USAG Brussels Military Police become Friday Friends
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The Spring semester brought an exciting new partnership to Brussels Unit School. The USAG Brussels Military Police joined BUS elementary students on the last Friday of each month to read books and learn more about each other, with the goal of strengthening relationships within the Brussels community.
Major Chad Boyer, USAG Benelux Provost Marshal and BUS parent, recognized an opportunity in Brussels. “The concept for this initiative stems directly from my experiences at past duty locations, where I observed the strategic value of community-oriented policing and robust school liaison programs,” Boyer said.
During the first session in January, students were eager to ask questions and learn about the lives and work of our military police officers. Students’ questions ranged from, “How old are you?” to “Do you know my dad? He is in the Army, too.” The MPs were thoughtful about their answers and gave students an interesting look at their role in the daily operations of our school and campus. In total, eight different officers participated in the program this year.
According to Boyer, programs like this humanize the uniform and build a foundation of trust and approachability between law enforcement and youth.
“Instead of interacting with MPs solely during security checks or emergencies, students and staff now view our personnel as accessible mentors and positive community figures, said Boyer. “This proactive engagement has elevated the overall safety, culture, and mutual respect within the school footprint.”
This goal was clearly achieved for first grader Cannon S. With a big smile, he said, “I like the police reading to us because I haven’t met very many military police before. I hope they will come back next year.” Cannon particularly enjoyed their books about the weather. “One time all the books were about snow. I like stories about snow.”
No matter what the BUS students are up to on a Friday afternoon, Boyer and his team have been willing to jump in and make the experience a little more fun. Beyond the usual reading sessions, the MPs were present to help surprise a retiring teacher on his last day of teaching in January.
Boyer’s team also volunteered to help elementary students plant flowers on a beautiful afternoon during the Month of the Military Child in April.
Boyer concluded, “By working closely with the school team to align our reading sessions with the school's educational objectives and scheduling requirements, we successfully developed a sustainable program that directly supports both student literacy and the garrison's broader community outreach goals.”
The school looks forward to growing this program as they welcome the MPs back for the 2026-2027 school year in August.
