CAC card required to use fitness center

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jasmin Taylor
  • 919th SPecial Operations Wing Public Affairs
Duke Field members can now use the fitness center seven days a week with a simple swipe of their military common access card.

Under new access rules, personnel who register their CAC at the fitness center will be authorized access from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.  Each registrant will be required to sign a statement of understanding, which provides guidance on facility usage.  A CAC reader will be installed at the center's main entrance and those registered users can swipe their cards for access.

"Since we have no full time staff to make sure everyone who comes through the door is signing the waiver, the CAC reader takes their place," said Col. James Phillips, commander of the 919th Special Operations Wing.  "The only reason this is open to people, other than 919th SOW, is because there really is no other place for them to go to without driving down to Eglin."

Use of the Duke Field fitness center is limited to specific active duty, air reserve technicians, civil servants, and reservists.  The center is also available to:

556th Red Horse Squadron
28th Intelligence Squadron
96th Civil Engineer Squadron
413th Flight Test Squadron
6th Special Operations Squadron
592nd Maintenance Squadron
96th Security Forces Squadron personnel on days they perform duty here
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who work on Duke Field

The facility is not part of Eglin's fitness center and is paid for with 919th SOW funds.  Since it is not an active duty facility there are different regulations that govern its access such as retirees, dependents, and personnel not stationed at Duke Field are not authorized to use the facility due to liability issues. 

"I am protective of this facility, because it is primarily for the members of my wing, said Phillips.  "It's a great opportunity for Duke Field, but we should all be responsible, use safety and take care of the facility like it's your own."

The fitness center CAC reader registration dates and times are as follows:

Feb. 3 and 6
8 a.m. - noon

February UTA
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

More dates will be available after the UTA weekend.  Information is posted at the fitness center.