The USO emphasizes its role supporting U.S. troops deployed far from home, especially during the holidays when loneliness increases. CEO Michael Linnington calls the organization a "home away from home," providing care packages, communication services and food programming that recreates family recipes. The USO operates in more than 130 countries and supports service members aboard multiple ships, helping bring comfort to remote deployments.
USO Creates a 'Home Away From Home' for Deployed Troops This Holiday Season
The USO helps take care of service members deployed far from home during the holidays,
The United Service Organizations (USO) is highlighting how it supports U.S. service members who are deployed far from home — work that becomes especially important during the holiday season when troops often feel isolated and homesick.
"We're there for our service members when they're forward-deployed and, of course, over the holiday season. That's when it's really toughest on them. They miss their families,"USO CEO Michael Linnington told Fox & Friends Weekend, adding that the USO provides a genuine "home away from home" for personnel stationed overseas and sailors serving at sea.
Practical Support in Remote Locations
While many Americans know the USO for its airport centers and domestic programs, the organization also maintains an extensive international footprint. Linnington noted the USO now operates in more than 130 countries and supports service members aboard more than a dozen ships and destroyers.
President Joe Biden joins chef Robert Irvine serving service members and military families during a Friendsgiving dinner at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., Nov. 19, 2023.
In some of the most remote deployments — including parts of the Middle East and Africa — there is limited access to everyday supplies. "Service members plan and prepare to deploy to locations in the Pacific or Europe but ultimately find themselves in the Middle East in very remote desert environments and don't have access to any basic amenities," said Alex Liccione, a USO area director. She explained that common items can be unavailable locally and that shipments can take months to arrive.
Care Packages, Communication, and Comforts From Home
To bridge those gaps, the USO assembles care packages that commonly include hygiene products, packaged food and other essentials. The organization also provides ways for troops to contact loved ones, offering crucial emotional connection during long deployments.
Food Programming and Emotional Connection
Food is a powerful reminder of home. Liccione described the USO’s food programming, where staff and volunteers prepare service members’ family recipes on site. These events recreate familiar tastes and traditions that help ease homesickness. She also noted lighter, nostalgic treats—for example, deep-fried Oreos—can trigger comforting memories like county fairs or family gatherings.
Founded in 1941, the USO says its enduring mission is to remain alongside service members throughout their military journeys, offering steady practical and emotional support from deployment through return.
