FORT SILL, Okla., Sept. 22, 2016 -- To listen to Jennifer Kirby, USO-Fort Sill director, talk about the USO mission is to feel her excitement in serving service members and their families.
Kirby said the USO will offer services and activities that will complement community services that are already here.
"It's a great enhancement from an emotional perspective of morale boosting. I'm a firm believer in, if you can keep the morale up of our service members, that helps them be mission-ready to defend our nation," she said.
The USO will open at 3265 Crane Road near Sheridan Theater with limited hours later in October; the official opening follows Dec. 7.
"We will have a full ceremony, which I think is so much fun, to have our grand opening on Pearl Harbor Day, the day that commemorates the whole reason the USO came into existence," said Kirby, whose family is decorated with military veterans who served at various key points in U.S. history back to the Civil War. "The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation."
For those familiar with the location, the USO occupies the building which used to be the Impact Zone, and it offers similar attractions but in a different manner.
Everything is free!
The center will be open to anyone with a Defense Department ID card to include retirees, service members and their families.
Kirby spoke of single Soldiers who live in barracks on post, don't have cars or a lot of options for entertainment.
"The USO is a safe zone and something fun to do that's free," she said. "We want to project a home-away-from-home feel for those who visit our center."
Kirby added military spouses and their children are also welcome, too, though the center doesn't offer day care so any children must be accompanied by a parent.
Because the USO exists to help service members stay in contact with their families, a bank of nine computers will offer patrons access to the internet and various related functions.
Other amenities include eight gaming stations featuring Playstation and Xbox video games, pool and shuffleboard tables and two dart lanes.
Kirby said AAFES at Fort Sill became big fans of the USO when she purchased 50-, 60- and 70-inch flat screen TVs.
The USO will also have a snack bar from which people can browse a selection of healthy items to enjoy.
For those visitors who enjoy story time with their children, the center will have a table full of colorful, eye-catching children's books donated by the United for Reading program. Kirby said a DVD will be recorded of each deploying service member reading a book to his or her child.
The child will then receive the book and DVD to enjoy during the service member's time away.
The USO staff will also host special activities such as family or gaming nights, and the Army, Navy football game.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Kirby said with all the activities, services and plans for USO interaction on Fort Sill, the center couldn't function without the work of volunteers. She said people can find out more information online at volunteers.uso.org where they can register and select Fort Sill.
Volunteers may man the welcome desk, stock the snack bar and help guests get on a computer or check out games for the gaming stations. Other volunteer opportunities will happen as special events arise such as family nights with the various Fort Sill unit family groups or helping out when the Army -- Navy football game is shown.
"We are looking for someone who has a welcoming attitude, is empathetic with our service members and their families, and has a smile on their face and a heart for service," she said. "We do request anyone who would like to volunteer to commit to serving at least eight hours a month."
Kirby said the USO also welcomes donations, such as three things they use regularly: healthy snack items, bottled water and toiletries, which are handed out to service members returning from deployments, recruits at military entrance processing stations and new Soldiers here for basic combat training. The donation mailing address is USO Fort Sill, P.O. Box 33621, Fort Sill OK 73503-0621.
"I would encourage anyone who has used a USO or would like to support it through volunteering or donations to not be shy and get involved," said Kirby. "I am very, very, very passionate about my role with this job; I hope people are just as excited to have the USO here."
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