Adopt a Soldier for holidays

By Ben ShermanDecember 12, 2013

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Sponsor families are still needed for the Adopt-A-Soldier program for the 2013 Holiday Block Leave. The program is extremely short of sponsor families for the some 200 Soldiers who will stay here during the holidays. Sponsors must complete an application by Dec. 13, to be approved to host Soldiers.

Basic Combat Training Soldiers spend three to six hours with a family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Installation chaplain ministry teams from the 434th Field Artillery Brigade, and 1-40th Field Artillery Battalion sponsor the program under these guidelines:

Sponsoring families must be active duty, National Guard/Reserve, military retirees or government civilians. Sponsors will be given an information brief by the 1-40th FA leaders at the designated pickup times.

A sponsor may live on-post or off-post, as long as their place of residence is in a 20-mile radius of the Lawton-Fort Sill area. The 434th FA Brigade commander must approve any exceptions.

Soldiers will be in battle-buddy teams of two-to-four, depending on gender mix. Sponsors are not allowed to request particular types of Soldiers.

Sponsors will pick up Soldiers at the 1-40th FA Battalion barracks, Bldg. 6050 Rothwell St. (on the training side, east of I-44) at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, or 9 a.m. on Dec. 25. Sponsors must return Soldiers no later than the posted time for that day.

In the event of inclement or impending inclement weather, the program may be canceled on short notice to protect the safety and well being of the Soldiers and sponsoring families.

Soldiers will wear Army Combat Uniforms and are subject to all TRADOC regulations for Initial Entry Soldiers. These regulations include, but are not limited to: No drinking of alcoholic beverages (regardless of age); No tobacco use of any kind (no smoking or chewing/dipping); no driving of a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle (motorcycle/ATV) of any kind). Soldiers will be briefed on rules and appropriate conduct before leaving with a sponsor family.

For more information, contact the project officer, Chaplain (Capt.) Kevin Burton, 1-40th FA Battalion (580-442-8706) or the chaplain's assistant, Spc. Aaron Miller (580-442-8701).