BOSS: Not just for Soldiers anymore

  • Published
  • By Luke Waack
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program has officially changed its name to show its inclusion of all services.

The new name replaces Soldiers with service members and the program will extend its invitations and benefits to many more people, according to BOSS leadership.
"We have officially renamed our program the JBER Better Opportunities for Single Service-members," said Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Kimball, 673d Air Base Wing command sergeant major and BOSS senior enlisted advisor.

Any single service member, to include single parents and geographical bachelors, is eligible to participate in BOSS events, Kimball said.

BOSS has three pillars - quality of life, recreation and leisure, and community service, and service members have a lot to gain by participating in BOSS events and getting to know people in the program, Kimball said.

Troops can work with BOSS to improve some of the little problems that come up in everyday life.

"The quality of life pillar of BOSS is an avenue for Soldiers and Airmen to raise awareness of issues that affect (them)," Kimball said. "Issues brought up at the BOSS meetings are brought straight to me by the BOSS president. Examples are ... issues with the number of inoperable washers and dryers in the barracks, or the need for peepholes to be installed in the barracks room doors to improve security."

Recreation and leisure is probably what most people think of when they hear of BOSS, Kimball said.

"Our BOSS program plans and executes several events each month," Kimball said. "Everything from white water rafting and fishing in the summer, to skiing and snowmobiling in the winter."

BOSS' next events are a free Murder Mystery Saturday, 7 p.m. at The Arctic Chill, a pumpkin carving contest Oct. 14 at the Kashim Club and two nights of Halloween, Oct. 28 and 29 at 9 p.m. at The Arctic Chill. The third BOSS pillar is community service.
BOSS offers single service-members a chance to come together and give back to the community.

"Each month, BOSS members take clothing donations to the Brother St. Francis homeless shelter and they help cook and serve lunch," Kimball said. "BOSS also works with the JBER-Richardson community mayors to collect winter coats for kids. BOSS works very close with the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and many other organizations on and off base."

BOSS also runs the Soldiers Against Drunk Driving program, providing free rides from downtown back to base on Friday and Saturday nights.

BOSS can make a tour in Alaska a lot more fun and service members are missing out if they don't take advantage, Kimball said.

"We want our Soldiers and Airmen to get out of the barracks and dorms and enjoy their time here at JBER," Kimball said. "BOSS is a great way to meet and socialize with other service-members, as well as a conduit to get their issues to the installation leadership and a way to do something good for our community."

It's important for leaders to get the word out about what BOSS offers, Kimball said.
"Those of us in the Army have known about BOSS since 1989," Kimball said. "Now we need to spread the word to our Air Force brothers and sisters. We now have an Airman as the JBER BOSS vice president, Tech. Sgt. Carina Rodgers, who is also a dorm manager. So she is spreading the word to our Airmen. We potentially could double the size of our program. But the key to success is leadership buy-in and service-member participation. Without participation, there is no program."

BOSS leaders work with program participants to generally help out wherever they can, according to Rodgers.

"Some of us are seasoned, so we can help the younger troops," Rodgers said. "We meet every other Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Arctic Chill. We're going to start hosting one meeting over there and one on the Elmendorf side."

BOSS provided transportation for service members to take part in a Sept. 11 memorial hike up Flat Top mountain.

Kimball encourages everyone who is eligible to take part in BOSS events.

"Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base have been neighbors for decades, but most (never) dared to cross to the other side," Kimball said. "We work and fight together when deployed, why not work and play together at home station?"