Camp Zama BOSS program earns presidential award for community service

CAMP ZAMA, Japan - The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program here recently earned a significant presidential award after its members recorded 735 volunteer hours helping the community last year.

The program received the gold level of the President's Volunteer Service Award during the annual BOSS Training Forum held last month in Leesburg, Virginia.

Command Sgt. Maj. David A. Rio, senior enlisted leader of U.S. Army Garrison Japan, accepted the award along with the group's president, Spc. Myaisa Mason, and its advisor, Randy Benton.

"The BOSS program here at Camp Zama is very proud of having won the presidential service award for its community service activities last year," Rio said. "What it really means is we totally nailed one of the pillars of the BOSS program, which is community service. We were out in our community, both on post and off post, and really helped our community."

The U.S. Army Installation Management Command nominated the Camp Zama program for the award, which was also given to a handful of other programs at the forum.

Last year, Soldiers in the Camp Zama program volunteered to help clean up nearby parks, teach English to Japanese students and support Japan's largest bicycle race, among other events.

Rio said the Soldiers regularly demonstrated how to be good neighbors to the local community.

"It really shows the commitment of our BOSS Soldiers to community service amidst all the other ongoing activities they have from mission to just life," he said. "They've really committed to helping out those around them."

Mason, who served as the BOSS representative for the 311th Intelligence Battalion last year, said the group appreciated being honored for their efforts.

"It's important to me and also to the team because it shows that our hard work doesn't go unnoticed," she said. "It means something."

And while they may speak another language than their Japanese partners, Mason said that her and the group's volunteerism still translates well by showing the community that they care.

"Despite the language barrier, I can still have an impact on the community based simply on my actions," she said. "I feel like I'm valued by doing community service."

As the group's new president, Mason also said she was able to learn more about her role and of all the aspects of the BOSS program while attending the forum.

"It was really nice to see what the other installations are doing and what BOSS means to them and how they engage with the community," she said. "Whether it would be in a different country or just from state to state, it's very interesting to see how people get involved to make an impact."

Benton said he was initially surprised when it was announced that their team had received the award.

"Winning this award is a direct reflection of our Soldiers' commitment to being there for our community," he said.

In 2003, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the award to recognize volunteers whose service positively affects communities and inspires others to do the same.

If an organization achieves over 500 hours of community service, they are eligible for the gold-level award.

Benton, who has served as the BOSS advisor for six years, said the time and effort that Soldiers put into the program continues to make it better.

"The success of the Camp Zama BOSS program is not dependent on me," he said. "It depends on the Soldiers that come out and the unit reps that they select to get the information that needs to go out to them.

"The more active that they are in the program, the better the program is going to be," he added.

Besides community service, the program offers its members recreational activities, life skills training such as cooking classes, and serves as an avenue for Soldiers to address quality-of-life issues.

Membership is also available to single parents and geographic bachelors, Benton said.

Eric Hill, director of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, also congratulated the BOSS team for its recent recognition.

"To receive the award at the gold level with a certificate signed by the [U.S.] president and the commander in chief, it's a very big deal," he said, "especially if you look at the size of Camp Zama versus some of the other winners."

Hill, who has been involved with BOSS programs in various roles over the years, said any service member assigned to Camp Zama is able to join the program.

The vice president of the program here, for instance, is an Air Force staff sergeant, who along with the rest of the members, gets to enjoy the benefits of being part of the group.

"It's always been an important program that has been near and dear to me," Hill said. "It provides these opportunities to our Soldiers and it's actually open to all service members. I certainly encourage everyone to come out."

Rio said members can also build lasting memories through their volunteerism. He recalled a recent day of back-to-back events where the group joined in a post cleanup with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and then hosted residents of a Japanese children's home to play dodgeball at Camp Zama's Yano Fitness Center.

"Just seeing the kids and their excitement and their happiness, it makes you feel good about what you're doing," he said of why people volunteer. "And that extends to the other community service we do as well. I think it's that sense of accomplishment and being part of something bigger [that makes it worthwhile]."

Related links:

U.S. Army Garrison Japan news

USAG Japan official website

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