Email   Print   Share By Sgt. Christopher Calvert, 13th PAD

Facebook Digg Delicious September 6, 2012 | Leisure

Soldiers splash into Patton Pool during Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers’ pool party at Fort Hood Aug. 23. More than 100 single Soldiers took time off from work to enjoy a dip at the pool and dine on free seafood. Sgt. Christopher Calvert, 13th PAD

Luis R. Rios, Fort Hood Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation adviser, serves fresh crawfish to single Soldiers during a BOSS pool party Aug. 23. Sgt. Christopher Calvert, 13th PAD

An inflated balloon waves displaying BOSS’ website during a BOSS pool party at Fort Hood Aug. 23. Sgt. Christopher Calvert, 13th PAD

Fort Hood’s Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program hosted a pool party at Patton Pool Aug. 23.

During the bash, more than 100 single Soldiers had the chance to take time off from work and enjoy a dip at the pool and dine on free seafood, said BOSS President Sgt. Adam Nelson, 13th Financial Management Center, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

“We like to have events where Soldiers can release stress,” Nelson said. “When they go back to their units after attending events like this, they’re more relaxed and efficient Soldiers.”

BOSS has hosted monthly pool parties to afford single Soldiers a chance for recreation and leisure, one of BOSS’ three fundamental pillars, while providing a place for troops to safely have fun, Nelson said.

“Soldiers work hard, so they deserve to play hard,” he said. “BOSS activities not only help the morale of single Soldiers and their units, they also give them a safe and trouble-free place to have fun.”

BOSS’ primary focus is to get more single Soldiers to attend scheduled events in the future, said Nelson.

“I would like to see more involvement of single Soldiers,” Nelson said. “The more troops we get, the better the activities we can provide for them. This is ultimately their program, and we need their participation to be successful.”

Spc. Cher Wheeler, Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, attended the pool party and said it was nice to have a chance to let her hair down.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to get away,” Wheeler said. “It’s a good feeling to be rewarded for being a great Soldier. The music here is great, and so is the food. I definitely will try to get more of my battle buddies to attend in the future.”