BOSS brings opportunity, adventure for Humphreys Soldiers

By Spc. Matthew Marcellus, USAG Humphreys Public Affairs OfficeApril 1, 2021

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, adds the finishing touches to the BOSS logo...
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, adds the finishing touches to the BOSS logo created as part of their Chalk-Off event, Dec. 4, 2020. The BOSS program organizes and hosts a variety of events and programs designed to help build morale and foster a greater sense of community for single and unaccompanied Soldiers at Humphreys. (Courtesy photo provided by Spc. Ian Holmes) (Photo Credit: Spc. Matthew Marcellus) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Plaques and awards are lined up and prepared for presentation during a Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS) awards ceremony here, March 24. Representatives and BOSS members from across Humphreys are...
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Plaques and awards are lined up and prepared for presentation during a Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS) awards ceremony here, March 24. Representatives and BOSS members from across Humphreys are essential in the planning, implementation and success of the numerous programs, events and initiatives conducted by the program, designed to improve the quality of life of single and unaccompanied Soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus) (Photo Credit: Spc. Matthew Marcellus) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Soldiers and community members from across Humphreys support the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program's Ville Cleanup event in Anjeong-ri, Republic of Korea. The BOSS team's Ville Cleanup...
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Soldiers and community members from across Humphreys support the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program's Ville Cleanup event in Anjeong-ri, Republic of Korea. The BOSS team's Ville Cleanup event brings Soldiers from across Humphreys together to clean up trash and debris in the neighborhoods surrounding the post, demonstrating the continued commitment of Humphreys to supporting the local community. (Courtesy photo provided by Spc. Ian Holmes) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Soldiers assigned to the 1st Signal Brigade, Eighth Army are acknowledged for their efforts in supporting Humphreys' Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program at an awards ceremony here, March 24....
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Soldiers assigned to the 1st Signal Brigade, Eighth Army are acknowledged for their efforts in supporting Humphreys' Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program at an awards ceremony here, March 24. The BOSS program organizes and hosts events, programs, learning initiatives and other beneficial endeavors for single and unaccompanied Soldiers across Humphreys, ensuring that they have the opportunity to meet new friends and to make the most of their time in Korea. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus) (Photo Credit: Spc. Matthew Marcellus) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, helps draw the BOSS logo created as part of...
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, helps draw the BOSS logo created as part of their Chalk-Off event, Dec. 4, 2020. The Chalk-Off event was one of the BOSS program's competitions for their Inclusion Cup event, a brigade-level competition taking place over the entire fiscal year 2021, promoting inclusiveness and friendly competition. (Courtesy photo provided by Spc. Ian Holmes) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command (IMCOM), left, and Spc. Austin Gano, the BOSS...
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command (IMCOM), left, and Spc. Austin Gano, the BOSS Vice President and Patriot Fire Control Enhanced Operator assigned to IMCOM, push holiday decorated shopping carts here, as they support BOSS initiatives and events, Dec. 2020. The Humphreys BOSS program aims to provide unique opportunities and events for single and unaccompanied Soldiers across Humphreys, ensuring that they have ample opportunity to meet new friends, build morale, and enjoy their duration in Korea. (Courtesy photo provided by Spc. Ian Holmes) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, right, presents a commemorative plaque to...
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, right, presents a commemorative plaque to Spc. Raquel Siguenza, a patient administration specialist assigned to U.S. Army Medical Command, for winning the BOSS Representative of the Month for February 2021, at an awards ceremony here, March 24. The Humphreys BOSS program depends upon the dedicated work of their representatives to ensure that interesting, varied and beneficial programming and events are provided to single and unaccompanied Soldiers throughout Humphreys. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus) (Photo Credit: Spc. Matthew Marcellus) VIEW ORIGINAL
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, listens and observes a BOSS awards ceremony...
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer assigned to Installation Management Command, listens and observes a BOSS awards ceremony here, March 24. The BOSS program here dedicates its time and effort to ensure that single and unaccompanied Soldiers' morale is high and that they have the option to participate in various wide-ranging events and programs. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus) (Photo Credit: Spc. Matthew Marcellus) VIEW ORIGINAL

By: Spc. Matthew Marcellus / USAG-Humphreys Public Affairs Office

CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - For many single and unaccompanied Soldiers at Humphreys, the prospect of being an ocean apart from friends and family can feel overwhelming and isolating, at first. However, the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program here helps ensure that these Soldiers have ready and ample access to events and activities specifically designed to help build community, morale and friendship.

