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thinking about next year’s event and improving upon how
the festival went this year. “My favorite part was walking
around and just seeing all the single soldiers and the diversity
of everybody and how they just interacted and had fun,” he
said. “As the president of BOSS, I felt [that we had accom-
plished something] to see that, because that’s my mission.”
“NO SOLDIER GETS LEFT BEHIND” LUNCHEON
Reaching out to soldiers who were
alone for Thanksgiving, Fort Hood’s BOSS
program hosted a “No Soldier Gets Left
Behind” post-holiday luncheon on Nov.
Above: Pvt. Xavier Carranza hits a ping pong ball to Pvt. 29 at Casey Memorial Library, which was
Kevin Toro during a close table tennis match at BOSS head- serving as the program’s temporary head-
quarters during the “No Soldier Gets Left Behind” post- quarters while the permanent headquarters
Thanksgiving luncheon. Approximately 35 single soldiers was being renovated.
attended the event. “We’re doing this for the single soldiers
Right: Sgt. Ishmael Muhammad lines up his aim as he pre- so they have a place to come, get out of the
pares to hit a mass of balls during a pool competition at the
BOSS program’s “No Soldier Gets Left Behind” luncheon. barracks and have fun,” Navarro explained.
Photos: Brandy Cruz, Fort Hood Sentinel News Editor “This is something BOSS does to improve
the quality of life for our single soldiers.”
ways we give back to them, trying to give The temporary headquarters has several
them something to smile for.” rooms, including space for a movie theater,
A lot of money and planning went into where Netflix movies are streamed. The
organizing the festival, Lynce said, adding site has a pool table, darts, air hockey, ping
that 1,200 soldiers were in attendance. The pong and video games and more things for
event organizers worked together to plan activities based on single soldiers to enjoy on their time off.
what went well in past years’ events and from soldier input. Approximately 35 soldiers attended the event, many of
“From what I hear, the soldiers liked it, they had a good time,” whom are new to the base, which is often referred to as “The
he said. “They thought it was really good.” Great Place.” These soldiers were made to feel like part of
New to the festival this year, Lynce said, was an inflat- the Fort Hood family at the luncheon. Navarro went to the
able obstacle course, a trash can pong game and an increased Reception Detachment to personally invite the soldiers to the
number of vendors, including MWR passing out free boxes event and make them feel right at home at Fort Hood.
of Girl Scout Cookies. “A lot of the soldiers are here by themselves and don’t
BOSS President Sgt. Antonio Navarro first stepped into his have the luxury of going home to someone else, so the BOSS
new leadership role a week prior to the event. “I feel it went program is kind of like family,” said Neicey Davis, BOSS
great, especially it being my first ‘rodeo,’” he said. “The single advisor with FMWR.
soldiers — they came, they showed up, they conquered, they Throughout the day, soldiers were able to participate in a
had fun; and it makes me feel great to be the president of this, pool tournament, play video games, watch movies and eat a
but I wouldn’t be able to do it free lunch. They were also
without the help of the advi- drawing for door prizes ev-
sors and the vice president ery 20 minutes.
and all the sponsorships.” ‘That’s really what BOSS is about — better Navarro said the goal
Events like the Single of the event was to make
Soldiers Fest are important opportunities. And that’s what we did here today.’ single soldiers feel welcome
to letting the single-soldier at Fort Hood and to let them
community know they are — BOSS President Sgt. Antonio Navarro know they have a family in
appreciated, Navarro said. the BOSS program. “We
“That’s really what BOSS want them to know they
is about — better oppor- have somebody there for
tunities, And that’s what them … BOSS is always
we did here today. We just there for them,” he said.
created a better opportu- Story by Brandy Cruz,
nity for them to come out, news editor, and Kelby
have fun, mingle, just do Wingert, sports editor,
something different, and Fort Hood Sentinel.
this festival is definitely
something different. They
all came out here and had Spc. Zach Flateblo, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division,
fun with all these different plays sand volleyball at the BOSS Single Soldiers Fest at the Fort
activities.” Hood Sportsmen’s Center Pavilion.
Photo: Kelby Wingert, Fort Hood Sentinel Sports Editor
Navarro is already

6 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | DECEMBER 2018