The first spade of earth has been turned in a partnership bringing a new fitness center to airmen at Nellis AFB, Nev., and a water-reclamation facility to the citizens of North Las Vegas. Base and city leaders last week broke ground on the base’s new 109,000 square-foot fitness facility, which includes an indoor pool, running track, three basketball courts, and accommodation for expanded weight and aerobic training. “Fitness in our Air Force is one of the elements we cannot overemphasize,” said Col. Steven Garland, head of Nellis’ 99th Air Base Wing, at the Sept. 29 groundbreaking. The city is paying $25 million to lease 41 acres on the base where the water plant will be built. That funding is going towards the costs of the fitness center, which is expected to be completed in November 2011. (Nellis report by Lawrence Crespo)
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.