USO volunteers spend time giving back to Soldiers

By Kate Mansell (Leonard Wood)June 26, 2014

USO volunteers spend time giving back to Soldiers
Ralph Reid signs in Soldiers at the front desk as they arrive at the USO. The USO's first Open House Volunteer Recruitment Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Fort Leonard Wood USO located at 805 Iowa Avenue. Prospective volunteers a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

A force of 102 registered volunteers fuel the Fort Leonard Wood USO.

Ralph Reid, an Army veteran who served for 22 years, has been volunteering at the USO for the last three years and has clocked more than 1,500 volunteer hours.

After he retired from the department of corrections, Reid wanted to give back to his local community and decided to volunteer with the Fort Leonard Wood USO.

"I'm paying it forward. The USO did good stuff for me as a Soldier and now it's my turn," he said.

Reid sits at the front desk at the USO and acts as a personal information center to the Soldiers who come to visit each week.

"I like to ask them where they're going and try to give them a preview of what it will be like when they get there," Reid said of the assignments the Soldiers receive after completing Basic or Advanced Individual Training.

Reid shares stories of his time in the Army and likes to learn how the new generation's military experience differs.

"We talk about their drill sergeants -- our drill sergeants had a lot more latitude than they do now," he said. "I tell them how we trained, they ask about that -- how we took our physical training test in our uniform. We didn't have those little shorts and tennis shoes, we did it in our combat boots."

The USO is in need of more volunteers like Reid who can dedicate time on an ongoing basis. Volunteers are the force behind the post's USO, which has only one full-time and one part-time employee on staff.

"We want volunteers who have a passion for serving those who serve, and enjoy being around others," said Kelly Brownfield, director of the Fort Leonard Wood USO.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. There are wide ranges of opportunities for anyone willing to lend a hand.

"During a regular day of business we have volunteers who help in the snack bar area, gaming area, as well as the front desk signing in guests. We definitely stay busy and you will find that our programs go beyond just our operating business hours," Brownfield said.

The USO's first Open House Volunteer Recruitment Day will be held on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Fort Leonard Wood USO, located at 805 Iowa Ave. Prospective volunteers and those seeking more information are encouraged to stop by.

For more information about becoming a volunteer at the Fort Leonard Wood USO, call 329.2039.

Related Links:

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