JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers and Single Marine Program came together for a town hall meeting Aug. 18 to discuss barracks life and what each program offers to service members.
Earlier this year, the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, (The Old Guard) took over responsibility for barracks functions on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall from the Executive Management Directorate Housing Office as part of the Army's First Sergeants Barracks Program.
"This is where you spend most of your time. This is where you live," said Command Sgt. Maj. Earlene Y. Lavender to town hall meeting attendees.
The First Sergeants Barracks Program is part of an Army plan to improve the quality of life for single Soldiers and to standardize the management of barracks Army-wide in a similar way to what civilian apartment complex and property managers do.
Program Noncommissioned Officer in Charge Staff Sgt. Jared Benge said he can help resolve key and electronic lock issues, lockouts and anything that Soldiers need when it comes to the barracks.
"I'm the person you can come to for all those kinds of things," he said.
Benge's office is in the basement of Bldg. 246. Duty hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours emergency service orders can be called in to 703-696-3263. For lock outs, Soldiers should contact their first sergeant or go to 1/3 or 4/3 regimental staff duty, which is open 24/7.
Directorate of Public Works representatives urged attendees who live in the barracks to immediately report any problems in their barracks, such as air conditioning and heating outages and leaks, so they can be quickly resolved.
"Please keep in mind when you make that emergency call that you're available when the technicians show up," said Sgt. 1st Class Julie Bade.
Eight barracks buildings house 746 service members on the joint base.
BOSS president Staff Sgt. Daniel Hood stressed that all single service members and married service members geographically separated from their families are eligible to participate in the program, regardless of rank.
"When we plan events, we need your support," he said. "When we have these events and you guys don't show up, that's wasting funds."
Marissa Johnson, Single Marine Program coordinator for Henderson Hall, said the Marine and Army programs are similar in nature.
"We're both doing the same things: quality of life, recreation and volunteerism," she said.
Following the meeting, drawings were held and a number of lucky winners walked away with prizes ranging from gift certificates to a mountain bicycle.
Social Sharing