USO Board Members Travel to Eastern Europe to Witness USO Mission in Action

The USO is renowned for bringing morale-boosting programs to service members wherever they are around the globe, but supporters of people serving in the military rarely get to see their generosity in action. Twenty-five members of the USO’s Board of Governors and corporate sponsors recently traveled to Eastern Europe to see USO mission first-hand.

THE EXPERIENCE

On a sunny day in June, this group of supporters stepped off the bus to be greeted by plowed brown earth, high temperatures and rows upon rows of tents and container buildings at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area (DPTA), Poland. Most of the tents in this area act as “life support areas” — packed full of bunk beds where each service member lives in about six feet of space. Outside of the tents, the base is a buzz of activity, with soldiers operating bulldozers, walking to the dining facility or finishing a workout.

Walking between the rows of tents, USO Immersion Tour participants began to hear music and smell burgers sizzling on the grill. They turned a corner as the USO sign and a crowd of smiling USO volunteers came into view. Travelers entered the USO Center that soldiers built themselves and took a tour by USO Drawsko Pomorskie Center Manager, Lisa Nichting. Lisa passionately discussed the Center’s transformation from an empty tent to a home away from home.

“Upon arrival I was amazed,” said Michael Quigley, a USO Board Member. “The tent was a full scale, thick-walled, air-conditioned, fully operational USO center with high-speed Wi-Fi, big screen TVs, cushy chairs and plenty of comfort food. The center was packed with our troops.”

Next, the group shared a meal with service members at the base dining facility and experienced the same food and dining environment those deployed to the region know all too well, while engaging in conversation. Service members showed their appreciation for USO leaders taking the time to visit while getting to know the challenges they face being deployed so far from home.

USO Board Member, Jim Lee, commented: “I was humbled by the soldiers I met while in Europe. Even though many were very early in their careers, they were motivated by their mission and very confident in themselves, their team and their outstanding leaders. I was extremely happy to hear how much they treasured the USO team and facilities.”

After lunch, guests continued the tour and learned more about the responsibilities and duties of service members and the struggles they face in the field.

“One of things I miss the most about being an Army officer is spending time with the remarkable soldiers and NCOs of our military,” said USO Board Member and former U.S. Army Artillery Officer, Andrew Bang. “This USO Immersion experience visiting troops forward deployed in Germany and Poland helped me reconnect and appreciate their sacrifices and service even more. It was a cherished experience chatting with, and getting to know soldiers, from everywhere and every walk of life– from my hometown of Baltimore to my current home in New York City, and elsewhere.”

Throughout the duration of the trip to Poland and Germany, tour guests experienced riding in a tank, explored seven different USO Centers, heard from U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force leaders, encountered Apache helicopters, learned about USO Unstaffed Centers- and most importantly, spoke one-on-one with the people who serve.

THE FUTURE

In a location such as Eastern Europe — so close to the largest conflict in Europe since World War II – the relevance of the U.S. military and our nation’s presence is ever-apparent. Deployed service members are crucial to supporting our allies, maintaining stability and protecting our freedoms worldwide. And through it all, they both need and deserve the support of the USO and the American people.

“These bases in Poland were in the middle of nowhere, with a vast amount of farmland all around,” said USO Board Member, Chris Scangas. “There is nothing to do that is close to these bases — the USO is the only place they can go to relax and can be, for a short time, away from the daily grind.”

The USO Board Members and corporate sponsor representatives who traveled on this USO Immersion Tour embarked on their journey with a shared question front-in-mind: How do we better advocate for and support our service members from back home?

“I will be speaking to our Veterans Club and other organizations about my experiences in Poland and Germany,” said Chris. “I will be discussing how proud I am of our soldiers representing us and how the USO has become so valuable to soldiers and their overall morale. Being a part of the USO Florida Board is one way for me to participate in the fundraising and remain aware of what the USO does for our service members — it really is a well-kept secret.”

When they boarded the plane back to the United States, USO Immersion travelers had abundant photos, stories and meaningful connections to men and women in the military. These personal connections were crucial in being able to tell the story of our service members and to garner additional support from the American people upon their return home.

“Moments like this last for a lifetime and I enjoyed a week of them,” said Jim. “I think personal experiences help us share stories much more effectively.”

Undoubtedly, this USO Immersion Tour had a profound impact on this group of individuals. They witnessed deployed military life, USO mission delivery and forged connections that will remain etched in their minds.

“We saw the USO spirit in action,” said Retired General and former Chairman of the USO Board of Governors, George Casey. “And we saw the team there create things from nothing. There was a spirit of innovation, collaboration and perseverance. And that’s the spirit we have to continue to bottle and share with everyone else.”

“I was so impressed by Grant and his team, including both employees and volunteers who remain our lifeline,” said retired CSAF and newly appointed Chairman of the USO Board of Governors, Dave Goldfein. “I’m so honored to take the stick from George Casey who has been an incredible chairman for the last five years. As a recipient of USO support during my 37 years in the Air Force, I’m excited to work with JD Crouch and the talented and dedicated team who take care of our troops and their families wherever and whenever they serve.”