United Service Organization of North Carolina

The United Service Organizations of North Carolina (USO of NC) is the oldest continuously operating United Service Organization (USO) in the world (founded April 23, 1941, in Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune) as well as the first USO (at Fort Bragg).The USO of North Carolina supports military, retired military and their families in or from North Carolina. The USO of NC today operates four centers at Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune, Raleigh Durham Airport, Charlotte/Douglas Airport and Fort Bragg/Fayetteville; and a mobile center. North Carolina is home to nearly 25 percent of the United States armed forces – active, guard and reserve.

The USO of NC is largely funded by donations from individual and corporate sponsors and operated by a small core of full-time employees and a network of approximately 700 volunteers throughout the state of North Carolina. The staff supports nearly a quarter million patrons each year at deployments, homecomings, Honor Support Team activations, airport lounges, Smiles over Miles, United through Reading and numerous other programs and services.

Smiles Over Miles
The USO helps in supporting regular communication between deployed servicemembers and family members at home. The USO of NC and Privacy Data Systems partnered to create "Smiles Over Miles", which allows servicemembers with access to an internet connection and a webcam to send large video, text, video or audio messages over an encrypted, completely secure connection to family or friends.

United Through Reading
Each of the USO of NC centers offer servicemembers the chance to be videotaped reading a book for their children, which is then packaged into a DVD and mailed to family members free of charge.

Travel-Based Centers
USO of NC operates two travel based centers, in the Raleigh- Durham and Charlotte-Douglas International Airports, which function as airport lounges for military personnel, military retirees and their families. Staffed by volunteers, the centers offer comfortable chairs, books, magazines, television, movies, video games, kid play areas, and refreshments. Internet and phone use available free of charge.

Service-Based Centers
The Jacksonville/ Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg/Fayetteville centers serve as recreation centers, offering free pool tables, video games and Internet access to military ID-card holders. Center staff and volunteers also administer military/ community outreach programs.

Mobile Unit Support
The Mobile Unit is a Recreational Vehicle donated by a World War II veteran and is equipped with two large external flat-screen televisions, a small internal television, Direct TV satellite system, a DVD player, a Wii gaming system, four laptop computers with mobile internet, cell phone service and a gas grill.<ref name="jdnews1"/14:18, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

Honors Support Team
On-call 24/7, a team of volunteers renders planeside military-honors to fallen service members and assists family members and escorts, helping them navigate a busy airport at a stressful and overwhelming time.

Deployment & Homecoming Support
Whenever groups of military personnel leave or return to North Carolina, the USO of NC volunteers are on-site to provide moral support and distribute deployment and homecoming care packages.

Sports events
The USO of NC provides complimentary and reduced-price tickets and transportation to many sporting events.

Single Warrior Birthday Cakes
USO of NC provides surprise birthday cake deliveries to single service members E-5 and below upon request.

Food Pantry
Non-perishables are available to assist young service members and their families during times of need.