Installation FMWR offers variety of fitness programs

By Staff Sgt. Peter R. Miller
440th AW PAO

January 19, 2012

	File photos The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate offers many activities to active duty, reserve, civilian and Family members.

As far as fitness opportunities go, “if you can’t find it on (Fort) Bragg, you probably won’t find it anywhere,” said Andrew Rasbury, an exercise physiologist with the Pope Fitness Center Health and Wellness Center. Though it may have been said in jest, when one considers the multitude of programs offered by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the 13 fitness centers strewn across Fort Bragg, and the professional coaches and instructors who operate these facilities, Rasbury’s statement resounds with truth. More importantly, the majority of these services and facilities are open to active duty, reserve, and civilian employees of the installation. Some are open to the entire Family, even the dog.

Andrew Rasbury works in the Pope Army Fitness Center HAWC and specializes in exercise prescription, strength training education and cardiovascular education. He can teach a post employee everything they need to be fit and ready, he said.

Also working in the HAWC are Kimberly Hill-Barrow and Kimberly Schorn. Hill-Barrow specializes in health education and serves the installation by providing tobacco prevention/cessation education, stress management, sleep hygiene, and Family planning and sexually transmitted diseases prevention education. Schorn is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics and specializes in sports nutrition and performance. She is able to offer assistance with sports supplementation, energy balance, nutritional counseling, mission fuel planning, and physical training score improvement. The HAWC is located in the Pope Fitness Center and can be reached at 394-4292.

In addition to the HAWC’s educational and fitness programs, The Pope Army Fitness Center hosts significant fitness events for all installation employees. A quick look at the center’s calendar shows that the gym hosts spinning classes, yoga, kickboxing, physical training, zumba, and/or step classes, Monday through Friday. According to the PAFC facilities manager Korynn Drake, the facility hosts about 400 such classes a year. It also boasts a parent/tot room that is open to parents with children under age five and contains treadmills, elliptical machines and a cross-trainer stepper.

The PFAC in partnership with Nuco Fitness, will soon host the Third Annual Biggest Loser Contest, and the top winner will earn $1,500 in cash. The last winner was a military spouse who took on the challenge while her husband was deployed, said Drake. She lost about 56 pounds and remains active in the PFAC community. For more information on this and other PFAC training opportunities, call 394-2671.

FMWR also hosts many installation events and activities. The office hosts a monthly 5K bike, walk, run, which is geared to appeal to all levels of fitness and the entire Family. This is where the dog comes in, because even dogs are welcome. FMWR also hosts intramural sports activities, a combat cross-country ruck course, a Germaneque volksmarch, and a “Greatest Adventure” race. The Child Youth Services office also hosts many activities for kids at the community centers.

The Fort Bragg FMWR office also operates two, 18-hole golf courses, pools, hunting areas, camp grounds, bowling alleys and many more facilities. For more information, please visit www.fortbraggmwr.com.

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