How to Volunteer at West Point

• The Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator (AVCC) assists potential volunteers with locating volunteer organizations and opportunities at West Point that are right for them.
• The AVCC will put you in contact with the Organizational Point of Contact (OPOC) from the organization you want to volunteer with. During this time, the volunteer and OPOC should agree upon a position in which the volunteer will serve. The volunteer must receive a copy of the position description and must register PRIOR to beginning volunteer service.
• To register, the volunteer needs to: (The AVCC or OPOC can assist with this process)

• Attend a Volunteer Orientation – offered the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month

• Register on the Volunteer Management Information System (VMIS) West Point organizations are now on line with the new Department of the Army Volunteer Management Information System (VMIS). The system is used to track volunteer hours, training and awards. All installation volunteers are required to register in this system and document hours each month.

• VMIS How-to Guide for Volunteers

Complete necessary volunteer paperwork. The organization you will be volunteering for determines the type of form you must complete. If you are unsure which form to complete after reading below, please contact the AVCC.

Statutory Volunteers are those that are authorized by federal statute (10 USC 1588) to provide services in certain Army activities such as health-care related programs, FMWR, family programs, museums, religious programs, child development and youth programs, library, housing, legal assistance, education services, etc. Statutory volunteers are considered to be employees of the Government when acting within the scope of their position description, and are provided certain benefits by law (e.g. worker's compensation). This type of volunteer must complete the following forms:

• DD 2793 - Volunteer Agreement
This form is position specific and must be signed by the volunteer and the organization accepting official. A separate DD2793 form must be completed/signed for each statutory activity in which the volunteer works. The original must be maintained in the organization files, and a copy provided to the Army Volunteer Corps office. THE DD2793 IS NOT APPLICABLE TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATION OR GRATUITOUS SERVICE VOLUNTEERS!
• Parental Permission Form
This form must be signed prior to the commencement of volunteer services when volunteers are under the age of 18.
• Per Army Regulation 608-1, all statutory volunteers must register, complete a volunteer agreement (and parental permission form, if applicable), and have a position description PRIOR to starting work.

• Private Organization Volunteers are those that participate in organizations that can demonstrate a bona fide contribution to the military community and are authorized to operate on the installation, including: the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, West Point Womens Club, DUSA, and Constitution Island. Private organization volunteers are not covered under 10 USC 1588. All liability for incidents/accidents or injury to the volunteer are the responsibility of the private organization.

• Private organizations may have paperwork for the volunteer to complete, but there is no requirement for a copy of that paperwork to be filed with the AVCC.

The organization will provide orientation to the volunteer. During this orientation, the volunteer will become introduced to the organization in which they will be serving. During orientation, volunteers will receive information about operating procedures, dress code, hours, expectations, grievance procedures, etc.
Once Statutory Volunteers commence with their service, they must document their hours in VMIS. Hours must be recorded by the 5th of each month for the previous month in order for the system to accept them.

• The Volunteer Daily Time Record is a useful tool to track hours on a daily basis.

Private Organization Volunteers should also track their hours. During orientation, volunteers should have received information about how to submit those hours. Private organizations submit hours to the AVCC quarterly.

Volunteer Recognition

Each year, West Point volunteers contribute thousands of hours toward making West Point a better community. West Point truly values each of its volunteers and recognizes them.

The West Point Black and Gold Volunteer Award. On the first Thursday of each month, the Garrison Commander recognizes volunteers that have gone the extra mile in the West Point Community by promoting a sense of community, and performing volunteer service with a professional, positive, and caring attitude. Each volunteer receives a certificate and pin. The Black and Gold Volunteer of the Month receives a personalized engraved coin, parking privileges at the commissary and PX and gift bag containing gift certificates to dine at the West Point and various specialty gift items.

• Black and Gold Information Paper
• Black and Gold Nomination Form

Black and Gold Volunteer Award Ceremony Photos
June 2010 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Belinda Bault
May 2010 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Carrie Henderson
March 2010 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Debbie Whitehead
February 2010 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Jerry Parcells
January 2010 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Julie Horton
December 2009 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Angela Kreh
November 2009 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Michael Diaz
October 2009 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: Ali Ramirez
September 2009 Awardees – Volunteer of the Month: SGT Carrie Hurst

Annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. During National Volunteer Week in April of each year, we honor our wonderful volunteers by recognizing their contributions at our annual Volunteer Recognition Ceremony. All registered volunteers are invited to attend the ceremony, where special awards are presented.

2010 Volunteer Recognition Ceremony: “Volunteers Are an Essential Piece of West Point”

• 2010 Photos

Volunteers of the Year for 2010:
Cadet – Cadet Travis Anderson
Youth – Leia Floersheim
Military Spouse – Julie Horton
Military Member – COL Ed Naessens
Civilian – Rick Marasco
Family – The West Family, LTCs Mark and Holly, Keegan, Lexi, Kyle and Daisy

• Award Nomination Tips

West Point Volunteer Advisory Council (VAC)
Representatives from organizations benefiting from volunteer service, as well as command spouses and community representatives meet bi-monthly to discuss volunteer and community news, share program plans and network to support the installation and surrounding communities. For more information, please contact the AVCC at 938-3655.

Make a Difference Day
This annual event is an opportunity for the installation and local communities to participate in a "national day of doing good." On the 4th Saturday of October, units, organizations, and individuals set out to do something positive for the community, such as conduct food drives, repair homeless shelters, visit veterans and the elderly, etc. For more information on how you can get involved in Make a Difference Day, please contact the AVCC at 938-3655.