FORT SILL, Okla. -- Although parties make great memories, learning a skill can empower a person past the time of celebration.
That is the train of thought behind the Army's Better Opportunity for Single Soldier's new program BOSS Life Skills Training.
Army BOSS representatives came to Fort Sill Feb. 17 and presented garrison and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation leaders with a check for $10,000 to take part in this initiative.
"We're trying to create more resilient Soldiers," said Sgt. Adam Hughes, Department of the Army BOSS representative. "So we're teaching them how to fish instead of handing them fish."
The mission of the BOSS program is to enhance the morale and welfare of single Soldiers, increase retention and sustain combat readiness. It also serves as a tool to address issues and concerns the Army faces.
Hughes said they are not doing the Soldiers any favors by giving them a handout.
"At Fort Campbell they took 70 Soldiers and their cars to the auto skill center to get their oil changed and their wheels to get rotated, but the Soldiers did it."
Sgt. Maj. Michael Hatfield, Installation Management Command G9 Army BOSS president, said the Soldiers left with the equipment and knowledge to do basic maintenance on their vehicles for the future giving them a valuable skill.
Fort Sill was chosen as one of 10 installations across the Army because BOSS leaders said the program here was already making the right efforts to help single Soldiers.
The funds will support training sessions for Soldiers in any area the garrison and BOSS president chooses.
"The big difference between a traditional BOSS event: it's a great event that a single Soldier gets to go to, but now he or she is going to take away a skill they can use later on as a leader or a skill they can use in life somewhere. We're basically growing the next generation of leaders," said Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr, Fort Sill garrison CSM.
The BOSS Life Skills Training program is an initiative set forth by new Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, who is also hosting a fitness competition across Army posts. Leaders will receive electronic pedometers to track their steps throughout the day. The winning post will receive $25,000 to further its fitness goals.
"It's kind of an exciting time right now because we have a brand new sergeant major of the Army and he's very excited to take BOSS to the next level," said Carr.
Spc. Christopher Taylor, Fort Sill BOSS president, said they are working on developing a BOSS Life Skills Training event.
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