Story and photos by Spc. Alex Licea
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (April 13, 2005)- A simple cut of a red ribbon marked the opening of the 13th Army and Air Force Exchange Service post exchange at Camp Arifjan's Zone 6, April 13. Also celebrating grand openings were the Zone 6 gym and community center.
These facilities are the latest additions to the camp's Zone 6 as Arifjan continues its expansion toward becoming the main staging ground for all coalition forces involved in operations across the Middle East.
Zone 6 will become the main residential area for servicemembers will reside deployed to Arifjan, said 1st Sgt. Randall Maffett, noncommissioned officer in charge of Zone 6. "These new facilities will be a big improvement to our servicemembers quality of life," he said.
During his opening remarks, Col. Brick T. Miller, Area Support Group-Kuwait commander, welcomed everyone to the event and thanked those individuals who had a hand in the construction and opening of the AAFES complex. The ASG-Kuwait commander closed his comments by telling servicemembers to enjoy the day's festivities.
"I want to thank everyone from the command cell to the [Morale, Welfare and Recreation] staff," said Miller. "Now, let's hear those cash registers."
The location also features a beauty and barber shop, a phone center, an Internet café, dry cleaning and laundry facilities, two gift shops, two jewelry stores and a car sales office. The area's community courtyard features more than 25 bazaar vendors offering servicemembers a chance to purchase an assortment of local market items.
The zone's celebrations began as the sun rose over the Kuwait as hundreds of servicemembers participated in a 5K fun run. A disc jockey, prize giveaways and all-day barbecue highlighted the day's activities.
Prior to the opening of these stores, residents living in Arifjan's Zone 6 would have to walk or take a shuttle bus just to go to the Zone 1 or Zone 2 PX or community center.
For troops like Spc. Melaine Moseley, a Zone 6 resident assigned to the 942nd Transportation Company, the grand opening of the stores was a huge morale boaster.
"Having these stores here will make it so much more convenient for us," she said. "It's such a fun atmosphere."
Her friend and fellow co-worker, Spc. Michael Birt smiled and agreed with Moseley as they were both waiting in line to enter the more than 11,000 square-foot PX.
It's is so convenient to have a PX so close by, he said. Having a new gym with all this new equipment will be great for workouts.
The zone's gym has both free and stationary weights, a half-court basketball court and a designated space for aerobic and spinning classes.
The community center has a large game room, social rooms, a video checkout center, a movie room and an Internet café with 25 computers. Zone 6 also has two full-court outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.
AAFES plans to open the Zone 6 food court next month.
The court will feature establishments like Hardee's, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Subway and Charlie's Grilled Subs.
Permanent residents can also expect to be moving into hard, sound structures replacing the tents they once called home.
Each of the pre-cast billets can house 58 people, Maffett said. The tents will continue to be used for those troops who are redeploying back to the United States or are only at the camp for a short period of time.
"We have already completed 60 billets and expect to construct another 75 by the beginning of August giving us a total of 135," he said. "We will start to move Arifjan- based troops living in the tents sometime next month."
Zone 1 billets and Zone 2 building 507 will continue to house permanent troops stationed to Arifjan.
Nine shuttle stops surround Zone 6 gives servicemembers the opportunity to travel back and forth between the camp's three zones.
Other improvements, such as the expansion of the zone's dining facility and the installation of latrine units will continue during the month of April.
Servicemembers can expect more adjustments to Zone 6 within the next coming weeks but Zone 6 officials urge its residents to be patient.
"We will just have to go through some growing pains," he said.
Zone 1 will continue to run its day-to-day operations. However, Zone 2 will begin to serve as a storage area as Arifjan begins to take on the functions and materials of Camp Doha, which is scheduled to close sometime in early 2006.
The Zone 6 community center hours will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and its fitness center will operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The Zone 6 PX will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.