The BOSS team operates and develops their initiatives under the guiding mission of their three pillars: recreation and leisure, community service and quality of life. These help ensure that Soldiers maintain a high level of morale and can participate in unique activities.

“Going out and volunteering or attending one of our events allows you to have the opportunity to talk with other Soldiers that you wouldn’t get to meet on a regular basis, so it greatly improves the likelihood of leaving with friends,” said Spc. Ian Holmes, the Humphreys BOSS President and a CH-47 helicopter repairer, assigned to Installation Management Command. “It is about getting to have unique experiences here on Humphreys that are not your everyday job. You get to experience something a little more unique that maybe you did not expect to see when you got here to Korea.”

The BOSS program organizes and hosts a wide range of activities, including volunteer events, friendly competitions, knowledge and awareness events, leisure activities and trips off-post designed to promote new interests and areas away from the barracks.

“Our mission and priority really is to get everyone out of the barracks,” said Holmes. “We want to provide you (Soldiers) with new experiences and new opportunities so that every weekend you are not just going to your room. Even when we were on COVID-19 restrictions and were locked down on post, we still had pool tournaments, we had library cleaning, and we had events to pull you out to come socialize with people outside of your unit and to get you outside of your barracks.”

To help support the surrounding community, the BOSS program organizes and hosts volunteer events that help Soldiers assist and give back to our local neighbors. One such volunteer event is the Ville Cleanup, typically held every other Saturday, which is dedicated to helping clean the streets of Anjeong-ri, the community immediately outside Humphreys’ pedestrian gate.

“For our Ville Cleanup, we walk up and down the streets of Anjeong-ri and we pick up trash,” said Holmes. “This helps us not only as a post by maintaining a cleaner environment, but it also strengthens our alliance with our host nation by keeping the area clean.”

Additionally, the BOSS program is currently hosting their Inclusion Cup, a yearlong brigade-level event spanning the fiscal year 2021, in which brigades from across Humphreys compete in various monthly friendly competitions designed to promote cooperation, inclusiveness, diversity and fun.

“Our Inclusion Cup event is a way to boost morale here on Humphreys through the promotion of inclusivity,” said Holmes. “The competition encourages Soldiers to get out there and support their brigade during either mass-volunteer opportunities or team opportunities. It’s such a great morale booster and it’s something that those Soldiers who are on a team can take away from Humphreys, that they left that behind and won a competition for their brigade all while meeting new people and being a part of a bigger team.”

The BOSS team is looking forward to developing new, informative and exciting events for the future, organizing key Army initiatives that support a safe and respectful atmosphere. One such event being organized is the BOSS Sexual Assault and Awareness Prevention Week, bringing together numerous activities, panels and events from April 26 through April 29, to support the Army’s Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) program.

“We are planning on hosting a Sexual Assault and Awareness Prevention Week to disseminate as much SHARP knowledge as possible and spread awareness throughout Humphreys,” said Holmes. “Our main goal with this week is to allow everyone to ask and submit questions regarding the Fort Hood Report and SHARP. If you don’t want to publicly ask your question, we will ask it for you.”

The BOSS team here at Humphreys is always willing to adapt and evolve its event planning to suit the needs of the single and unaccompanied Soldier community here and is always ready to field new ideas for events and trips from Soldiers.

“If you have anything that you would like to see from BOSS, we are more than willing to listen and try to make those events happen,” said Holmes. “Whether it’s a location that you want to travel to or an event you would like to participate in, contact us and we can see if it can be facilitated.”

Reaching out to the Humphreys BOSS team and participating in their events is as easy as interacting with their Facebook page, reaching out to your designated company, battalion or brigade level BOSS representatives, or simply by dropping by the Garrison BOSS team’s office in the Downtown Recreation Center. The Humphreys BOSS team’s Facebook can be found at www.facebook.com/HumphreysBOSS.

“We want to ensure that this is a duty station that you want to be a part of,” said Holmes. “Our mission really is to help morale stay up and provide unique opportunities here. We want you to be able to understand and enjoy Korea, because this is a really unique duty station.”