JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The Air Force Services Activity, headquartered on JBSA-Lackland, offers programs and special events that appeal to Airmen and their families by providing fun, exercise and competition in a safe environment.
“Our bowling center upgrades and programs will enable single Airmen and those with families to enjoy everything the sport has to offer in a safe environment inside the gates,” said Don Freund, AFSVA bowling program manager.
Air Force bowling centers offer league and open bowling, lessons and fun zones on 80 installations around the globe. Centers report an average of 4.6 million lanes bowled annually, making Air Force Bowling the second largest operator of bowling centers in the United States.
The range of bowling programs offered appeal to experienced league players, novices, youth and those who bowl for fun, fitness and recreation. The 2016 programs are Recharge for Resiliency, or R4R: Bowling Instructional Camp, Air Force Bowling 2.0, Worldwide Bowling and Air Force “Walking Dead” Bowling League.
“The Air Force is really on the cutting edge. These programs are available only to the Airmen (and their families),” said Kelly Bednar, director of education for the Bowling Proprietors Association of America.
R4R: Bowling Instructional Camp
The R4R camp is coached by Pro Bowlers Association professionals or gold-level instructors who will introduce the sport to novices and improve the game of more experienced players.
Each session is tailored to patrons of that particular bowling center. It may include basic, intermediate and advanced instruction, an exhibition of trick shots and more.
“We have the best players in the world who have stepped up to do clinics for the Air Force,” Freund said. “If the installation chooses, the clinic can be for all ages or for adults or youths only. Bowlers can meet the top players on the PBA Tour and get advice on their game.”
Clinicians include gold-level instructor Mark Baker, Del Ballard, Chris Barnes, Parker Bohn III, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Norm Duke, Bob “Mr. 300” Learn, Amleto Monacelli, former Team USA member Rhino Page, ESPN color commentator and PBA Hall of Famer Randy Pedersen, Sean Rash, Tom Smallwood, Jason Sterner and Pete Weber.
“It’s so different than working with civilians. My husband was military, so I have a huge appreciation and respect for families and what they sacrifice,” said Laurie Romano, event coordinator for Next Level Bowling, a company that provides bowling instruction worldwide. “When we get in front of the families and in front of (Airmen), we want to give back. We want to somehow serve them.”
“The PBA bowlers vary from event to event, but I don’t know one who doesn’t feel the same way about working with the military,” she added.
Working with each installation’s bowling center manager, Romano organizes the clinics and matches a professional bowler to the center.
“We don’t put on a cookie-cutter event. What we teach depends on who is involved in the clinic: league bowlers, children, wounded warriors, retirees,” she said.
An April 16 clinic at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, featured Page and international coach and consultant Dale Niemela.
“We had small groups, about 10 in each session. It was nice and intimate,” said Janet Freer, bowling center supervisor. “They did a nice presentation at the beginning with slideshows, then had a lot of one-to-one time. They were really helpful.”
Each session at Davis-Monthan Lanes cost $15 per person and included bowling and shoes if needed, a bargain for a clinic with high-profile instructors.
“It is so gratifying for Next Level Bowling to work with these Airmen,” Romano said. “The pro bowlers agree these clinics are the best events they’ve ever done, not because of the clinic itself but because of the Airmen and families they are teaching. It’s an absolute honor to give back.”
Bowling 2.0
Bowling 2.0 is a program developed by the Bowling Proprietor’s Association of America, the U.S. Bowling Congress and Strike Ten Entertainment. This comprehensive four-week course is designed to develop novice bowlers into league bowlers.
Freund and his team have customized the training materials to meet Air Force Standards.
Each weekly session takes 90 minutes. The first 30 minutes are designed to be in a classroom setting with a video lesson. The rest of the class is practice time.
Week 1 is an introduction: how to choose the right ball, how to grip the ball, learning about the lanes and their markings, proper warmup techniques, the four-step approach and lane courtesy.
Week 2 focuses on posture, foot alignment, targeting the pins and cooling down.
Week 3 gets more in depth: key pins, how to handle a split, wrist positions, visual alignment, using the balance arm and practice drills
Week 4 includes terminology, how to make quick adjustments, an introduction to league bowling and a quick review.
The program runs through Sept. 17.
Air Force “Walking Dead Bowling League”
Hitching a summer bowling league to the immensely popular television series “The Walking Dead” was a no-brainer, Freund said. The league is scheduled to run May 1 - Aug. 16 at 20 installations Air Force wide. For details, see http://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/5171/Article/717990/the-walking-dead-promotion-enlivens-afsva-summer-bowling-league.aspx
Youth program
Worldwide Bowling targets a younger demographic. This program encourages youth to log their bowling activity online for a chance to win random prizes.
It’s open to 5- to 17-year-olds authorized to use force support squadron facilities. Participants submit bowling results through the “Bowl to Win” site, www.usabowltowin.com. For games to count, they must be bowled at an Air Force installation or Air Force-led joint base and have included at least one other bowler.
The program runs June through August.
Behind the scenes
An upgrade to a computer operating system is key to improved programs at Air Force bowling centers. Before the upgrade, 70 of the 80 Air Force bowling centers were running on Windows XP.
“In 2010, money was budgeted to get every center on the same operating system. It’s a long process, but we’re there. The Air Force Services Activity took on the expense of managing the systems. By June, all the systems will be rolled out,” Freund said.
The new bowling management system controls everything that has to do with the game, including scoring and foul lights. In centers running outdated software, system crashes have caused lanes to shut down.
“The customer will experience more stability and more consistency in the availability of services,” said Mignon Tolbert, AFSVA program manager in charge of the upgrade.
For more information on Air Force bowling centers and programs, visit www.myairforcelife.com.