Stand-To!- Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) - March 14, 2008

[stand-to at www.lists.army.mil]

Edition: Fri, March 14, 2008
Rich-text Version
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
“NATO's enlargement has been an historical success, strengthening our  
alliance and serving as a powerful incentive to promote democratic  
reforms among aspiring members. I believe the process of NATO  
enlargement is not complete. NATO’s door must remain open. However,  
NATO candidates must provide added value to the alliance. They must  
be contributors to security, not consumers of it.”

- Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, NATO’s supreme allied commander in  
testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, March 12.  
Several eastern European nations, including Croatia, Albania and  
Macedonia, wish to join NATO.

Gen. Bantz J. Craddock: NATO Forces make a difference in Afghanistan

TODAY'S FOCUS
Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS)

What is it?

The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program is  
designed to give single Soldiers a unified voice in issues that  
affect their quality of life, to provide recreation and leisure  
opportunities, and allow Soldiers to participate in community-service  
projects that help them remain active and productive during their  
free time.
The BOSS program’s mission is to enhance the morale and welfare of  
single Soldiers, increase retention and sustain combat readiness  
through planning and execution of community services, recreation and  
leisure events, and identifying quality-of-life issues for resolution.
Launched in 1989, BOSS has 82 programs throughout the continental  
United States, Europe, Korea, and the Pacific region. There are six  
IMCOM region program managers. Each installation has a BOSS  
president, an MWR advisor and a senior military advisor (the garrison  
command sergeant major), to administer the program’s activities. A  
vice president, secretary and treasurer also serve on the  
installation’s BOSS executive council.

What has BOSS done?

BOSS deals with issues that directly or indirectly influence or  
enhance the morale, living environment, personal growth and  
development of Soldiers. Issues discussed during BOSS meetings are  
directed to the appropriate command or staff agency on military  
installations for resolution. Army-wide concerns are forwarded to the  
Army Family Action Plan for possible resolution by the Department of  
the Army.
The BOSS program also works to plan recreation and leisure activities  
for single Soldiers on each installation. BOSS gives Soldiers an  
opportunity to volunteer for personally rewarding community projects  
and events, such as roadside cleanup projects, volunteering as  
teacher’s aides in elementary and middle schools, and providing  
chaperones for high school proms.

What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future?

During the Global War on Terror, BOSS leaders have shifted their  
focus to: “What else can we do?” For starters, they plan to correct  
the misperception that BOSS exists only for single, enlisted  
Soldiers. All Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation patrons are welcome  
to participate in events generated by BOSS, which illustrates that it  
takes care of the entire community. Leaders of the Department of the  
Army’s BOSS headquarters at the Family and Morale, Welfare and  
Recreation Command in Alexandria, Va., stress the need for BOSS  
Presidents to train BOSS reps to take BOSS programming downrange.

Why is this important to the Army?

With the current emphasis on improving the quality of life for  
Families through the Army Family Covenant, it’s important to remember  
that single Soldiers make up 41 percent of our Active Duty force and  
we have the same obligation to provide them with a quality of life  
commensurate with their sacrifice and service. A recent Army wide  
survey indicates that that readiness and retention increase as MWR  
program use increases, but these programs are used less frequently by  
junior officers and enlisted Soldiers. With single and married  
Soldiers alike, quality of life is one of the largest determining  
factors in their decision to reenlist. We will strengthen the  
readiness of the Army by encouraging active participation in BOSS  
programming and therefore improving the quality of life for our  
single Soldiers.
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2007 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2007 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
Houston Soldier was part of historic all-female Iraq mission (HC)
Schofield Soldier receives medal for act of heroism (ARNews)
Northern Iowa community leaders meet with senior Army leadership  
(ARNews)
Culinary arts competition heats up (ARNews)
WAR ON TERROR NEWS
Gen. Petraeus: Iraqi leaders not making 'sufficient progress' (WP)
With injured bodies, resolute spirits, warriors take to road (SAEN)
U.S. falsely implicates Guantanamo prisoner: lawyer (BG)
OF INTEREST
'Fighting for Life' shows real blood, and real guts (WP)
A savior for those who save lives in war (WP)
HQAMC-forward hires first active duty, civilian employees at Redstone  
(ARNews)
Army to turn trash into power in Iraq (NV)
WORLD VIEW
Saddam Hussein had no direct ties to al Qaeda, says Pentagon study  
(TG | Story)
Opinion: The illusion of Mideast peace (GN | Story)
'Army is the biggest political party in Pakistan' (TOI | Story)
‘Kayani working to rebuild army’s professionalism’ (DT | Story)
Kabul suicide blast kills civilians (AJ | Story)
Insurgents behead three soldiers in Somalia; UN to set up peace talks  
(GN | Story)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
Woman in the mirror (N2G)
Repent! The end is near! (GC)
Wounded warriors highlighted (BF)
Katherine Fugate, Army wives creator, post show blog (TS)
Daylight Saving Time in Iraq (BF)
One last CIB (GC)


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