From First Visit to Holiday Cheer: USO Brings Youth and Family Support to NSA Bahrain

What began as the USO’s first-ever youth support visit in October to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain has grown into ongoing connection and community, including a recent return to bring holiday cheer to service members and their families.

For many military families stationed overseas, opportunities to connect can be rare, especially for children to connect with other military kids. That’s why USO Area Operations Manager Joanna Wellons and Center Operations Specialist Dundrey Peoples traveled to bring a week of fun, connection, and community-building to service members, spouses, and youth across Bahrain.

“Having the USO here today has been a great way for the children and families to kick off the first week back to school,” said one military spouse. “USO staff went above and beyond to make not only the parents, but the children happy. It was a great experience, especially for us who have only been here a month. This was a great opportunity to meet and connect with other families with children.”

Over the course of a week, Joanna and Dundrey supported not only families, but service members at multiple locations as well. They hosted activities including trivia, bingo, and “minute-to-win-it” challenges, while also setting up the USO Reading Program for deployed service members to record themselves reading books for their loved ones back home.

“We had originally planned a few different activities with service members,” said Dundrey. “But they loved our crafts and creating DIY photo coasters so much, we ended up doing that activity for over two hours. They really enjoyed it and printed so many photos — we went until we ran out of supplies.”

The USO team also supported deployed service members by delivering USO2GO kits, complete with games, snacks, and USO t-shirts. A spontaneous battle of rock-paper-scissors even drew a long line of Marines eager to join the fun.

A First for Youth Support in Bahrain

For both Joanna and Dundrey, this mission was particularly meaningful. Not only was it their first opportunity to directly support military children in this location, but they are also both military kids themselves. They could relate to what these families experience on a day-to-day basis and brought activities that would bring people together and leave a lasting impression.

One of the most rewarding moments was seeing a child win two prizes and then, without anyone asking, give one of his gifts to another little girl,” said Joanna. “His mom was so proud — it was an amazing reminder of the kindness these kids have.

The USO set up craft and game stations where parents and children worked together to create friendship bracelets and play games. For many families, it was the first time they’d experienced the USO in this way — not in the airport or as a place for deployed service members, but as a space for families to connect and belong while living far from home.

“As I was taking photos, I saw parents making friendship bracelets with their kids,” Dundrey said. “Everyone was coming together. It went so well, we ended up leaving supplies there, so people didn’t have to stop even after we left.”

These activities brought so much joy in the moment, but the USO team’s goal was to create shared experiences that sparked lasting connections and friendships. One military spouse and mom said after the event that the sense of togetherness is what made the event so meaningful.

“Having the USO here was very impactful because they created a lot of joy and fun in this space,” she said. “At first everyone was on their own, but when they started playing games, they all came together and had fun. There was a lot of enjoyment for everyone.”

Building a Foundation for the Future

Beyond the games and activities, the trip helped lay the groundwork for meaningful partnerships that will strengthen USO youth and family support across the region. Joanna partnered with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) to explore ways to bring families together, including the potential creation of a Youth Advisory Council at the local high school.

Youth Advisory Councils already exist at several DODEA schools across Europe and have seen tremendous success. Through these councils, teens have built lifelong friendships, developed leadership skills, and become active leaders within their school communities. Establishing a council locally would offer the same opportunity, empowering military-connected youth to plan events for their peers and connect through their shared experiences.

“We learned so much from that meeting,” said Joanna. “I think with the excitement and engagement we saw while we were there, we’ll be called upon more often. Whether that’s in-person visits or supporting youth programs remotely, we now have those relationships in place.”

For Joanna, the trip also carried personal meaning. “I was a military kid too,” she said. “I never remember seeing the USO on base growing up. So being able to be part of this first youth-focused support was incredible. It’s exciting to see our organization finding those niche opportunities to make an impact.”

For Dundrey, the experience was equally rewarding.

Watching Joanna dancing with the kids, seeing them run up to hug her — it was just pure joy,” he said. “I was a military kid, but I never had that USO experience. It was nice putting our mission in front of these kids so they could have it.

By the end of the week, Joanna and Dundrey had hosted multiple programs, strengthened relationships with the local community, and, most importantly, helped families feel connected and cared for.

“They struggle with connection at this location,” Dundrey said. “Many people show up to events, but it’s hard for them to build those community bonds. We brought everyone together — all the kids were playing, people were meeting each other. That was one of my biggest takeaways: that community.”

Bringing USO Cheer to Bahrain for the Holidays

That strong foundation led to immediate action. Two months after their initial visit, the USO team made a plan and returned to Bahrain to support service members during the holiday season.

“What started as a simple email about a Salute to Service shoutout turned into a meaningful morale event once we got on the ground at Isa Air Base,” said Joanna. “We spent time with an incredible group of U.S. Navy sailors, laughing and competing in ‘Minute to Win It’ games like rock, paper, scissors, cup stacking, Skittle separation, cotton ball scoop, and more.”

During the visit, the team also distributed USO holiday bags, which were met with genuine gratitude and contagious holiday spirit. These holiday bags come in a black drawstring bag so service members can reuse them for the gym or shower. Inside they will find USB-powered twinkle lights to decorate their room, a pair of holiday socks, snacks, hydration mix, and other fun surprises.

“Our goal was to bring holiday cheer to them, but they lifted our spirits just as much,” said Joanna.