FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Fort Carson Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program received first-place honors at the annual BOSS Best Installation Competition April 20 in San Antonio.
Seventy-eight installations competed in the conference April 19 during the 2011 Installation Management Command Symposium. Each post was divided into groups designated by single Soldier population. Fort Carson won the trophy for having the best program on an extra large installation, one with more than 10,000 single Soldiers.
"What this (award) tells me is that other installation BOSS programs don't measure up to what (Fort Carson) is doing," said Command Sgt. Maj. James A. Kilpatrick, garrison commander and the BOSS senior enlisted adviser. "Our Soldiers should feel proud that they are getting first-class treatment in a first-class program that other installations envy."
The Fort Carson BOSS program is proof of the chain of command's dedication to the single Soldiers, geographical bachelors and single parents, said Michele Bean, BOSS adviser. The 4th Infantry Division and the garrison command have pushed the program to improve quality of life.
"We attribute the award to our single Soldiers for their participation, time and effort ... also the chain of command support plays a huge part in why we have the best BOSS program," said Sgt. Curtis L. Bartlett Jr., installation BOSS president.
Bartlett and Bean arranged a display at the competition, showcasing banners and a video of all the BOSS events from September 2009-March. The BOSS video can be viewed on the BOSS "Facebook" page.
"The (Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation) helped put our video together, which turned out great ... between our video, banners and our program presentation, we really sold the Fort Carson BOSS program," Bean said.
"Having the 4th Inf. Div. chain of command supporting the BOSS program along with our text message system set us above the rest," Bartlett said. "Now other posts are adopting the text message system."
Single Soldiers, geographical bachelors and single parents can text BOSS to 839863 to receive text messages on upcoming events.
The BOSS program is a team effort, which involves a community of people working together for the single Soldiers, Bean said.
"The trophy is a symbol of all the teamwork between MWR, the chain of command and the BOSS representatives," she said.
The BOSS program has many events planned for the upcoming year, including a camping trip, pool party and Colorado Rockies baseball game outing, Bartlett said.
"We have the best program here on (Fort Carson), and our Soldiers should walk proudly knowing that the Army has recognized us as the greatest," Kilpatrick said.
BOSS representatives are proud of the award, said Pvt. Bethany Hahs, 4th Engineer Battalion.
"This is a stepping stone, we plan to work even harder now to keep the standards high," she said.
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