USO Lifts Spirits of USS Bataan Crew During Port Visit

In a resounding display of teamwork and agility, USO Dubai and USO Abu Dhabi staff and volunteers united forces to uplift the spirits of over 3,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) as they pulled into the Abu Dhabi port.

As soon as Area Director, Alex Liccione, heard a U.S. Navy ship was entered her area of operations and needed support, she and her team jumped into action.

“The team started preparing for the visit approximately one month prior to the visit,” said Alex. “This included adding multiple meetings with port authorities, U.S. Navy and U.S. Embassy personnel. We also met with several food truck vendors to vet them and determine which ones we would like to set-up during the visit.”

News of USO volunteers delivering food and games to austere military locations is well-known. What is not common knowledge, is how many other ways staff support service members while deployed – assisting with hotel stays and tour bookings, making sure everything is safe and secure for these men and women to relax while in country. Staff also help to set up vendors, so service members have a safe space to purchase souvenirs to take back to their families.

“Several site visits at the port were completed to discuss power/electricity requirements for vendors and map out the layout of pop-up USO morale space,” Alex explains. “Additional planning included working with Abu Dhabi hotel and tour partners to ensure we had signed contracts with them, completing hotel and tour bookings for the crew, and mapping out daily and nightly programming for the port visit.”

Against the backdrop of this bustling city, a temporary USO oasis sprang to life within the cruise terminal during this five-day port visit. Throughout the week, service members participated in an array of engaging activities and programs arranged by dedicated USO staff.

When asked what kinds of activities service members participated in, Alex excitedly responded “each day and evening we hosted a variety of programs for the crew inside the pop-up USO including bingo, trivia, cornhole tournaments, minute to win it challenges, poker tournaments, paint night, karaoke and the USO Reading Program.”

The team also set up tables, chairs, gaming consoles, TVs, and lawn games so sailors and marines could relax and enjoy time together right outside the ship.

“The USO team was excited to meet the crew and see their reaction to the amazing set-up we completed,” said Alex.

It felt like we were waiting to see family we hadn’t seen in a while even before meeting them. We wanted to facilitate special moments for them while deployed and we are honored to say we were successful in achieving that goal.

Support didn’t stop there. To bring a taste of home to sailors and marines, teams mobilized food trucks and curated souvenir shops ensuring the crew felt the warmth of home even on foreign shores. A spectrum of hotel stays and guided tour opportunities allowed service members to explore the captivating landscapes of the United Arab Emirates during their liberty hours.

“After we coordinated the tours, I could see the excitement on [service members’] faces when they were preparing to leave,” said Field Programs Manager, Hazel Geronimo. “We also had coffee vendors – I love seeing them with their coffee getting on the bus for their tour.”

The feedback from the USS Bataan crew was nothing short of enthusiastic. They praised the USO for providing a much-needed respite from their strenuous duties.

Service member, Pete Padgett, said after the port visit “I liked playing cup pong and hanging out with friends off the ship - doing the tours and going to Ferrari World was an awesome mini vacation. I can’t explain how much I loved having Wi-Fi again. Talking to people back home and getting food off the ship were game changers for me.”

Even the Supply Officer for the USS Bataan, Cmdr. Carrie Paben, expressed her gratitude in an e-mail to USO staff: “Thank you to you and your team for the phenomenal support leading up to and during BAT’s port visit in Abu Dhabi. USO ‘stole the show’ with the multiple food vendors, merchandise, games and tours you and the team set up for our sailors and marines. I heard nothing but complements from sailors and marines as they enjoyed a break from underway life.”

This remarkable collaboration showcased not only the dedication of the USO teams, but also the unwavering commitment to the well-being of those who serve. Expeditionary support for ships doesn’t stop here – the USO is for all people who serve and we will continue to support these men and women wherever they are.

“This was the first time the USO had supported an expeditionary ship visit in the UAE with this full range of offerings,” said Alex. “It was truly a game changer and showed there are no limits to what we can do.”