The Fort Irwin Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is proud to announce the grand opening of the Warrior Zone and Habañero restaurant on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m.
The grand opening celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony, a tour of the facility and a cake cutting. After the official ceremonies, the celebration continues with pool table and video game tournaments, free food samples, Monster and Red Bull trucks, giveaways provided by the Exchange, and more. The Warrior Zone and Habañero is located on Third Street and Avenue F in building 361.
Warrior Zone can be described as a state-of-the-art, high-tech recreation facility for Soldiers. Centered around high-speed gaming options, such as Alienware, Xbox with Kinect, and sound domes for concentrated audio isolation. The Warrior Zone comes equipped with: high definition television screens, six three-dimensional high definition LED television screens, two projector screens, Wi-Fi and high-speed Internet access, two nine-foot Brunswick tournament certified pool tables, a 24-occupancy home theater with a 120” high definition projector screen with integrated high definition surround sound, and more.
Habañero, a FMWR branded Tex Mex, quick-service restaurant, will serve made-to-order favorites like tacos, nachos, burritos and will carry a selection of domestic and import beers.
Although Habañero will be open to the Fort Irwin community, Soldiers will have to show a valid identification to use Warrior Zone amenities such as gaming stations, movies, and Sport Select table-top speakers. The facility has streaming accessibility of music videos by Uplay.
According to www.army.mil, Maj. Gen. Reuben D. Jones (retired) coined the name Warrior Zone after guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense called for the creation of a “servicemember techno-activity center.” Jones had been the commander of the now deactivated Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command.
Warrior Zone’s were designed to promote resiliency, a place where Soldiers can relax and talk with their peers in a safe environment.
“Through diverse entertainment offerings and cutting-edge design features, the Warrior Zone will be a place where Soldiers can meet and unwind,” said Douglas Smith, Fort Irwin’s director of FMWR. “This is about getting a little bit of down time.”
Warrior Zone’s are currently operating in Europe, Alaska, Fort Lewis and Fort Riley with construction of a 10,000 square-foot facility at Fort Hood and a 30,000 square-foot facility at Fort Bliss.
“This kind of facility gets our Soldiers talking with each other in a casual atmosphere which focuses on the camaraderie we want them to continue to develop,” Smith said. “This is about resiliency.”
The Warrior Zone will provide Fort Irwin Soldiers with on-post entertainment that rivals off-post options. Hours of operation: Warrior Zone, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Habañero, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5 to 8 p.m.
For more information call 380-5111 or visit www.fortirwinfmwr.com. To stay current on Warrior Zone activities and events, find the Warrior Zone on Facebook at “Fort Irwin Warrior Zone.”
