USO Dayroom Story

Courtesy Photo | Jacob Carlile of West Lafayette shoots pool at the dayroom at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The room was opened last summer to provide a relaxing area for Soldiers to hang out. (Photo/Don Meyer)  

01.23.2008

Courtesy Story

Camp Atterbury Indiana

After a hard day of combat training, it is nice to be able to relax in front of the TV and watch some football or shoot a few games of pool.

Soldiers at Camp Atterbury had few places to do this, however, until the United Service Organization dayroom was created.

At the dayroom, Soldiers can watch one of the three TVs, play pool or foosball, watch a DVD, read or just sit and chat with each other or the civilian USO volunteers. Free snacks and soft drinks are available, as well.

The dayroom is a Morale, Welfare and Recreation program that is managed by USO Indiana, said 1st Lt. Matthew McGowen, MWR manager.

"Basically, the Soldiers needed somewhere to go after work," he said.

Part of the appeal is the smiling face of the USO volunteers, who come from all walks of life, including retired military, couples, families of Soldiers and people from nearby communities.

"I think it's just nice. The volunteers enjoy helping the Soldiers or they wouldn't be here. It's someone to interact with and someone interested in them," McGowen said.

Linda Birdcell, coordinator of USO at Camp Atterbury, said the volunteers enjoy the experience, too.

"We enjoy joking and bantering with them. (The Soldiers) are so appreciative, but we're the one who appreciate them. They do so much for us," she said.

USO was started in 1941 as a civilian organization to help with the morale and recreational needs of the military. The USO, also known as United Services Organization, started clubs and recreational areas for Soldiers passing through or stationed at nearby bases. The clubs could be the sites for dances and concerts or just places to relax, read, have a snack or talk. The USO also organized celebrity tours to military bases, with Bob Hope being one of the most active participants. USO volunteers still operate lounges or dayrooms, help with local ceremonies, such as the send-off for the 76th Brigade, and assemble care packages. The volunteers can also take on other projects if they see a need. For example, the USO recently conducted a donation drive to get bicycles for troops training at Atterbury, so they would have basic transportation around the camp.

"Our goal is to make them feel welcome — a home away from home is what we like to call it," Birdcell said.

Indianapolis International Airport has a USO lounge, Birdcell said. It's a place for Soldiers to relax, get a soda, use a computer and watch TV while waiting for their flight or ground transportation. In fact, it was a call for volunteers at the airport lounge that first got her involved.

McGowen said the community has been very helpful in getting the room set up. It was renovated in the summer and the camp's MWR ran it for a couple of months before asking USO to take over day-to-day operations. The Johnson County Veterans Service Organization donated beanbag chairs and helped with acquiring other donations. The Veterans of Foreign Wars donated surround sound for the 65-inch and two 40-inch plasma TVs.

"It's a good opportunity for us to partner with the USO. It's a good opportunity for a lot of different organizations to help out," he said.

The building was one of the older, unused structures on the camp and needed extensive remodeling. Now, it houses the dayroom, as well as the MWR office, Army Career & Alumni Program, Indiana Family Programs, WorkOne and the camp's education office.

Birdcell said USO is planning a new project, the United Through Reading Program, for Soldiers training at Atterbury. The volunteers will help the Soldier make a tape reading a children's book. The Soldier then sends the tape and book home for his or her kids to watch during the deployment.

The USO dayroom at Camp Atterbury always needs volunteers to serve as hosts. Usually, they work in three or four hour shifts during the dayroom's operating hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) The USO could also use monetary donations to buy the soft drinks and snacks for the Soldiers. To donate or volunteer, call Birdcell at [phone].

• Date Taken: 01.23.2008
• Date Posted: 01.23.2008 10:33
• Story ID: 15703