ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILL. -- The United Service Organizations' mission is to enhance service members and their family's lives, said a local official.
Jackie Inman, Rock Island center director, recently presided over the opening of a new 2,000 square-foot USO center at Rock Island Arsenal. The larger facility will allow the USO employees and volunteers to serve better its military community and families.
Inman said, "We want to double the number of service members served by this center. When I opened my small USO office in September 2011, I was able to serve more than 10,000 service members and their families that year. With a larger center we can serve more now."
"Outreach is key to service military members and their families," said Inman. "The USO is for all branches of service including the National Guard and Reserves."
According to Inman, the USO tailors its core programs based on its location and the demographics of the local military community. The Rock Island USO is unique; it is the only USO in Illinois outside of the metro Chicago area. There are no USO centers in Iowa.
The USO works with the United Through Reading program.
"This program allows service members to read a book and have it video recorded to be sent to their children on a date of their choice," said Inman. "The USO provides the books, recording equipment, packing and mailing supplies. The United Through Reading program is mainly for deploying service members but there are plans to expand this program to all service members."
Another program is the Discovery Kids Program, which allow children the opportunity to visit and learn from the corporate partners that take part of these programs.
"There are programs planned for March with the Bettendorf Family Museum, in the fall at the John Deere Pavilion and a still to be determined program during Christmas time," said Inman.
"We are developing a program for teens and tweens," said Inman. "Young children have support systems and adults also, but the teen and tweens can be overlooked during Permanent Change of Station moves and deployments. We want to do something about that.
"The USO is a non-profit organization that receives no direct government funding, the American people make this possible," said Inman.
Inman said, "We cannot do everything but we do what we can. My goal in the next year is to provide a meeting place to build relationships and allow everyone to come together in a relaxing place."
"Do not forget our active duty, Reserve and National Guard service members and their families," said Inman. "They are still deploying and families are still affected. Please continue to support them and your local USO."
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