Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers
Soldier Activity Center • Bldg. 20237, Constitution Drive, East Fort Bliss
Office: (915) 744-1525 • Mobile: (915) 526-4264
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Post BOSS Meeting at 1530 every Tuesday at the Soldier Activity Center
BDE BOSS
Meeting at 1500 on the 2nd + 4th Tuesday of each month
What is BOSS?
The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Program supports the overall quality of single Soldiers’ lives. BOSS identifies real quality of life (QOL) issues and concerns by recommending improvements through the installation chain of command. BOSS also encourages and assists single Soldiers in identifying and planning for recreational and leisure activities. Additionally, it allows for the opportunity to participate in and contribute to their respective communities.
History
The BOSS program was established in 1989 to respond to the recreational needs of singles Soldiers who make up 35% of the Army. As the program was implemented throughout the Army, it became evident that quality of life was the primary concern of single Soldiers. In 1991, the Chief of Staff of the Army officially approved BOSS members to participate in community service projects. Recreation and Leisure, quality of life, and community service are the core components of the BOSS program.
How Does It Work?
Installations establish a formal BOSS program that includes a BOSS Council consisting of single Soldier representatives from the installation's units. MWR advisory is appointed to provide guidance in planning activities, financial accountability, and marketing. Motivated single Soldiers with strong senior military and MWR guidance are the backbone of the BOSS Program.
Issues addressed during BOSS meetings will be formatted and submitted to the senior military advisor to seek resolution through the proper channels or staff agency. Issues that cannot be resolved at the installation level are coordinated with installation Army typically, the installation Command Sergeant Major serves as the senior military advisor to the council. An installation Family Action Plan (AFAP) coordinator and may be released by the installation commander to go forward to the major Army command (MACOM) AFAP.
Who Can Participate in BOSS Programs?
All single Soldiers, single parents and unaccompanied Soldiers; however, certain events, like volunteer events and trips, are also open to married Soldiers as long as spots are available.
BOSS Council
BOSS Councils are comprised of single Soldiers from major subordinate commands and separate units on an installation. Single Soldiers have an opportunity to become unit representatives, volunteer to assist in planning an event, or attend BOSS activities. The Department of the Army BOSS circular defines the roles of the chain of command and MWR personnel at all levels.
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BOSS Components
- Quality of Life (QOL) for single Soldiers deals primarily with those things that the single Soldiers can directly or indirectly influence to enhance their morale, living environment, or personal growth and development. Some of the issues addressed by BOSS Councils include dining facilities, education, fitness centers, Soldiers' quarters, medical and dental care, commissary, and Army and Air Force Exchange Service. QOL issues identified or raised during BOSS meetings are directed to the appropriate command or staff agency for resolution at the lowest level for immediate Soldier satisfaction.
- Recreation and leisure activities may be planned solely by the BOSS council or in conjunction with other MWR activities. Soldiers assume the primary role in planning, BOSS events. Events planned by BOSS councils should meet the needs and desires of single Soldiers on the installations. BOSS councils have sponsored events such as Soldier talent competitions, concerts, dances, and trips. BOSS also coordinates with the installation commercial sponsorship office when planning some major events.
- Community Service: BOSS Councils often elect to participate in community prog4ams or projects which make a difference in the lives of others, the community, and ultimately, themselves. On some installations, BOSS members have volunteered to take part in Big Brother/Big Sister, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity. Some councils have developed their own programs which include sending packages to deployed Soldiers, and BOSS Against Drunk Drivers (BADD). These components are voluntary in nature and must be in accordance with the installation volunteer program.
BOSS News
Red Bull King of the Rock tournament
Lace up your shoes and steady your nerves: It’s time to face off for a chance to be crowned King of the Rock. For the third straight year, the Red Bull King of the Rock one-on-one basketball tournament will make a stop at Fort Bliss for a special qualifier. This year's qualifier will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31 at Stout Physical Fitness Center’s outdoor basketball courts.
The event is open to active-duty military, family members 16 years of age and older, retirees, and Department of Defense and Department of the Army civilians from the Fort Bliss, White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base. Registration is free and requires a DoD/DA-issued identification card.
