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YOKOSUKA, Japan - The recent deployment of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and other forward-deployed ships, has left the USO with a shortage of volunteers, according to Maggie Constantino, the manager of USO Yokosuka.
Constantino said that 78 percent of the volunteers working at the USO come from the ships, with the majority of those coming from the George Washington.
“Now with the ships being deployed, a lot of our volunteers went away with the ships,” Constantino said. “What we need now are volunteers to cover the late night shifts. Also we need spouses to cover the day shifts as well.”
Volunteering at the USO entails going online to begin the registration process.
“I went online to usovolunteer.org and I signed up,” said Lauren Paul, a volunteer and Navy spouse. “Then I came into the USO and did an orientation, and was told what I had to do while I was here, and they showed me around the center.”
Paul, who’s volunteered at the USO for the past two months, also said she enjoys meeting and interacting with all of the different people she meets while volunteering at the USO.
Constantino said that volunteers are also needed for special events, such as bazaars, marketing, and as liaisons between different commands on base. According to Constantino, morning shifts last usually two hours in length and evening shifts are four hours long and that the USO is flexible and volunteers will work around their schedules.
Sonar Technician Submarine 2nd Class Jeremy Lattimer, assigned to Commander, Submarine Force Pacific Navy Data Center onboard Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, also volunteers at the USO.
“I really like it here,” Lattimer said. “It really helps the guys living on the ship, especially the E4 and below, and it gives them a home away from home, because they have to live on the ship. We need more volunteers to keep the center open.”
Lattimer has been volunteering for the past two months and is now a volunteer coordinator at the USO.
“It definitely gives you the chance to talk with people,” Lattimer said. “It gives you communication skills, leadership skills and the responsibility of putting events together.”
According to Paul and Lattimer volunteering also looks good on a resume and on a sailor’s evaluation.
The USO is a private, non-profit, congressionally-charted organization that relies on volunteer support of individuals, organizations, and corporations to support its activities. USO Yokosuka is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Sunday. To volunteer or for more information about USO Yokosuka, call 241-3030 or visit www.uso.org on the Web.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2013 03:57 |
| Story ID: | 109955 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 217 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USO Yokosuka needs help, seeking more volunteers, by Paul Long, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
