USO provides leisure, volunteer opportunities for junior enlisted reservists

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joe Yanik
  • 512th AW Public Affairs
(This is 2 of 3 stories in a series of on-base resources available to junior enlisted members.)
During his shift, volunteer John Guy sits at a welcome desk where he greets visitors and their families. With a smile, he asks for valid forms of military identification and then gestures for them write their names on a nearby clipboard. Above his head and against the wall is a mounted sign set within a rectangular wooden frame. The sign includes an assortment of smooth ceramic tiles, each is one of the colors of the American flag: white tiles form the letters "USO', bordered twice with red and blue tiles.

Located inside the passenger terminal, the USO Delaware center offers a variety of services and amenities to all Liberty Wing reservists, including the junior enlisted members, to use while on military status.

The multi-room center has areas designated for a variety of activities, like web surfing, billiards competitions, watching movies in a 20-seat theater, and playing the latest video game systems.

Joan Cote, the center's director, said she looks forward to the development of an outdoor patio where junior enlisted Airmen and all other guests can enjoy cooking on a grill and participating in outdoor activities.

According to its website, the mission of USO Delaware is to support and comfort all armed forces members and their families through a variety of programs and services.
As such, Bruce Kmiec, USO Delaware programs manager, said the center serves any military members, retirees and dependents passing through the passenger terminal.
To accommodate the regular flow of visitors, the center is open 24/7 and has a present volunteer staff from 8 a.m. until midnight.

Aside from what the USO Delaware center offers to all armed service members, including junior enlisted reservists, Kmiec said he welcomes anyone who wants to spend their extra time taking care of troops and lifting up the spirits of families.
The center thrives thanks to the volunteer staff and to the donations from organizations and private citizens, said Kmiec, adding that the number of USO Delaware active volunteers has more than doubled in the past two and a half years.

Individuals looking to volunteer at USO Delaware can find contact information for the USO Delaware by clicking here: http://www.uso.org/US?#Delaware . By accessing this site, staying informed with USO Delaware news - such as volunteer opportunities - and services like the development of the outdoor patio, are just a click away.

By liking the organization's Facebook page, Airmen receive immediate notification of happenings, planned events and available tickets to shows and performances.

"(What we accomplish at the USO) is our way of putting the arms of the American people around our military," Cote said, adding that this mission is achievable because of the great partnership the center has with Dover Air Force Base.

"We're extremely blessed to have the support from (the base's) leaders," she said.

Senior rank certainly has its privileges, but the USO Delaware is certainly a benefit to the junior enlisted reservists, in what they get from the center and in what they can give back.