VICENZA, Italy (Aug. 17, 2015) -- When Department of the Army Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, or BOSS, designated the U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza BOSS Council to pilot a new initiative, the team took it seriously.
Headquarters BOSS allocated $10,000 to conduct a "life skill" event for Soldiers, and the local council created the Life Skills Amazing Quest which took place from Aug. 4 through Aug. 10.
According to Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel B. Dennison, USAG Vicenza command sergeant major, the idea was born at a brainstorming session.
"We sat down and came up with skills we wanted to focus on here and ideas of how to implement that into some kind of program," Dennison said. "We came up with a concept similar to the Amazing Race."
Life skills, according to Joshua P. Gwinn, chief of Installation Management Command Community Recreation Programs, have been defined by the World Health Organization as "abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life." These include such skills as problem-solving, critical thinking, self-awareness and interpersonal skills, to name a few.
Vicenza's Amazing Quest targeted seven life skills that are of particular importance to Soldiers stationed here. They included SHARP in Italy, history of Americans in Italy, Rome history, public speaking, moving about in Italy (to include finances, culture and etiquette), and outdoor skills. Nine teams of two enlisted Soldiers per team participated in classes for three days with subject-matter experts, and after that were given backpacks, shirts and a packing list to set off on their quest.
The teams left Vicenza and were bussed to Rome. They were given a certain amount of money and direction and had to make their way from Rome to Camp Darby, then to Pisa, Florence, Brunico, Mount Berico and Del Din. In the various locations, teams were required to conduct health, fitness and historical challenges; at the same time, they worked on the life skills as they made their way from place to place.
"This event was about survival in the ultimate terrain," Dennison said. "People were prominent and anything truly could have happened due to the human factor. From financial prudence to orienteering through the Dolomites, from communicating in local tongues to paddling on open water, these Soldiers didn't just learn survival skills for the wilderness but truly for life.
"I cannot speak highly enough of Sgt. (Amanda) Donahue and Paul Rosarius [USAG Vicenza BOSS president and recreation specialist, respectively]. They are a remarkable team; from concept to execution, this was totally their plan. Soldiers won't forget this event and experience."
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