ADOPT-A-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Welcome to the III CORPS and Fort Hood Adopt A School Website, your information center for Unit – School Partnerships in the Fort Hood and Greater Fort Hood community!

What is Adopt A School (AAS)?

In accordance with AR 360-61 Community Relations and DoD 5500.7 Joint Ethics Regulations, the AAS program contributes military resources and services to schools in order to nurture the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth of children in the greater Fort Hood area; to increase public awareness of the Army’s mission; and to foster good relations.

Unit Standards and Responsibilities set by the III CORPS Commanding General

AAS activities should focus on providing Soldier resources to teach, coach, mentor, and inspire students.
Ensure Unit AAS POCs attend routine training conducted by the DFMWR, Child, Youth, and School (CYS) Services, School Liaison Officer (SLO) to ensure unit representatives are familiar with the AAS program guidelines and reporting requirements.
Ensure that the SLOs are provided up to date POC contact information in order to maintain the positive outreach from Fort Hood into the community, making The Great Place greater.
Commanders will designate a representative from their unit to maintain contact with both the school and the AAS POC in the School Liaison Office. Commanders must also ensure the AAS POC and school representative establish and maintain updated POC information.
AAS programs will continue when units are deployed through their respective rear detachments.
Unit AAS POCs will report volunteer hours by the 5th of each month to the SLO via email at www.dmwr.cys.slo.distro@conus.army.mil or fax to 287-7351.
Facilitate two-way support while being deployed. Deployed units can expect support from sponsored schools and units must facilitate that support. A Transition of Authority (TOA) between unit AAS POCs and rear detachment AAS POC will be executed and must include:
- Updated POC lists
- Joint school visit and office call with the school’s principal and AAS POC
- Mutual agreement established during office call with school representatives outlining two-way support expectations (must include the minimum standards while deployed)

The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR) coordinates the AAS program through the CYS Services SLO, in which the following is completed:

Unit POC training is conducted for Unit Representatives to ensure program guidelines and reporting requirements are effectively implemented.
The SLOs work in conjunction with the Strategic Effects Cell to ensure Fort Hood units are able to positively interface with the schools in the greater Fort Hood area.
Unit Volunteer Hours will be tracked by the SLO and included in the SLO Monthly reports to the Garrison Commander and in the Quarterly School Liaison Services report to Region.

Unit Engagement in the Adopt A School Program

Minimum standards while deployed (or in the field) are:

Monthly phone contact
Monthly visit to school
Support school requests if possible and forward requests to higher HQs rear detachment to seek assistance
BPT support other AAS programs at the discretion of the higher headquarters rear detachment
Facilitate school desires to provide for deployed soldiers
Report volunteer hours by the 5th of each month to the SLO
Ensure AAS sign remains current

Minimum standards while not deployed are:

At the beginning, or prior to a new school year, conduct mutual agreement of support expectations that include recurring events and special events. This meeting will include the Commander or CSM, unit AAS POC and school Principal and AAS POC
Support annual job fairs / bazaars with set-up (when requested), Soldier support, and static displays
Weekly phone contact by chain of command and AAS POC
Monthly visit to school by chain of command and AAS POC
Report volunteer hours by the 5th of each month to the SLO
Ensure AAS sign remains current

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do we find out what school or unit is our partner in the III CORPS and Fort Hood Adopt A School program?

The III CORPS G7 and School Liaison Office maintain the list of Adopt A School partnerships for Fort Hood units in the eight surrounding school districts: Belton, Copperas Cove, Florence, Gatesville, Killeen, Lampasas, Salado, and Temple (link to district matrix). You can contact either the G7 at 287-6434 or the SLO at 287-9905 for more information on your AAS partnership. For the AAS unit-school matrix, please click here.
What does the unit need to send on their monthly report to the School Liaison Office?

Unit AAS reports are due to the SLO by the 5th of each month. The reports should be in the “Storyboard” format and include pictures of the activity described by the unit (link to Storyboard here). Reports are to be submitted to the SLO at www.dmwr.cys.slo.distro@conus.army.mil or faxed to 287-7351.
How can we have our unit – school partnership featured in the Adopt A School Newsletter?

Please submit your success stories to the SLO by the 10th of each month to www.dmwr.cys.slo.distro@conus.army.mil. The SLO highly encourages pictures to be submitted with your success story; remember to include captions for the photos. Please ensure both the individuals’ first and last names are included in the captions.
What is the frequency of contact units should maintain with their adopted schools?

The III CORPS Commanding General has established minimum standards for unit-school contact, both while the unit is here at Fort Hood and during deployments.
Are there limits to the support provided by units?

Yes. Unit support cannot compete with commercial operations in the community. In addition, Soldiers will not be used as ushers, guards, parking lot attendants, runners, messengers, baggage handlers, crowd control or in any demeaning or inappropriate capacities.