The local winner will skip the regional qualifier and head directly to the finals on the island of Alcatraz … better known as “The Rock.” The finals will take place September 28. In addition to a trip to "The Rock," the local winner will take home a $1,000 cash prize, which will be paid when the finalist arrives at Alcatraz.
Applications can be picked up at Soto Physical Fitness Center, 20751 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss, or Stout Physical Fitness Center, 2930 Cassidy Road on West Fort Bliss. The field is limited to 64 players and sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. Players from the communities of Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range may register via email; call (915) 569-6774 for details.
Players may also register on the day of the tournament, but only as long as there are still slots available. On-site registration begins at 7 p.m.
Learn more about King of the Rock at www.redbull.com/kingoftherock. For more information on the local qualifier, call (915) 569-6774.
Open Basketball League
Get your team together and sign up for the Team Bliss Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Open Basketball League. Play begins Saturday, June 8. All games will be played Saturdays at Soto Physical Fitness Center.
The league is open to active-duty military, family members 18 and older, and DoD/DA civilains. Team rosters are limited to 12 players. Registration costs $260 per team. All teams are guaranteed seven games: six regular-season games and one playoff game.
A mandatory coaches meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29 at the Soldier Activity Center, 20732 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss
Soto PFC is located at 20751 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss. The league memorandum of instruction (MOI) can be found at www.blissmwr.com/intramurals. For more information, call (915) 744-5794.
Open Volleyball League
Bump. Set. Spike! Grab a team and sign up for the 2013 Fort Bliss Open Volleyball League. The league will begin play Saturday, June 8. All games will be played Saturdays at Stout Physical Fitness Center, 2930 Cassidy Road on West Fort Bliss
The league is open to active-duty military, family members 18 and older, and DoD/DA civilians. Registration costs $260 per team. All teams are guaranteed sevengames: six regular-season games and one playoff game.
A mandatory coaches meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28 at Soto PFC, 20751 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss.
The league memorandum of instruction (MOI) can be found at www.blissmwr.com/intramurals. For more information, call (915) 744-5794.
Women's Softball League
The Team Bliss Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Women's Softball League will begin play Friday, June 7. The league is open to active-duty military assigned to Fort Bliss, family members 18 year of age and older, and DoD/DA civilians. All games are played Fridays at the Omar Bradley Softball Complex.
League participation is free for active-duty Soldiers and costs $20 each for all other players.
A mandatory coaches meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 at the Soldier Activity Center, 20732 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss.
For more information, call (915) 744-5794.
Softball tournament to benefit varsity team
The Fort Bliss men's varsity softball team will host a tournament June 21-23 at the Omar Bradley Complex.
The tournament is open to teams consisting of active-duty military, family members 18 years of age and older, and DoD/Da civilians. Registration costs $250 per team; all proceeds benefit the Fort Bliss men's varsity softball team. All teams are guaranteed three games.
Divisions include Military A, Military B and intramural. Military divisions are open to teams comprised of active-duty military only. The intramural division is open to teams comprised of active-duty military, family members 18 years of age and older, and DoD/Da civilians.
The Omar Bradley Complex is located at 2968 Carter Road on West Fort Bliss. For more information, call (915) 744-5794.
Commander's Cup Dodgeball Tournament
Warm up that shoulder and come out for the 2013 Commander's Cup Dodgeball Tournament Saturday, June 29 at Soto Physical Fitness Center. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and play begins at 9 a.m.
The double-elimination tournament is open to company-level teams consisting of active-duty Soldiers assigned to Fort Bliss. Teams consist of, at most, eight players on the field at one time. A team may have more than eight players, but additional players will wait on the sidelines to get in.
The tournament memorandum of instruction (MOI) can be found at www.blissmwr.com/intramurals.
Soto PFC is located at 20751 Constitution Ave. on East Fort Bliss. For more information, call (915) 744-5794.
Contact
Fort Bliss BOSS President: SGT Duran 915-526-4264
NCOIC: CSM Phillip D. Pandy
MWR Advisor: Chris Bohn 915-203-2518
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