Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
KFOR
Oklahoma National Guard breaks ground on wellness center
By Terré Gables/KFOR,
6 days ago
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma City National Guard broke ground this month to commemorate the official start of construction of a 32,000 square-foot Wellness Center.
National Guard leaders say the Wellness Center began as a idea with a hand-drawn sketch on scrap paper during a conversation between Lt. Col. Montana Dugger, deputy for the Guard’s Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office, and Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, about building a place to bring all of the Guard’s resources that support Guardsmen’s mental and physical health together under one roof.
Members of the Oklahoma National Guard, Flintco Construction, and the Oklahoma legislature, including Senators Chuck Hall, Brenda Stanley, and Roger Thompson, as well as Representatives Jason Lowe and Josh West, break ground on the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center at the Oklahoma City Military Complex in Oklahoma City, August 14, 2024. When completed, the 32,000-square-foot physical readiness center, constructed by Flintco Construction and designed by Larson Design Group, will replace the previous physical fitness facility located at the Oklahoma City Military Complex and will be open to members of the Oklahoma Air and Army National Guard, Oklahoma Military Department employees, and civilian law enforcement and first responders. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)
“It felt like a team effort,” Col. Lindy White, Joint Resiliency Director for the Oklahoma National Guard said. “We were welcomed and encouraged to provide feedback throughout the process.”
The physical readiness center is set to incorporate a fully-equipped workout space for resistance and agility training, and physical therapy spaces, while other areas will include indoor and outdoor meditation spaces, a chapel for religious and non-religious persons, conference rooms, classrooms, a teaching kitchen, a coffee bar, and offices for OKNG Health and Wellness programs and services.
“With the availability of a chapel, classrooms, and individual office spaces, we have the opportunity for our Service Members and their families to access many more resources,” White said.
For the first time, these OKNG programs and services are scheduled to be under one roof.
“All these services will finally have a home,” White said. “We want to focus on optimal performance and building optimal performers to improve individual readiness.”
“The new wellness center provides much-needed protective factors for Oklahoma Guardsmen to access critical services,” said Brittney Criswell, integrated primary prevention manager for the Oklahoma National Guard. “As the space was designed, Guardsmen were the number one priority in assuring that the physical space provided accessibility and comfortability that all could utilize.”
According to Criswell, Oklahoma is leading the way in this effort.
“(Oklahoma) will be able to truly live out the idea that there is ‘no wrong door’ in seeking services and support from the community,” Criswell said. “This will allow the helping agencies to better communicate and collaborate on important wellness and prevention measures and meet the needs of our service members.”
The new facility is expected to be completed in late 2025.
“It means a great deal to witness reaching this milestone. We are incredibly appreciative for the support of our Oklahoma legislatures and senior leaders who placed emphasis on supporting our Guardsmen’s health and wellness.”
Col. Lindy White, Joint Resiliency Director for the Oklahoma National Guard
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0