(StatePoint) As local communities throughout the southeast region of the United States coped with the damage caused by recent hurricanes, National Guard, Coast Guard and additional active-duty service members rescued people and pets, cleared roads, and distributed needed supplies. These service members not only left their loved ones behind to tackle stressful disaster response missions, but many were also members of impacted communities, making their response efforts all the more challenging.
As always, the USO was there too, providing crucial support to the thousands of military service members responding to the call of duty.
Acting as “USO Centers on wheels,” Mobile USO vehicles and the teams that operate them provide service members with a moment of respite after long days of challenging work. In addition to offering classic USO amenities like Wi-Fi and device charging stations, Mobile USO vehicles are also stocked with hygiene kits, snacks, water and sports drinks to keep service members properly fueled and hydrated so they can stay sharp during their missions.
When electricity, water and cell service is extremely limited—or non-existent—in the wake of a hurricane, having a space where responding service members can access air conditioning, a cold glass of water or a hot meal, Wi-Fi and a charging port to reach out to their loved ones is crucial to boosting morale. That’s why Mobile USO vehicles access multiple locations over a short period of time, often driving right into areas most affected by the storms, so they can meet the service members where they are.
The generosity of donors and partners gives the USO the flexibility to deploy resources just as service members receive their orders. To support the people serving in the U.S. military and their families through the USO, visit www.uso.org.
During challenging military missions, including disaster response in American communities, small moments of respite can make all the difference in service members’ operational readiness and well-being as they prepare to head out on another mission.
