Volunteering At Fort Leonard Wood USO Club

As those of you who check in on this blog once in a while know, I have begun volunteering at the USO Club at Fort Leonard Wood. I got the idea to do this after the weekend I spent at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio attending Matt's Basic Training Graduation.

I was just so impressed with all the soldiers I saw and met there. They were so disciplined and so polite. After teaching in Missouri public schools for all those years, it was refreshing to be treated with such respect by everyone I came in contact with there.

Soldiers Waiting For Computer Time

I could not believe the difference in Matthew from the time he left for Basic Training and the time he graduated. He left a boy and graduated a young man who understands responsibility.

When Matt was assigned to Chemical Readiness School at Fort Leonard Wood and I knew I would be going to see him often, I thought, maybe I can find a way to volunteer and help these soldiers. After searching the internet, I discovered that the USO Club on post was in need of help.

I applied and was accepted. I attended their orientation and those in charge of the USO Club and the other volunteers were so nice to me.

USO Club Wireless Internet Area

So far I have really enjoyed each time that I have worked at the club. It is a long drive and is somewhat expensive, but when I arrive and work my shift, the time flies and I can't help but give my all for the soldiers.

Most of the soldiers who use the USO Club on weekends are Army soldiers in Basic Training. There are also soldiers in Advanced Training from all the branches of service who come to the club.

Anyone who has been through Basic Training knows that it is a time in a person's life that will never be forgotten. It is not an easy time to put it lightly. The soldiers miss their families, they are screamed at, driven hard and they learn that they are capable of achieving much more than they ever thought.

We Have Places For The Soldiers To Relax

Discipline, respect, prompt following of orders and knowledge of military requirements are all such an important part of a military person's life. These things will save their lives and help them save the lives of others when they are deployed into dangerous situations around the world.

I think everyone close to me knows how angry and frustrated I am at our current political situation. In my lifetime this is the most corrupt and inept leadership this country has ever lived through. In my opinion there is not even a close second place.

Nevertheless, these soldiers are not a part of that and they must be respected for their commitment. They come from many different locations, but they have much in common. Many are from poor backgrounds and had no real opportunities to escape their economic situation. Others, like Matthew, found themselves unsatisfied with their lives and felt they were drifting with no real purpose in life. Also many joined the Reserves or National Guard in the past years to supplement their family's income thinking they would be able to help the country in domestic emergencies etc., only to be called on to serve in this war.

Watching A Movie On The Big-Screen Television

This past weekend I met a soldier who is 30 years old and doing his AIT (Advanced Intermediate Training) at Fort Leonard Wood where he will become a truck driver. He told me that several years ago he and his wife had their second child. They were both working, but wanted to increase their income for their children. He decided to join the Reserves and now he has been called to duty and is going to Iraq to drive a truck.

If you have studied the Iraq War at all you know that soldiers that drive up and down the roads of Iraq in convoys are at great danger. More soldiers right now are dying from IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) than any other way.

Well enough of that.

The Computer Room

Let me describe the USO Club at Fort Leonard Wood.

It is a way for the soldier to escape the day-to-day routine of his/her training and enjoy a few hours of rest and relaxation. Our job is to help them enjoy their time there. It is important that we have a smile for them, a pat on the back and a positive attitude.

Once inside the USO there is much to do. There are pool tables and an arcade area. There is a canteen with food and drinks. There are tables and chairs for them to sit and talk. There are two areas sectioned off like large living rooms with rugs, comfortable couches and recliners and large screen televisions for them to watch movies. There is a ping pong table. There is a computer area with presently 13 computers for them to use. There is a special area for those that have laptop computers with wireless capability to sit and spend time on their computers. There are many pay phones where they can call home.

On the weekends I would guess, at any given time, there are several hundred soldiers in the club so it is popular and busy. There is no charge for anything in the club except to play pool and to play the arcade games.

More Soldiers Waiting For Computer Time

My job seems to be the person in charge of the computer room (Cyber Cafe). At the present time there are 13 computers (donated by Sprint) so there are not enough computers for the number of soldiers who want to use them. The word is that 13 more computers will be added in the next few weeks.

Each soldier is given only 15 minutes of computer time and then he or she must rotate out for a new group. Fifteen minutes is not enough time for someone to sit at the computer and read all their emails and write emails to their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, girlfriends and wives.

My job is to keep order, to make the best out of not the best situation. I stand at the door with my sign-in sheet and keep a list of the next group to rotate in. Sometimes when it is quite busy there will be up to an hour wait to get in the computer room. Often the soldiers will spend 15 minutes on the computer and then sign up again for the next available time to go back in.

The soldiers are very cooperative with me and the job is quite easy and fun. They seem to appreciate me and I certainly appreciate their courteous behavior and the respect they show me.

Matt And His Air Force Buddies

Last weekend Matthew and three of his best buddies (Mike, Mason and Justin) came into the club and I was able to sit and talk with them for a few minutes. I am trying to spend as much time with Matthew as I can right now and for the next couple of months.

In November, he will be off to Germany and I will leave for the winter in the Dominican Republic. I do hope to be able to save enough money to go see him next spring. But truthfully, after we go our separate ways, I do not know when I will see him again and this makes me sad.