HEIDELBERG, Germany -- E-mails, phone calls, meetings and more phone calls - all designed to ensure that "everything is dress right dress." Welcome to the world of Spc. William Perkins or at least a good part of it.
Perkins is president of the U.S. Army Garrison Heidelberg Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, a job that requires a lot of planning and equal parts patience. Yet it's one the Hornell, N.Y., native happily tackles each and every day.
Recently the program picked up best installation for medium-sized installation BOSS program in Europe and best event in the medium installation category at the EURO BOSS conference May 10-14 in Schwetzingen. The conference included BOSS representatives from 17 garrisons across Europe.
In August, the Heidelberg BOSS team will compete with other programs from around the world at the Department of the Army level BOSS conference in Phoenix.
Perkins says the awards were just a direct reflection of the hard work members put in year round.
"The Soldiers busted their butt on community service ... and held some great events," Perkins said. "We worked hard during the year, and we were rewarded at the end of it."
He also credited the ongoing support from the community and host nation for the program's success.
"(The) best thing about my job is taking care of Soldiers," Perkins said. "Making sure they are recreating in a positive way and hopefully at the end of the day, they can say 'that was a great experience," he said. "We also want to make sure their quality of life issues are taken care of ... barracks issues are resolved, AAFES, commissary, and to let them know what's going on in the community and also outside of it."
Perkins has been president for a little more than a year. Before that he served as a company and battalion representative, and he admits the first few days of his presidency weren't always easy.
"When I first came into my position, it was as if I was stepping in a dark room because I didn't know what direction to go to get where I needed to be, or to where the program needed to be," he said. "As things went on and as I built connections in the community, lights started turning on and from there it's just been nonstop."
Perkins also admits there is still one issue that concerns him and his members.
"I think some of the Soldiers think of it as a junior enlisted program to stay safe; it's a lot more than that," the program's president said. "It's the best thing that I've ever experienced in the Army, and it's a whole different world. This will advance Soldiers a lot more than they'll actually realize, being involved with BOSS."
Heidelberg BOSS members routinely volunteer across the community at Patrick Henry Elementary School, Army Community Service and wherever else they're needed. Perkins is currently working on a project with students from the German Englisches Institut Grundschule.
As with any leadership position, each day can be a delicate balance of controlled chaos coupled with a healthy dose of ingenuity and sheer determination to carry out the mission. Those who know and work alongside Perkins say he's just the right fit.
"He just has good leadership skills, and he's very outspoken," said BOSS Heidelberg Vice-President Spc. Alexandria Durazo. "You can tell he's very motivated about his job and very dedicated to what he does because he loves what he does and I hope that some of what he has rubs off onto me. We have an awesome program because we work as a team."
Pfc. Andrea Robinson has been a member of BOSS for about six months. She says she joined the program to stay out of trouble and to volunteer in her community but wound up getting even more out of the program.
"Spc. Perkins is very motivating," Robinson said. "And I don't know if he knows it, but at the end of the day, sometimes I go to the meetings and if I'm having a bad day, just going in there talking about the things we can do and the experiences, I just get motivated," she said. "Motivated enough to have a good rest of the day when I go back to work ... he wants us to get out and speak to the rest of Soldiers and let them know what's going on, and I think those skills, communication skills, go a long way."
Those skills don't fall far from the tree. Perkins comes from an Army family - literally, both his parents, sister, grandparents and several members of his extended family have all served. So it was only natural for him to enlist in 2007 as a radio and communications security equipment repairman.
"I remember ever since I was a kid, I was always playing Army, so I figured I might as well put on the uniform for real and serve my country ... my family, they're all in the Army, so if I joined the Air Force they'd be a little upset."
So with their ongoing community service, monthly meetings and recent awards, some may wonder what's next for BOSS and for Perkins.
"...I was given the position to take care of Soldiers and that's all that I have been doing," Perkins said. "And until every single Soldier in this garrison knows about BOSS, and until I think an adequate amount of Soldiers are involved in BOSS, I won't stop until it keeps getting bigger. "By the time I turn over the reins to the next president, I'll ensure that this program is an ultimate success."
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