History of BOSS

In 1989, the US Army Community and Family Support Center (USACFSC) and MACOMS were tasked to develop a program to get single Soldiers involved in determining their recreation and leisure needs. Implementation of the BOSS program began with single Soldiers focus groups. In early workshops, QOL issues emerged along with recreation and leisure needs and were presented to the local command as part of the workshop out-brief.

In 1991, the Chief of Staff, US Army, formally expanded the BOSS program to include all areas of single Soldiers' lives. This change provided single Soldiers with an opportunity to surface quality of life issues through chain of command. During the evolution of the program, single Soldiers indicated a desire to participate in activities related to community support. This interest was adopted as another component of the program.

At the 1995 Army-wide BOSS conference, attendees identified the lack of BOSS guidance and program standardization as one of the top five quality of life issues for single Soldiers.

In 2000, the US Army changed Quality of Life to "Soldier's Well Being" which encompasses and expands on the concept of Quality of Life. Well being is defined: The personal- physical, material, mental and spiritual- state of Soldiers, retirees, veterans, civilian employees, and their Families that contributes to their preparedness to perform the Army's mission.

What BOSS is all about... The Fort Rucker BOSS program establishes a means to meet the leisure and recreational needs of single Soldiers through innovative recreational programs and rewarding community service programs. BOSS provides a vehicle of communication between single Soldiers of Fort Rucker and fosters the philosophy that single Soldiers are entitled to:

- The opportunity to recommend policy changes that will enhance their overall quality of life,
- Practice safety both on and off the installation,
- Participate in recreational and leisure activities of their choice,
- And to contribute to their local communities.

If you would like more information about DA BOSS or would like to submit a Quality of Life issue to be addressed by Fort Rucker BOSS, go to
http://new.armymwr.com/recleisure/single/default.aspx

Forms can be obtained by clicking on the Resources link and scrolling down to the DA Forms.  The QOL form is DA Form 7380.