WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Active-duty military, Guard, Reservists and their families at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will have a new "home away from home" due to a significant project undertaken by the United Service Organization of Central and Southern Ohio (USO-CSO) at the base's former Community and Airmen Center, Bldg. 1222, Kittyhawk Center, Area A.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening of the refurbished building will take place Feb. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m., with the USO Community Center open for regular visitors Feb. 27 from noon until midnight.

The former Airmen Community Center, located near the Base Exchange, Commissary and Airmen dormitories, was closed due to sequestration and budget constraints in 2014 but will now serve as a resource for Airmen and their loved ones to relax in a quiet, comfortable atmosphere, said Col. John Devillier, 88th Air Base Wing installation commander.

The center's new amenities will be introduced in two phases, with phase I including the Wright Café, a lounge equipped with WiFi, brand-new chairs, ottomans, counters, tables, flat-screen TVs and packaged food and beverages for service members.

The first floor's main space has been divided by a newly constructed wall separating the café and the auditorium, which will remain available for the base community's use for commander's calls, graduations and more. Airmen, their families and USO volunteers have been applying paint throughout the building on weekends to lend it a cheerful, bright atmosphere.

"We're also taking over the Airman's Attic," said Sherry Ems, USO-CSO executive director. The third-floor space, stocked with racks and display pieces donated by Sandy Mendelson of Mendelson's in Dayton, resembles a thrift store - except no money changes hands. Instead, enlisted personnel E1 through E4 are welcome to browse Wednesday through Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. for what they need to wear or furnish their homes.

The base chapel has use of the second floor for programming on Sundays; the USO may use the rooms during the week.

The project's second phase will include a game room, music room, some pool tables, and perhaps an art room, Ems said. It will be undertaken as soon as funds and in-kind donations allow.

"We want to grow this as we grow our presence on the base," she said. "We also want to offer programs and entertainment to these service members and their families."

The center is another example of the great relationship the base enjoys with the Miami Valley community.

"The USO saw a need and we saw a need. This is a great opportunity for us to partner with the USO to support our Airmen and their families here on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base," he said.

The project started more than a year ago. Devillier is quick to credit Ems and Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Arnold, 88th ABW command chief, with making this a reality.  

"This is a natural fit for the facility itself and some of the programs that were offered (previously)," he said.

"All of the work we do and the staffing of the facility will be done through volunteers so we're in desperate need of volunteers to take shifts as well," Ems said. Prospective volunteers may register at www.usovolunteers.org via a form and they will be contacted.

The USO-CSO is a 501c3 non-profit organization that served 105,000 service members and their families in 2015 with over $887,510 in support. This was accomplished, in part, by approximately 500 volunteers who served over 22,000 hours last year.