Photo By Sgt. Whitney Woods | A Soldier registers in the Volunteer Management Information System at Fort Hood on...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Whitney Woods, 4th PAD
FORT HOOD, Texas - The Lane Volunteer Center on Fort Hood offers opportunities for Soldiers, family members, veterans and Department of Defense civilians to volunteer on the installation.
“Each year, volunteers save the military thousands of dollars by the free hours worked. In December alone, volunteers saved the Army $500,000,” said Carol Ann Hone, volunteer program coordinator at Lane Volunteer Center.
The center, part of the Army Volunteer Corps, provides volunteer services to various organizations throughout the community.
Although many people volunteer on the installation each year, they must take steps prior to conducting work on Fort Hood. Most people are not aware of the requirements.
“The first thing that must happen is to register on the VMIS, Volunteer Management Information System,” Hone said.
The VMIS system helps units calculate volunteer hours and track history of the work performed. Registration is done through the Army One Source website.
“Registration satisfies accountability,” Hone said. “Also many organizations get extra funding when it shows their recorded hours significantly increase for particular programs.”
The Red Cross, family readiness groups, the United Services Organization, Army Community Service and 1st Cavalry Museum are some of the organizations that use VMIS to record volunteer hours on the installation.
“There are about 7,500 registered people in VMIS on Fort Hood,” Hone said. “There are many more people who are volunteering that are not getting credit because, unfortunately, they are not registered.”
The next step a person must take is to apply for a position on VMIS.
“Some of the positions will not be posted, but we can direct them in the right place,” Hone said.
Once a person is registered in VMIS and has applied for a position, they can attend specific training.
“We not only have training at the center, but we will come out to units and train them if they have five or more people to attend the training,” Hone said.
Facebook for FRGs, Resilience Academy, FRG Leader Course, Community Resource Course and FRG Fund Custodian Training are some of the types of training offered by the center.
After they complete volunteer hours, people can get documented proof of attendance and input their hours in the system.
“It doesn’t matter if the proof is written on a napkin, as long as the person gets proof,” Hone said, jokingly.
The hours are permanently recorded into VMIS and are transferable to all other installations once the Soldier or Family member moves.
“Recording your hours is very important especially for those Soldiers who are trying to get the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal,” said Dave Gretsch, Soldier and Family Readiness Branch chief.
The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal is an award given to service members who perform substantial volunteer service to the local community above and beyond the duties required as a military member.
Fort Hood also recognizes individuals each month with the Volunteer of the Month award and annually with the III Corps and Fort Hood Volunteer of the Year Ceremony.
“Awardees are selected by senior leaders and seasoned volunteers,” Hone said.
Acknowledging volunteer efforts is important to the program.
“Volunteers too often do not want the recognition, but it is incredibly important to recognize them,” Gretsch said.
The next annual Volunteer of the Year ceremony is scheduled to be held April 22 at Club Hood.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2015 17:50 |
| Story ID: | 153076 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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