KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 8th Fighter Wing completed their dormitory dayroom renovation project across Kunsan Air Base, May 2025.
With the initiative kicking off in September of 2024, the final 11 of 26 dayrooms were upgraded with help from Airmen Dorm Leaders from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron, the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron, the 8th Comptroller Squadron, the U.S. Army 411th Contracting Support Brigade, and Kunsan’s Quality of Life Task Force.
“The dayroom improvement project has been a fantastic addition to life here at the Wolfpack,” said Col. Joshua "Falcon" Hawkins, 8th Mission Support Group commander. “Serving on a remote, away from family and friends, can be tough for our Airmen, Soldiers, and Marines here at Kunsan, so small finishings and aesthetics—like new couches and modern vinyl flooring—can make a difference in their overall experience at Kunsan. The improvement team really demonstrated how just a bit of funding, and a lot of innovation and dedication, can completely transform an often-overlooked space into a place where Kunsan personnel can gather to relax, recharge, and build camaraderie with their Wolf Pack family.”
Rounding out one of many quality of life initiatives for the Wolf Pack, the renovations feature several equipment upgrades including wall-mounted 65- to 75-inch TVs, new couches, massage chairs, fresh paint and replaced carpets. Several of the larger dayrooms are equipped with arcade-style games including basketball, air hockey and boxing, along with retro video game booths.
“We’ve been waiting for these improvements for a long time,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Grogg, 8th CES ADL. “Even little updates like new couches and carpets have a positive impact on our Airmen’s lives, especially through the holidays, all while fostering community.”
ADL’s like Grogg believe that the changes will have an overall positive impact on Airmen’s morale and the dorm community for what was a relatively small investment and Falcon couldn’t agree more.
“We have learned that for a relatively small investment, we can make major improvements to the feel of one common space per dorm,” noted Falcon back in December. “We now plan to budget to scale more minor improvements in all common spaces across every dorm, starting by expanding free WiFi to all common spaces.”
Reflecting the 8th FW leadership’s commitment to creating spaces that not only improve daily life, these dayroom improvements create an environment for Airmen to relax and recharge, while also ensuring that they remain mission ready