open for visitor’s 24/7.
There is no charge to the Airmen for anything. Everything in the lounge was donated, either by chapel staff, chapel tithes and offerings fund or the squadrons, Larsen said.
There are three rooms: A refreshment center with soda, energy drinks, coffee, hot chocolate and occasionally snacks; a reading room with educational, inspirational, and spiritual books; and a fellowship room with a large screen TV, XBOX console and new games, like Call of Duty and Madden 24.
“Anytime we’ve got maintainers launching sorties, or pilots flying or people in the back shops working, the goal is to be open.” Larsen said. “No matter what their faith is, this meets a fundamental human need for recuperation and connection.”
Over the first week of operation, the Warrior Lounge had roughly 160 visitors, and Larson hopes to see that number grow.
“We hope this is a very valuable place for the Airmen here to connect, and maybe focus on what fuels them and drives them. To take care of that spirit that is the center of their mental, physical, emotional, and social lives.”