CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers program elected their first Korean Soldier to their council, Jan. 27.
Korean Augmentation to the United States Army Soldier, Pfc. Do-hoe Kim, a supply specialist in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, was elected as the BOSS vice president.
Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers is a U.S. Army program made up of single Soldiers conducted on Army installations around the world that advocates for service members, inspiring change around the installations and the barracks by taking quality of life issues to Army senior leaders. As vice president it will be one of Kim’s duties to encourage service members to participate in community service projects, in addition to recreation and leisure trips. The activities are conducted to enhance the morale and welfare of service members and provide a place to fit in.
“The BOSS program is essential when Soldiers are serving overseas and thousands of miles away from familiar settings,” said BOSS president Ian Holmes. “Serving in Korea, like other overseas duty stations, provides Soldiers with the opportunities to try different foods, learn a new language, and travel abroad. However, being stationed at Camp Humphreys is different in that service members work with KATUSAs.”
Camp Humphreys BOSS council has recognized this uniqueness and how crucial it is for every Single Soldier to have a voice, including the KATUSAs they work alongside every day, added Holmes.
“KATUSAs being integrated into the BOSS program will strengthen the ROK -U.S. alliance and prioritize valuable partnerships creating cultural development across the peninsula,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Monty Drummond, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, senior enlisted adviser.
Holmes said getting Kim to not only be part of BOSS, but serve as vice president, is vital and he is “super excited” to have him join the team to show the partnership going forward.
“The BOSS program exists for KATUSAs too,” said Holmes.
As vice president, Kim said he is ready to jump in and start bridging gaps between the KATUSAs and U.S. service members. He is already planning events and cultural training. Camp Humphreys KATUSAs will get the opportunity to show Soldiers how to use T-Money Cards (a pre-paid transit card) in order to encourage Soldiers to explore more of Korea during their time here. U.S. service members and KATUSAs will travel around Korea in teams; then, the KATUSAs will show service members where the card can be used and how it works. The program is slated to start in March.
“Hopefully, as the BOSS program grows with our KATUSA counterparts, we will see a KATUSA secretary and KATUSA treasurer,” said Holmes. “Then, we will really see the program prosper.”
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