The USO’s Mobile Message

Nov. 6, 2015

United Service Organizations Inc.— popularly known as the USO — laid its foundation during World War II, beginning a tradition of entertaining the troops to support the war effort, supplying food, drink, music and dancing as a much-needed break from the terrifying realities of war.

The USO’s Camp Shows continued throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars, as popularized in movies and TV shows like M*A*S*H., but what you might not know is that the USO is alive and well right here in northern Michigan, making an annual appearance at Camp Grayling.

AMERICAN PATROL

Today’s USO has more than 160 brick and mortar locations around the world, USO Canteens that serve stationed military and those traveling through.

“That’s actually how I got introduced to the USO,” said Staff Sergeant Kimberly Bratic, stationed at Camp Grayling. “It was right there when I got off the plane in Oklahoma for basic training — like a lounge with TVs and games and snacks. The canteens are usually what service members look for when we’re traveling.”

Courtney Anderson, USO mobile program manager based in Virginia, explained that, in addition to regular USO Canteens, they also have USO Mobile Canteens, kind of like military-themed motor homes, which is how the USO got to Camp Grayling.

“The mobile units were initially built for disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina,” Anderson explained. “Then we realized that we could really build something else around them, so we started looking at the bigger picture.”

Now, each USO Mobile Canteen has three full-time staff members and two drivers. One is located in Virginia Beach, working the east coast; one is in Nashville, handling the center of the country; and one is stationed in Phoenix, working in the west.

“We try to have one within a two-day drive of anywhere in the continental U.S.,” Anderson said.

I’LL BE SEEING YOU

Two levels of USO Mobile Canteen serve the troops. The basic unit, Anderson said, functions as a kind of home away from home.

“We serve beverages, hot coffee, soups and snacks, and we offer XBox stations for gaming and show movies and shows on our big screen TVs,” she explained.

An expanded version adds the USO Show Troupe, a singing and dancing performance group that amps up the patriotic spirit even more.

The biggest priority is to reach troops and their families who are in more remote areas without access to a stationary USO Canteen. The Mobile Canteens also attend events like air shows and NASCAR races, “places where we can blend troop support and education,” Anderson said.

At Camp Grayling, the USO Mobile Canteen was called in to spend a couple of days on-site during one of the camp’s major events, a yearly two-week field training exercise called the XCTC (eXportable Combat Training Capability.)

The camp’s annual Pass in Review, at which Michigan National Guard leaders and state officials review the troops, also takes place during this same time frame, the result being that nearly 4,600 troops are stationed at Camp Grayling. Bratic said this makes for a perfect opportunity to bring in the Mobile Canteen.

“That’s a high point of our year,” she added, “so we feel that having the USO here to support our troops during that time is really significant.”

G.I. JIVE

Upon arriving at Camp Grayling, Anderson said the first goal was to simply be friendly faces and get the shop set up.

“The canteens are usually open for 10 hours each day, so we make sure everyone gets something to eat or drink and gets a chance to relax,” she said. “When we bring in the Show Troupes, we do real big bang sort of stops. At Camp Grayling, we also had an XBox tournament where we were able to let the local soldiers play against soldiers in other locations. You really get to see the competitive side of some of these guys!” Bratic, who teaches ballroom and swing dancing in addition to her military duties, liked the Show Troupe best.

“The performers all had red, white and blue outfits and they played great old big band songs like ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’” — just like what you’ll remember if you’ve ever seen old news footage of Bob Hope,” she said.

“They do still sing a lot of the old World War II era songs,” Anderson confirmed. “The shows are all choreographed and a lot of our performers have jobs on and off-Broadway, so they also add in popular music of today. We’ve had to change with the times, just as the military has, so we aren’t quite Bob Hope’s USO any more, but we are definitely honoring his legacy.”

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

When the troops see the USO Mobile Canteen roll into camp with its giant logo and flags, it’s a real mood-booster, according to Bratic, who is also the camp’s community relations specialist.

“The Mobile Canteen is just such a cool thing,” she said. “To have something as big as the USO here supporting all of us is so great.”

Anderson added that, while the vehicle itself is a great marketing tool and a very visible way to extend support to the troops, it’s really the personal outreach that’s key.

“It’s so rewarding being able to interact with the troops,” she said. “They always seem so happy to see us.”

At the Mobile Canteen’s Camp Grayling stop, the camp allowed the community to get involved, “so lots of community members got the chance to see what we do,” Anderson said.

The USO is turning 75 next year (“not many military nonprofits have been around that long,” Anderson pointed out), but chances are its goals will remain very much the same for years to come.

“The USO Mobile Canteen, the Show Troupe, all of it — these are our ways to tell our troops that we’re here to support you, no matter where you’re stationed, during your military career and beyond,” Anderson said.

To learn more, visit uso.org