Mountain Post Adopt-A-School Program

Adopt-A-School is an authorized program in accordance with Army Regulation (AR) 360-61, Community Relations. This is strictly a volunteer program. Adopt-A-School activities are conducted to increase public awareness of the Army’s mission and to foster good relations with the local communities. Adopt-A-School is an initiative of Partnerships in Education (PIE). The AAS contributes Military resources and services to schools in order to nurture the intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth of children of the surrounding Fort Carson area, to increase public awareness of the Army’s mission and to foster good relations. Fort Carson Soldiers have much to offer our local schools, and their efforts will go far in contributing to educational excellence for our children.

Role of the Unit Commander

The role of the Army Unit Commander is to establish and clearly define unit objectives and guidelines that can be realistically achieved. The unit commander acts as an official liaison with their designated school, working directly with the school POC to determine the support desired or required. This allows units and schools to coordinate activities directly with minimal interference. The relationship between the commander and the School POC ensures the Adopt-A-School program’s success. The Unit Commander with select Soldiers who can be positive role models and provide them with specific guidance on the program, their role and responsibilities and actions to avoid.

Role of the Unit POC

The Unit Point of Contact takes an active interest in the program, maintains communication with the school point of contact. The Unit POC promotes positive relationships between the unit and the school liaison partner.

Role of the School POC

The role of the School POC is to establish clearly defined objectives and guidelines that can be realistically achieved. The School POC will provide the unit commander with realistic requirements based on school needs.

Volunteer/Mentor Guidelines:

• Preparedness: Be prepared to be a friend and to demonstrate consistent, dependable, trustworthy, accepting, honest and respectful behaviors.
• Commitment & Punctuality: Schools run on very tight schedules and 10 minutes time difference can have a huge impact on class time. When you or your unit makes a commitment, keep it. Many of these children have already experienced being let down by adults. Keeping your commitment teaches them to trust.
• Integrity: Consistently act in ways that are ethical, earning the respect and trust of youth and supporting community partners.
• Appropriate: Refrain from profanity, use of tobacco products, recruiting, criticism of school faculty or staff, inappropriate physical contact and violations of the law or the school’s code of conduct.
• Accountability: Sign in and out of the log book when you volunteer. If a large group will be in the school, the NCOIC or the OIC can sign in a provide a list of soldiers’ names to the school.
• Maintain Confidentiality: Act in the best interest of the youth while maintaining confidentiality. Notify school officials (principal, counselor or teacher) immediately if a student confides that he/she is a victim of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse. Take care to protect against inadvertent disclosure.

School Liaison Office

• The role of the Fort Carson School Liaison Office is to promote positive relationships between the military unit and the partnering school.
• Inform Sponsoring Unit Commanders and Supervisors of their responsibilities as Adopt-A-School participants.
• Organize and conduct regular training to Adopt-A-School Unit POC/coordinators.
• Maintain a record of the schools/units involved with POC’s contact information.
• Maintain accurate records of partnership activities.
• Collect and input information from monthly reports that include volunteer hours, activities and Soldier participation into the IRO system.

• School assignments for partnering units must be made through the School Liaison Office.

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