June 12 Commander's Action Line

Can we extend the hours of the fitness center to 24 hours a day?

Thank you for your interest and comments about the Cannon Fitness Center’s hours of operation. Currently, we are maximizing AF Fitness Standards by providing 112 hours of operation per week to meet Air Commando fitness needs. Current fitness center hours of operation are 5 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron conducted a 24-hour operation assessment last year and found usage rates were minimal and did not justify 24-hour operations. Toward the end of 2008 they also contacted Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compare hours of operation in an effort to prepare for the arrival of units and fitness needs, and found that the need for 24 hour operations did not exist at Hurlburt. That, combined with the assessment, resulted in minimal changes to hours of operations at the base fitness center.

That said, we understand that the base population and mission will continue to grow and flexibility is needed in many areas. We will continue to meet our mission requirements and ensure you and all Air Commando fitness needs are met. To that end, the 27 SOFSS was successful in acquiring $260,000 in new fitness center equipment and $1.4 million on a new artificial grass field, running track and exercise pad this fiscal year to meet the growing fitness and intramural sports needs here at Cannon. In addition, plans are already in place to expand our fitness center capabilities in the out years by building a new state-of-the-art satellite dining and fitness facility in fiscal year 2013 in support of future south base operational needs.

Thanks again for your action line submission. We will continue to monitor the need for expanded fitness center hours of operation. In addition to submitting a Commander’s Action Line question, several ways are available to make sure that you and others with similar concerns about the Fitness Center get their voices heard. The first is through your unit sport representative who meets at the fitness center on a quarterly basis. Another is letting your supervisors, commanders and first sergeants know concern. Finally, you can also fill in a customer comment card at the fitness center, or comment online through our website at http://ice.disa.mil. The fitness center is always looking for the best way to serve its customers.

I had to pay back BAH after PCSing here since Cannon has a lower BAH rate than my previous duty station. How can we ensure the finance office knows to adjust our BAH once we inprocess?

Thank you for your question. I think much of your concern stems from possible unfamiliarity with a new in-processing system implemented at Cannon on April 13. Recently, the Air Force began using the PCS In-Processing System, otherwise known as PIPS, for frequent PCSers and members familiar with the process. This is designed to allow the traveler to complete the voucher at their own desktop in a simple to follow wizard-based Web site.

In your case, you left a higher rate BAH location and are entitled to receive that rate in transit until you officially sign into Cannon and process your travel voucher. In addition, since the voucher completion process is no longer a part of the normal in-processing briefings, it is incumbent you, the member, to complete it as soon as possible to avoid overpayment of BAH due to higher rates from your last duty station. As soon as you complete that voucher, it is forwarded up for processing at the Air Force Financial Services Center, at Ellsworth AFB, SD. From that point forward, the 27th Special Operations Comptroller Squadron can provide status on the PCS travel voucher and can tell you general timelines for processing.

However, it is important to remember to review your leave and earnings statement regularly to verify correct entitlements and allowances. Even in a PCS status, you can view myPay or can call the 27 SOCPTS at 784-2646. By doing so, you can prevent overpayments and corresponding debt establishment, or at the very least can realize your overpayment status and can set the extra money aside until collection action takes place.

Feel free to contact the 27 SOCPTS at 784-2646 with any additional questions.

Thank you again for your Commander’s Action Line submission; I’m sure others have similar concerns and will appreciate your question

The Commander's Action Line is a direct line to the 27 SOW commander for any questions or suggestions about the Cannon community. To receive a response when calling the commander's action line, leave your name, unit and telephone number. Action lines of general interest to the community will be published on Cannon's Web site and Cannon Connections. Others will be answered by a personal response. Call 784-6909 or e-mail [email protected]