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The Ramstein Community Center hosted a free bowling night for single Airmen Aug. 29 at the Ramstein Bowling Center.
The event was held as part of the Single Airman Program Initiative pre-Labor Day special. All 30 lanes of the bowling center and shoe rentals were provided for free from 8 to 11 p.m.
“The free bowling night was used to build camaraderie and offer some recreation to the single Airmen here in the Kaiserslautern Military Community,” said Darlene Johnson, 86th Force Support Squadron Ramstein Community Center director. “We are able to do this through the Single Airman Program Initiative.”
SAPI is an Air Force initiative, endorsed by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force office, whose goal is to provide force support squadrons with the resources to foster a strong culture, mission and sense of community for single Airmen.
In order to provide similar events, force support squadrons designate a point of contact to work with single Airmen to determine their needs and interests and develop programs based on both officer and enlisted single Airmen’s priorities.
“It’s for single Airmen with a capital A,” Johnson said. “We try to target the ages from 18 to 25. We don’t disallow any age group, but that’s the age of most Airmen in the dorms. We try to pull them out of the dorms and show them some camaraderie. Free bowling is just one of those activities we want to offer.”
The funds are provided via the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The Air Force Services agency, by way of the Air Force Personnel Center Services Directorate, enables force support squadrons all over the Air Force to offer events through SAPI.
Events range from free bowling to cooking classes to cultural trips. However, funds aren’t able to be used for everything.
“They can’t approve funds for entertainment, such as (wrestling events) or concert tickets,” Johnson said. “The program will provide transportation to these places. If we need to take a bus, van or whatever, they will pay to the single Airmen there.”
Along with tickets for entertainment, SAPI funds also cannot be used for food or lodging, but funding can be used for developing life skills and purchasing equipment.
“Outdoor Recreation has hosted a lot of ski trips, and they have a lot of equipment that was purchased for the single Airmen,” Johnson said.
Johnson said they have even used funds to help Airmen offset the cost of getting their certification in the scuba diving class taught at the Ramstein Aquatic Center.
To get other events or classes planned and scheduled, Airmen only need to think outside of the box and do some research.
“The sky’s the limit really,” Johnson said. “It’s just a matter of requesting and justifying whether it is going to be something the single Airmen can benefit from not only fun wise but also by broadening their skills.”
For more information about SAPI, call the Ramstein Bowling Center at 480-6600 or 06371-47-6600.
