BOSS: Connecting fellow warriors

Photo By Spc. Nathan Thome | Pfc. Benjamin Carroll, cavalry scout, Troop A, 4th Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, loads trash into the back of a truck while volunteering at Iron Horse Park during Make-A-Difference Day, Oct. 27, 2012. MADD was a volunteer event, in which the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program put out information and sign-up sheets so soldiers had an easily accessible way to volunteer. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan Thome, 4th Inf. Div. PAO)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

02.13.2013

Story by Spc. Nathan Thome 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. – Dedicated soldiers have taken the time to enhance post camaraderie, by becoming their unit’s representative in the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, which allows many single soldiers to enjoy the recreational and leisure activities available on Fort Carson.

The goal of the program is to keep single soldiers informed of the program’s current events, trips, volunteering, fundraisers and soldier issues, which wouldn’t be possible if not for soldiers like Spc. Elizabeth Erickson, former Fort Carson BOSS vice president and current 1st Brigade Combat Team BOSS representative.

“I got involved with BOSS because it sounded like fun,” said Erickson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st BCT, 4th Infantry Division. “Soldiers get to go out, normally with little to no charge at all, and see the country or the state they are in.”

Erickson became involved in BOSS during a training meeting when she was stationed in Korea.

“Around late February, early March of 2012, my unit needed a new representative, so I volunteered to do it; my old brigade command sergeant major chose me, and that’s when I first got involved in the program,” said Erickson. “It feels like this program brings the post closer together than before, and events such as volunteering get solders out into the community, so they can improve the community and feel good about themselves.”

In addition to recreation and volunteering, the program also supports the overall quality of life for single soldiers. BOSS identifies well being issues and concerns by recommending improvements through the chain of command.

“My favorite part about BOSS is actually not the events, it’s quality of life,” said Cpl. Rachael Robertson, BOSS president, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson.

Soldiers can submit quality of life issues pertaining to living conditions and issues related specifically to single soldiers.
“I’m the only person on post who takes quality of life issues, and I like dealing with them because I’m a ‘fight for your rights’ kind of person, and try to get the soldiers what they want.”

When soldiers first arrive on Fort Carson, they receive a brief during their in-processing from Robertson, who tells the soldiers about the program and its perks, which can include trips to cities outside of Colorado Springs, volunteer opportunities and strengthened camaraderie with other soldiers.

To find out more information about the BOSS program, soldiers can visit The Foxhole in Building 1532, call 719-524-2677, or visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FortCarsonBOSS. To get up-to-date information on what’s going on with BOSS, soldiers can text, ‘follow CarsonBOSS’ to 40404.

• Date Taken: 02.13.2013
• Date Posted: 02.22.2013 17:36
• Story ID: 102418
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US