The USO is a non-profit agency that provides support services to US military personnel and their families through entertainment tours, USO centers, and other services. It was founded in 1941 and has over 130 centers worldwide. The organization is supported by grants and donations and relies heavily on volunteers. Celebrities often volunteer to perform for troops to raise morale. The USO is highly regarded by many members of the military for its support and friendship.
United Service Organizations (USO) is a non-profit agency, chartered by Congress, that provides support services to US military personnel and their families. While the USO is best known for its entertainment tours for celebrities, it actually provides many other vital services to troops during times of war and peace. The organization is supported almost entirely through grants and donations of time and money. Individuals interested in contributing to USO efforts in the United States or abroad can use their favorite search engine to search for a local chapter of the organization.
In 1941, the USO was founded in response to a request from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for increased support services for American troops. With war looming on the horizon, the president wanted to make sure troops had a little “touch of home” wherever they were. Participation in the USO has also helped bridge the gap between civilians and military. After the end of the war, the USO started to fade away, but was revived with the start of the Korean War and continues to thrive.
One of the main services of the USO are the USO Centers. There are over 130 of these centers around the world, along with an assortment of mobile centers that are moved as needed for troops. At a USO center, members of the military and their families have Internet access, reading rooms, library staff, game rooms, counseling, housing assistance, and other services designed to provide comfort and support. Many of the staff at these centers are volunteers who donate their time and energy.
The USO also engages in a rotating series of missions. For example, the organization often collects mail from American citizens to send to troops serving overseas. The USO also maintains airport drop-off centers and troop return parties, and attempts to provide telephone service and other lines of communication for soldiers serving away from home.
The celebrity entertainment shows that the USO is famous for are performed all over the world, including in the United States. These shows are intended to raise overall troop morale, and celebrities who participate in them generally volunteer to do so, although the USO also actively solicits celebrities. Comics, musicians, and other home entertainers can help make troops feel less isolated in the field.
Many members of the military, past and present, speak highly of the USO. The organization’s work supports men and women who are often engaged in demanding jobs, both by providing needed services and by offering friendship, comfort and kind words from home.
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