HEIDELBERG, Germany -- Eating dinner at a four-star general's house is not an everyday occurrence for most young Soldiers.
Some from the Heidelberg Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, however, recently got the experience, thanks to Gen. Carter F. Ham, U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army commander, and his wife, Christi, some family readiness group leaders and the Cheap Eats program.
"It was a huge honor to be able to have our 19th Cheap Eats at Gen. Ham's residence," said Spc. Meagan Iafelice, U.S. Army Garrison Heidelberg BOSS president.
"Being a Soldier in the Army, you don't always have opportunities to experience these kinds of things, nor be able to say that you have been in a four-star general's home and talked with them outside of duty hours," she said. "It shows Soldiers that there are real people outside the Army uniform that we would have never thought."
The Cheap Eats program is held monthly by FRG leaders from V Corps, USAREUR and 7th Army. It was started almost two years ago as a way to help teach single Soldiers easy ways to cook and eat healthy meals while living in the barracks.
"Cheap Eats is a great program because it allows Soldiers and families to build friendships with both peers and other members of the community who share a love of food," said Lana Barshinger, family readiness support tech for USAREUR and 7th Army. "It literally puts into practice the concept of 'family' by bringing people together who would likely not connect any other way."
Cheap Eats has come a long way from its humble beginnings to the Wild West Barbecue at the Ham's house on Campbell Barracks.
"It seems to me that there is a real need in today's Army for the older generation of Soldiers and spouses to intentionally mentor the next generation of Soldiers and spouses," Barshinger said. "Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Cheap Eats has provided a wonderful opportunity to do just that. Through food and fun, relationships have developed that are lasting and even life-changing."
The BOSS program has other activities for single Soldiers to participate in, according to Iafelice. Recently, Heidelberg's program won 'Best Event for Medium Garrison' at the Installation Management Command-Europe BOSS Conference, for its Make-a-Difference Day activities.
One group of BOSS participants recently returned from a Memorial Day weekend trip to Costa Brava, Spain.
"I would have to say that the Spain trip was a great turnout," Iafelice said. "We had two buses full of BOSS Soldiers from Heidelberg. Ansbach BOSS also came with us on our trip, so it was great for us to socialize and network."
Iafelice said she knows what it's like to be a new, young Soldier arriving in Germany - feeling homesick, alone and friendless.
"When I heard about the BOSS program, at first I was hesitant to get involved because I felt like it was just another program, and I had heard negative things about it," she said. "But once I actually decided to get involved, I realized that BOSS has a lot to offer to single Soldiers. There are opportunities to volunteer with the community, take recreation/leisure trips, and to also help earn money for a program that is thriving every day."
BOSS finds out which places Soldiers want to go, and finds prices that anyone can afford, according to Iafelice.
On May 27, BOSS welcomed "the Dating Doctor," David Coleman, to Patrick Henry Village to speak to single Soldiers and community members interested in dating advice.
Coleman spoke to audience members about bad pick-up lines, online dating and how to show someone you are truly interested, even from across a crowded room, among other things. He then visited the youth center and answered questions from high school-aged students.
"Since volunteering with BOSS, I have learned that there is so much that can be done around me that will better me as a Soldier and as a person," Iafelice said. "I'm helping out while giving back to the community that I take from every day. I'm also earning volunteer hours that can be used for awards and promotion points."
Iafelice, Barshinger and Jill Connett, another FRG leader who played a big role in Cheap Eats, are all moving in the coming weeks. But, BOSS will welcome a new president soon - Spc. William Perkins - who said he has big plans to help BOSS continue to grow.
(Editor's Note: Kristen Marquez works in the USAG Baden-Wuerttemberg Public Affairs Office).
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