Soldiers enjoy USO party in the desert!

Courtesy Photo | The USO has created Every Moment Counts to highlight the moments that matter most for our troops and their loved ones.  

MCGREGOR RANGE, NM, UNITED STATES

07.18.2014

Story by Tulara McCauley 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

McGREGOR, N.M. – Soldiers reveled during a brief break from the desert grind with food and fun activities.

The United Services Organization El Paso hosted a party in the desert for service members, here, July 18. Robert Medrano, USO center operations and programs manager, confirmed approximately 600 service members were served by the 18 volunteers and two managers.

USO El Paso supplied food and entertainment for the party in support of the Every Moment Counts initiative. The USO created Every Moment Counts to make every moment count when Soldiers are away from their families for training.

“Showing Soldiers appreciation is why we do it,” said Medrano. “The McGregor training area is not glamorous – the facilities are good, but there are limited resources for entertainment or gatherings. We try to provide the venue for Soldiers to relax and break up the monotony.”

USO El Paso provided much more than a venue to the parched and hungry crowd.

“We purchased 174 pizzas, 1,400 chicken wings, 693 assorted ice cream treats and 800 bottles of water,” said Medrano.

Spc. Jensen Tittelfitz, C troop 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, from Bend, Oregon, was pleased with the celebration. “I heard about pizza and ice cream and headed right over,” said Tittelfitz. “Our five-week stay has been pretty good - and pretty hot.”

The USO also contracted Pazos Entertainment and Rolling Video Games to provide activity for the Soldiers. Service members navigated an obstacle course, rotated inside a wire cage, played video games, boxed in oversized gloves and climbed rock walls.

Spc. Brittaney Dornback, 40th Infantry Division, said her California National Guard unit from Los Alamitos arrived at Fort Bliss, Texas, July 11. She and her fellow Soldiers were ready for fun.

“We got some ice cream and hit the climbing wall,” said Dornback, a Sacramento, Calif., native.

The 40th ID is deploying to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to assume staff positions in the Joint Task Force. This deployment is Dornback’s first and she is happy with both the destination and the job she will be doing.

“Getting the opportunity to go out of country and serve America is the main reason I joined the Army,” said Dornback. “I was lucky to get on the mission.”

Dornback expressed appreciation for the USO efforts.

“It’s really cool that the USO came out and took care of Soldiers,” said Dornback. “It’s good knowing someone cares and supports our troops – it’s like home.”

Potential volunteers should go to the website: usovolunteer.org.

• Date Taken: 07.18.2014
• Date Posted: 07.29.2014 14:36
• Story ID: 137641
• Location: MCGREGOR RANGE, NM, US
• Hometown: BELLEFONTAINE, OH, US
• Hometown: BEND, OR, US
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, NC, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US
• Hometown: LOS ALAMITOS, CA, US
• Hometown: MADRAS, OR, US
• Hometown: MIAMI, FL, US
• Hometown: PORTSMOUTH, OH, US
• Hometown: SACRAMENTO, CA, US
• Hometown: SEATTLE, WA, US
• Hometown: WARREN, OH, US
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• Hometown: YOUNGSTOWN, OH, US