Photo By Spc. Rebeca Soria | Mindy Shelton, the Center of Operations Supervisor, provides a Soldier with...... read more read more
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The United Services Organization (USO) has been making strides to modernize the capabilities it provides to service members here at Fort Stewart. As thousands of Soldiers have deployed to eastern Europe, the organization is working towards serving those abroad and those still at home while developing new ways to help Soldiers get what they need.
Joanie Thresher, Executive Director of the USO, South Carolina and Coastal Georgia, has seen firsthand the positive impact that the organization’s effort has on the lives of Soldiers and their loved ones since taking up the position. She was tasked with moving to South Carolina in order to open the first USO since WWII. This was 15 years ago and since then, that location and many others within her jurisdiction have been well taken care of under her and all the other volunteers’ attentive service.
“Things have changed a lot with where technology is today. Most service members aren’t coming to the USO to pick up a book as much as they are to use a laptop to get that gratification and instant connection to use their own personal devices,” Thresher said. “More of it seems to be technology driven, gaming driven, and things along those lines. So, we continue to change and grow based on what you all are asking for us.”
Technology has changed the world and it has affected the way the USO operates. Videogames and utilizing computers for personal or professional purposes is a big deal for visitors.
Whether it’s to using the printer, the computer, or a gaming device, the organization provides everything that visitors might need at any of their locations. Both for fun and for productive purposes.
“The USO is a legacy organization that’s been around for a very long time,” said Matthew Black, Center Operations and Programs Manager for the Fort Stewart USO. “I think that the USO will continue to evolve and reorganize to the changing environment that we are in. If you think about Eastern Europe right now, most of the division is deployed there. We tend to respond to where we are needed. I think that as we continue to grow, we’ll see this organization become more robust in many more places than we’ve ever been before.”
Black, who retired after serving 25 in the Army, begins by preparing for the arrival of Soldiers and their families for the day. Black has worked with the USO for 5 years post-service, and during that period he has overseen countless events and initiatives taken on by the organization to help improve the lives of Soldiers and their families.
“We’re constantly evolving, we’re constantly changing the brand, keeping up with what’s important to our service members of today,” Black said.
“Most notably gaming has become one of the greatest priorities that the USO has put forward in the past couple of years.”
Some of the services offered to Soldiers and their families include local holiday events such as a hayride and Trunk or Treat in October. These types of events are hosted annually by the organization and are free to attend for all Soldiers and their families. Weekly and monthly events are also available.
“We also participate in all community events that we can just to get out there, see the service members and their families and let them know that we’re here to support,” Black said. “There are just limitless opportunities for us to go out into the communities and help specifically during this time of deployment.”
The USO has an impact on the lives of those who visit their centers, but they are also more than willing to go out of their way to provide a service of excellence for U.S. Soldiers working elsewhere on base whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Matthew Black had these words to say to service members and their families who are thinking about visiting their local USO; “We’d love for everybody to come visit our center and participate in our events. The more that come, the more we can do.”
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2023 13:52 |
| Story ID: | 455775 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 155 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, A New Generation of Service Offered at Fort Stewart USO, by PFC Elisha Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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