AR 215-1 - Soldier Support Institute - U.S. Army

8–11. Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers
a. BOSS provides opportunities for active duty Soldiers, with emphasis on the single (and unaccompanied) Soldier,
to participate in physical, self-development, leisure, and educational activities. Specific responsibilities of the IMCOM
Regions and garrison commanders are detailed in DA Circular 608–06–1.
b. A BOSS committee will be established at each installation to furnish Soldier input to the garrison commander,
who uses committee recommendations as the basis for improving single Soldier MWR programs and enhancing Soldier
wellbeing.
c. The BOSS committee will consist of single or unaccompanied Soldiers representing individual units. The elected
executive committee members of the BOSS committee will be approved and supported by the installation command
sergeant major. BOSS committee members will participate in a BOSS training program, will be able to attend meetings
frequently, and will be given an opportunity to brief the chain of command. Each committee will develop its own SOP.
d. In addition to recreation and other MWR issues, committees will address all aspects of Soldier life. Well-being
issues outside the purview of MWR will be dealt with by the chain of command. The BOSS committee will identify
issues and requests action to resolve them. Issues that cannot be solved at the installation level will be submitted to the
installation Army Family Action Plan (AFAP) coordinator, who will ensure that the issues are addressed through the
installation AFAP conference process.
e. The installation BOSS program manager will be a MWR recreational professional. MWR issues will be addressed
by the BOSS program manager, who assists the BOSS committee in directing all well-being issues to the chain of
command.
f. A variety of structured events, to include those planned and conducted by BOSS, may be offered within MWR
facilities, including those for which fees may be charged.
g. Fees from BOSS events will be deposited into the garrison MWR operating entity or NAFI of the appropriate
IMCOM Region.
h. More specific information on the BOSS program will be issued separately by FMWRC.
8–12. Bingo
MWR programs may sponsor or conduct bingo games for entertainment and to raise funds for the sponsoring NAF/
entity, subject to the following:
a. Legal review. Bingo operations will be reviewed in advance by the SJA for legal sufficiency. Operations in
CONUS will conform to State and local requirements, unless conducted on an installation under exclusive Federal
jurisdiction. Overseas, international agreements will apply.
b. Prohibitions.
(1) Contractor-operated bingo programs (contractor control, sale of bingo cards, awards of bingo prizes) are
prohibited. This will not preclude the MWR program from contracting for bingo-related services (bingo “callers”) on a
fixed-price basis.
(2) Pull-tab bingo is prohibited.
c. Participation. Participation will be limited to authorized MWR patrons and bona fide guests, within the following
parameters:
(1) Volunteers serving as callers or monitors, MWR managers, the Director, FMWR, direct-line supervisors,
employees working the bingo activity, and their immediate Family members may not play. Employees who are not
working directly in the bingo activity, but who are otherwise employed by the sponsoring MWR program may play
bingo.
(2) Garrison commanders may impose additional local restrictions as considered appropriate.
(3) Employees assigned to one or more MWR programs may participate in bingo sponsored by an unrelated
program if they are otherwise eligible.
(4) Members of the general public authorized to use an MWR facility in accordance with notes 1 and 3 of table 7–1
will not be authorized to participate in MWR bingo.
d. Prizes.
(1) Bingo prizes may consist of cash or merchandise. The annual value of bingo prizes will not exceed 90 percent of
the sponsoring program’s projected annual income. In no case will individual game jackpots exceed $100,000 in any
combination of cash and merchandise. Other expenses will be limited to not more than 10 percent of income. At a
minimum, bingo operations will break even. Accounting procedures, to include accrual of bingo prizes, are in DOD
7000.14–R, volume 13.
(2) Cash prizes will be paid from a bingo cash prize fund. The Director, FMWR will determine the size of the fund.
Cash prizes for a single game totaling more than $2,500 will be awarded by check, or by combination of cash and
check (cash payment is limited to $2,500).
46 AR 215–1 • 31 July 2007/RAR 6 October 2008