Focus groups help winter activities

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Winter is here and the 354th Force Support Squadron is gearing up with focus groups to make this winter a fun one for Airmen and their families.

The squadron is in charge of programs that are aimed at enhancing morale and the quality of life of Airmen and their families stationed at Eielson.

"We're not here just to put on events that we think sound great, we really want to serve our customers because that's serving the base - whether its active duty or guard military members, enlisted or officers, spouses, [Department of Defense] civilians, retirees, - they're all part of our community," said Leigh Tulloss, 354th Force Support Squadron marketing director.

In the past, the squadron has held different events such as XBox tournaments that started out with fairly high participation but later dwindled.

"We're thinking perhaps we didn't get the game right," said Mrs. Tulloss. "We're trying to figure out events to hold at the club and Outdoor Rec so that the Airmen will be more motivated to participate."

The squadron has also tried to host trips to Aleyska Ski Resort and Anchorage in the past but without enough people signed up, the trips had to be cancelled.

"You don't have to worry about driving on the roads or anything, we would love for the trips to be a success," she said.

For Airmen looking for things to do around base, Eielson is home to the Iceman Falls Lodge and Ski Hill which started operations Oct. 1. Icemen can checkout winter gear to snowboard, ski, snowmachine riding and more. Outdoor Recreation also offers classes for cross-country skiing and downhill skiing.

The squadron will also be coordinating for the success of the 25th Annual Fall Festival and Fireworks show Oct. 29 at the Yukon Club. Events include pumpkin decorating and other similar carnival activities.

"We're really excited, we usually give away all kinds of stuff," said Mrs. Tulloss. This year's grand prize at this year's event is an Apple iPad.

"I think especially with our activities, we're always changing, improving upon something that we've done, trying to get new ideas and that's where the customers come in. We use the focus groups and ICE, our interactive customer evaluation system online, to let us know what is working, and what isn't working," said Mrs. Tulloss.

For more information about FSS events around Eielson or to offer your suggestions, visit http://www.eielsonforcesupport.com/. To provide feedback online, ICE surveys can be found on the right hand side of Eielson Force Support page.