What is BOSS?

Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) is a program that supports the overall quality of life for single soldier and unaccompanied soldiers. The BOSS program supports the chain of command by identifying quality of life (QOL) issues and concerns and by providing recommendations for QOL improvement. The BOSS program encourages and assists single soldiers in identifying and planning for recreational and leisure activities. It provides an opportunity for single soldiers to participate in contribution to their respective communities.

History of BOSS

In 1989, the U.S. 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, U.S. Army, formally expanded the BOSS program to include all areas of single soldiers' lives. This change provided single soldiers with the opportunity to surface quality of life issues through the 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.