Defence

Air Force

Fitness free for all

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel deployed overseas will soon have no excuse to not maintain a high level of physical fitness on operations, with the new Deployable Fitness and Recreational Centre (DFRC) making it simpler than ever to work out. With the increased number, and duration, of deployments, this new facility will ensure our air operations capability is maintained at its optimum. Warrant Officer Gerry Hallinan reports.

With all the necessary equipment at hand, deployed forces will be able to enjoy the benefits of peak physical fitness.
Photos provided by Air Force

The DFRC is designed to assist individuals and groups to maintain their physical fitness and skill levels. It will also provide the opportunity to focus on retention by enhancing morale and camaraderie, minimising boredom and stress, and facilitating the return to a normal state of mind and physical function after exposure to high stress situations.

The DFRC has been developed to be used during air operational expeditionary deployments and comprises four modified 16ft shipping containers and two shelter containers. The shipping containers are full of exercise and specific physical training, sporting and recreational equipment and, once empty, become part of the frame work and floor space of the DFRC.

The Headquarters Combat Support Group project took three years to complete, working with contractors and a number of Physical Training Instructors (PTIs) from all over Australia. It is a first for the Australian Defence Force and a capability that will provide constant and sustainable welfare support for operations. The DFRC shelter fabric has been designed to adapt to a variety of weather and deployment conditions. Being heavy duty and durable, it is air conditioned and able to repel extreme heat and windy conditions.

PTIs, along with personnel from No1 Combat Logistics Squadron at RAAF Base Townsville, have undergone familiarisation training on assembling and disassembling the DFRC, along with formal training to manage and operate the centre, which can be assembled within six hours. The DFRC was fully tested, validated and used during Exercises Kakadu 05 and Pitch Black 06.

Once set up, the DFRC is managed by PTIs and supports up to 300 personnel within a 20km region. The DFRC is modualised so it can partly be deployed and built up in stages or split into two, in order to accommodate sections that are unable to leave their work areas. Two shipping containers can cater for up to 120 personnel while four enables training activities for up to 300 personnel. The facility contains a circuit room, a fitness room and weight training facility, cinema area, a meeting and recreational area, along with an office. Sporting equipment is available to set up a number of playing areas and play most sports.

The DFRC is fully equipped with physical training and exercise equipment to support personnel to allow them to continue fitness programs when they are away from home base. The treadmills and electronic bikes allow all members to continue or begin training regimes while deployed, and has proved to be of immense value. Cyclists have not been forgotten with SPIN bikes proving to be very popular during deployments. This facility also provides members with a place to escape from the stressful times and to vent frustrations. Previously, PTIs have had to rely on trying to squeeze in any equipment where they could find a spot on transport. This new and exciting facility has proven its worth already on deployments by allowing any member of any fitness level to stay active and enjoy what the magnificent facility has to offer. The entire fitness centre is collapsible so that it can be transported by air, land or sea and its modular construction allows ease of assembly and disassembly.

The DFRC is a great step forward for deployed personnel on operations with the equipment and facilities replacing ad hoc physical training, ensuring our personnel have the best opportunity to maintain a high level of physical fitness while away from home.

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