Catch fire with Fires | Article

Fort Sill has four fitness centers for those who want to exercise daily or just move their body – all you need is an access or military ID card.

The four fitness centers Goldner, Rinehart, Honeycutt and Fires can help build muscle, cardio and endurance. The largest of the four is the Fires Fitness Center, located west of Sheridan Road.

A friendly staff greets everyone who walks through the doors of Fires Fitness Center. They will scan your general access card or military ID to allow you to use the facilities.

Typically, there are three to two employees in the morning and three to four employees in the afternoon to always compensate the people who come into the facility. Manager Claudia Mejia says that “on average, between five thousand and seven thousand visitors come per week”.

Problems can also be solved by the staff. According to one of the guests, James Stowers, “The customer service here is excellent.” Issues can range from losing personal items to needing medical attention.

The overall friendly atmosphere at the gym is another noticeable factor that guests can expect. It is a very relaxed and comfortable environment for both hardcore and novice gym goers. Many guests agree that the atmosphere is a big draw when visiting this particular gym, with Stowers saying, “The vibe here is very different to commercial gyms.” He has also stated that social interaction is great for those who would like to have a short conversation with mutual friends.

Guests can also expect a relatively large fitness studio. Fires Fitness has “twice the space compared to other fitness centers in the post,” Mejia said.

There are two floors and both have cardio machines to burn extra calories. If using the equipment does not suit your personal needs, there is also an indoor track available on the second floor. There is also a functional fitness room on the second floor, perfect for those who do high-intensity interval training or CrossFit workouts.

If all that doesn’t sound interesting, you’ll also find a large collection of equipment suitable for strength training on the first floor, including bench presses, cable machines, squat racks, dumbbells, and more.

“This can be beneficial for the trainees as they have all the necessary equipment to prepare them for upcoming physical tests,” Mejia said. She added, “As they prepare for combat, I would definitely recommend that they do activities that will help them pass their ACFT and PT tests by doing more functional training.”

For leisure activities, Fires offers a basketball court and a racquetball court for those who enjoy competing. Staff will provide basketballs and racquetball equipment if needed. Trainees can benefit from this if they take a break from training.

Guests are advised to bring their children to climb and act as guardians if they wish to use the facilities. A family room near the main entrance is also available for toddlers and babies.

Annual events are also held in the spring for those who want to challenge themselves physically and mentally. Fires also supports external events, as Mejia said: “The staff helps with other events, such as the Patriot Club with its Oktoberfest and annual runs.”

If your interest piques, the gym also offers cycling, dancing and aerobics.

Fires Fitness Center is open weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m