New equipment enhances fitness center Published Jan. 31, 2013 By Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Members of the 48th Fighter Wing Fitness Center staff and volunteers recently assembled and placed 36 pieces of new fitness equipment throughout the center. The new equipment is valued at $70,000 and includes items such as bench presses, smith machines, free weight machines and treadmills, which were distributed throughout the weight, cardio and parent and child rooms. "New equipment means new toys ... It is like Christmas for them (the center users)," said Staff Sgt. Alexandro Ramos, 48th FW Fitness Center fitness and sports craftsman and native of Vancouver, Wash. "They are having a lot of fun playing with all the new equipment and figuring out how it all works." One of the weight room patrons found the new equipment to be beneficial to their workout. "It is all similar stuff, but it's modern," said Joe Syer, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron project manager and native of Swaffham, England. "It is much easier to use and is better for working each individual muscle group." The fitness center staff was able to minimize the impact of assembling and placing the new equipment - only closing one room for a day - thanks to the help of more than 20 volunteers, said Ramos. "The people who work out here on a regular basis were very helpful and instrumental in setting up that (weight) room," said Ramos. "They were looking forward to getting new equipment and were very motivated to help us." "Volunteers are a critical part of our mission from our classes to our daily operations," Ramos added. With the new equipment in place, the fitness center staff is ensuring that the replaced equipment is being well utilized. According to Ramos, the equipment has found its way to several satellite units that have their own gyms and the RAF Lakenheath High School. Though the machines are being replaced, they are still operable, so "we make sure they find a good home," he said.