(From Fort Riley Public Affairs Office)
FORT RILEY, Kansas – About two dozen single soldiers here traveled to Bandera, Texas, in mid-March to hone their leadership, mentoring and resiliency skills. But this wasn’t a military-directed training exercise, it was a voluntary trip led by the Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers, or B.O.S.S., program.
The group saddled up Friday night for a weekend at the Rancho Cortez “Cowboy Fitness Ranch” to participate in activities like horseback riding, roping contests and a campfire. But that’s where the cowboy clichés ended. After the long drive from Kansas to Texas, the group was up early the next morning for a 7 a.m. workout, which was followed by a healthy-eating demonstration, a yoga class, water aerobics, high-intensity interval training and a mind-body class. Not exactly a relaxing weekend at the spa.
The Cortez Ranch is known for offering visitors a range of programs that revolve around moving, fueling and de-stressing the body. The B.O.S.S. participants chose the location and the program as part of an Army-wide initiative aimed at growing soldier leaders.
“The Life Skills Training Events are part of a new pilot program within B.O.S.S.,” said Sgt. Adam Hughes, Department of the Army B.O.S.S. Representative at Installation Management Command in San Antonio. “This is not a free trip or recreation event, it’s quite simply a leadership and mentoring program designed to give soldiers skills that they can use the rest of their lives. It ties in nicely with the Army’s Soldier for Life principles.”
If the B.O.S.S. pilot program succeeds—it’s currently being tested across 18 Army installations—it could be expanded. Single soldiers at other posts have opted to engage in life skills programs like auto skills training, wilderness survival skills classes and basic cooking courses. According to Hughes, the possibilities are endless.
“The Life Skills Training Events have the potential to completely reboot the B.O.S.S. program across the Army,” he said. “Soldiers walk away from these events with the knowledge and ability to not only do certain things, but to also teach others these skills—it’s a win-win for the Army, the individual soldiers and the communities they serve and live in.”
