Pfc. Jameson Lee, Company A, 31st Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, pets "Bandit," a therapy dog that hangs out at the Fort Leonard Wood USO, Jan. 16 at the USO Open House. The organization's newly refurbished building helps provide Soldiers ...
The Fort Leonard Wood USO Club has been a home away from home for thousands of troops -- but now it really feels like one.
With a grant and donation, the USO now has three brand new u-shaped sectionals, televisions, entertainment systems, bookcases and matching decorations.
"Before we had a hodgepodge of furniture that did what it needed to do, but this really brings the USO all together," said Kelly Brownfield, USO of Missouri, Inc. -- Fort Leonard Wood center director. "We want this to be a home away from home. They (troops) can come in, put their feet up on the couches and feel comfortable. They need a place they can let their guard down and really relax. That is important to us."
According to Brownfield, on Thursdays and Fridays when there aren't any graduations, they have an average of 50 to 75 troops, but when there are graduations on those days, they easily get 300 or more. Saturdays, they usually accommodate anywhere from 300 to 700 troops and their Families, and on Sundays they range from a low of 500 to as many as 1,200 troops.
"Bottom line is our military men and women deserve to have somewhere they can call home when they are away from their loved ones, a place that is going to feel like home as soon as they walk through those doors, and I feel that the changes we have implemented do just that. They can come into our facility and take a break, grab a snack, check their email, or just make a call home, whatever the need is, we will do our best to try to accommodate their need," Brownfield said.
Pfc. Jameson Lee, Company A, 31st Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, has been coming to the USO for about six weeks. When he stepped into the new and improved space, he was pleasantly surprised.
"It's awesome. These couches are so comfortable. There is finally enough room for us to sit. I like it," Lee said.
He is thankful to have a place to call home during his Advanced Individual Training on post.
"We come here during our pass. I always nap. I love napping. Around civilians, like at the PX, we have to maintain our military bearing. I can't just sprawl out on a couch and take a nap," Lee said.
Lee's favorite thing about the USO isn't all the new furnishings -- it's Bandit, the USO's Great Dane therapy dog.
"There should be more dogs around all the time. It's so comforting. I miss my dogs. It's nice to pet a dog again," Lee said as he cuddled on the couch with Bandit.
In addition to the new lounge areas, the USO has a canteen with food donations from area restaurants, entertainment stations with gaming consoles, an arcade room, six televisions, a 17-foot pull-down screen for movies, table tennis, pool tables and a computer room with free Wi-Fi.
"We are unique because we were the very first USO on a military installation on U.S. soil. Now we are the largest USO on a military installation," Brownfield said. "2014 has many more surprises in store. We appreciate all the community support we have received in making all of our programs a success and we look forward to what the future holds for us."
The USO is located at 805 Iowa Avenue. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit www.usomissouri.org/fort- leonard-wood.
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