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EnglishWhat Is the USO and What Does It Do for Service Members and Military Families?
Updated
The USO stands for United Service Organizations. It is a nonprofit charitable organization that supports active-duty service members and military families, from the moment someone enlists through deployments and the transition back to civilian community life. The support is practical rather than political: a place to rest, a way to call home, care packages, entertainment, and family programs. Anyone can help by donating, giving monthly, or volunteering.
What the USO does
The organization describes its role as being with service members and military families at every stage of service. Its work falls into a few concrete categories:
- Centers and a home away from home. USO locations give troops a place to relax, especially in transit or far from base.
- Connection to home. Centers provide phone calls home and free Wi-Fi, and supporters can "gift a phone call home."
- Care packages and comforts. Snacks, refreshments, and care packages reach deployed units.
- Entertainment. The USO supports celebrity USO tours, movies, and video games for service members in combat zones and remote locations.
- Family support. Programs and activities for kids, plus wellness offerings such as family workshops, gaming, and fitness programming.
How support changes across the service journey
The USO frames its work around three moments, and the type of help differs at each one.
When they enlist
New recruits swear an oath and begin their military careers. USO volunteers welcome recruits at USO locations inside Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), introduce them and their families to USO support available around the world, and provide a friendly, relaxing environment at the start of service. Families can also send a care package.
On the front lines
When troops deploy to combat zones, the USO aims to bridge the distance: care packages, snacks, and refreshments; entertainment through tours, movies, and video games; and phone calls home plus free Wi-Fi inside USO centers. The organization also invites the public to share a message of support with deployed personnel.
With their families
Deployment separates families, and the USO's family work focuses on keeping those connections intact: phone calls and video chats at USO Centers, community programs and activities for children, and wellness activities such as family workshops, gaming, and fitness. Supporters can gift a phone call home.
A concrete example of the family side: a father in Norfolk, Virginia, stayed close to his kids during deployment through the USO and his family's shared love of reading — the kind of everyday routine the organization tries to preserve when service takes a parent far away.
Who it serves
The USO describes itself as serving all service members and military families, not a single branch. Its reach spans the full arc of service: enlistment processing, assignments and deployments, and the return to local communities. Locations include centers inside MEPS and centers in deployed and remote environments, such as the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
How the USO is funded and how to help
The USO is a charitable nonprofit, and its work depends on public support. The site offers several ways to contribute:
| Way to help | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Donate | A one-time gift supporting USO programs for service members and families |
| Give monthly | A recurring monthly gift; the site promotes starting a monthly gift |
| Volunteer | Giving time at USO locations and programs |
| Share a message | Sending a message of support to deployed personnel |
Donations on the site are processed through Stripe. The published material does not state specific gift amounts, membership terms, or whether any programs require registration or fees, so check the relevant program page before assuming access details.
Finding a USO location or program
The site's main navigation includes Find a USO, which is the practical starting point if you want to know whether there is a center near a base, a MEPS, or a deployment location. From there you can look at Programs for the specific offerings — care packages, family activities, entertainment — and Take Action if you want to donate or volunteer. If you are a service member or family member, start with Find a USO and the Programs section; if you want to support troops, the donation and monthly giving options are the most direct route.