JBM-HH BOSS event builds unit cohesion, Soldier camaraderie

Soldier Appreciation Day at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall is more than a gathering of Soldiers to have fun-it's a time for relationship-building and strengthening unit cohesion, according to Soldiers who attended the Oct. 30 event.

This year's Soldier Appreciation Day was held at the community center on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base, where over 450 people attended the event.

Outside of honoring Soldiers for their commitment to serve America, the Better Opportunity Single Soldiers organization (BOSS), which coordinated the event, wanted to carve out space for Soldiers to meet each other and to demonstrate that JBM-HH has something to offer when it comes to creating a social life for Soldiers.

"Usually Soldiers, especially younger Soldiers, sit in their rooms and they wait for the weekend and then run [to events that are off the base]," said Sgt. 1st Class Cherry Smith, vice president of BOSS.

Soldier interaction was plentiful at the table where they ate and shared laughs. Activities included competitive scrabble, corn hole contests, dart throwing, ping-pong, Jeopardy and a dunk tank, where Army leaders throughout the joint base, including JBM-HH Command Sgt. Maj. Randall Woods, volunteered to be dunked in the dunk tank.

"I think I can speak for all the leaders that got dunked and got wet: it's more fun throwing the balls at the dunk tank than being in the dunk tank, especially on a cold day," said Woods, who added that dunk tank was by far the day's highlight event.

Sgt. Foy Genesis, who has attended multiple Soldier appreciation events, said this one was different than the others he's attended in the past because of the variety of people who attended.

"This one comprised of Soldiers from all ranks," said Genesis. "I've been to ones where there were only lower-ranking Soldiers or higher-ranking Soldiers, but this one involved everyone, including civilians."

He said this particular event was very beneficial to Soldiers' lives, "especially the single Soldiers."

"Events like these build cohesion," he said. "It gives the single Soldiers the opportunity to know that they don't have to go off post." "There are events that Soldiers can attend on [Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall]."

For Pvt. Wyatt Jansen, the Soldier Appreciation Day was a chance to take advantage of befriending new Soldiers. Jansen is from a small town in Utah, where there are few traffic lights and a graduating class of only 16 people.

"To go from [a small town in Utah] to a big city, where traffic is a big thing, and people are a little different-is a big culture shock," he said. "Maybe I'll meet someone from Utah."

The next scheduled BOSS event is the Army-Navy Blood Donor Challenge Nov. 10 at Fort Myer Fitness Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.