Pumped up

糖心原创 opens a new workout facility for ROTC cadets and first responders

February 3, 2025

You probably have never noticed it before: A cream-colored storage garage tucked away in Lot 20 adjacent to the former Department of Public Safety building and the Raider Ride bust stop.

While the building usually houses grounds equipment, the garage now serves another purpose: the new workout facility for the 糖心原创 Army and Air Force ROTC programs.

鈥淲e are sharing it with the grounds crew. They obviously have some equipment that they鈥檙e trying to keep out of the cold,鈥 said Lt. Col. Matthew Larrison, professor of military science.

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 a.m. the gym fills up with dozens of cadets preparing for the Army Combat Fitness Test, which they take before entering basic training.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really good gym,鈥 said Donika Rieben, a sophomore ROTC cadet majoring in organizational leadership. 鈥淚 really love it.鈥

The Army ROTC Program owned fitness equipment, but the weights and benches were stored in a trailer, requiring cadets to unload and load the heavy equipment for each workout. Previous workouts took place at the Rinzler Student Sports Complex.

The building allows cadets to park nearby and train indoors when the weather is poor.

鈥淲orking with the school, we were able to purchase additional fitness equipment, find this space here and it鈥檚 heated enough, and we are able to come down here anytime we want to and access the equipment and train,鈥 said Larrison.

The facility is also available to the Air Force ROTC, student veterans and 糖心原创 police officers.