The USO on board Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station, Florida, like all other USO locations, aims to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.

Established in 1941, the USO was created with simplicity and support in mind, and has built upon a long heritage of supportive agendas granted to service members all over the world. Spearheaded by requests for the need of morale and recreational services for U.S. service members, President Franklin D. Roosevelt selected Mary Ingraham to found the USO. Since the 1940s, the USO has supported more than 5 million service members worldwide and more than 30,000 volunteers giving their assistance yearly. 

Corry Station’s USO has continued tradition by supporting service members, predominately those receiving training in information warfare at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station, since it was established in 2017. Corry Station’s USO creates a comfortable atmosphere of relaxation, multimedia services, snacks and drinks, and fun events for service members to partake. Those same service members are also able to contribute their time to the USO in assisting the development of events that support the local community, active and retired service members, and their families. 

Supporting over 3,000 service members monthly and nearly 40,000 annually, the USO is an important element of Corry Station. Some of the programs the USO offers to service members and their families include emotional wellness initiatives, holiday celebrations, information services, transition programs, Sailor Saturday and Sunday, military children support, and military spouse networking. In addition, entertainment events such as nighttime movies, zoo and aquarium visits, board game nights, and sports create a fun and friendly environment for all service members and their families. 

“The USO staff members are very friendly and the services definitely accommodated my needs, said Cryptologic Technician (Networks) Seaman Mikaela Mujwid, a Sailor attached to IWTC Corry Station. “They provide great food, drinks, and I am able to use their Wi-Fi and television to watch movies. Also, during the last puppy day, I had the best time getting kisses by all of the little local puppies.”

Volunteers from the civilian sector, retired military personnel, and active-duty service members make up the core of those who manage, assist, and keep USO events and facilities up and running. Without quality volunteers, it’s not possible to deliver services to those service members and families that need them. That support is imperative for the welfare and morale of our warfighters. All over the globe, USO sponsored events and services are tools in aiding those who give so much to those they service. 

“My husband and father each served over 20 years in the Armed Forces, and because of that, I feel that by volunteering with this fantastic organization I can give back,” said Donna King, a Corry Station USO volunteer. “The USO is like a home away from home for these young service members, and I love seeing them come back to enjoy what we have available.” 

Located on Chief’s Way onboard Corry Station, the USO is always looking for new volunteers. For more information about the USO of Northwest Florida, visit https://northwestflorida.uso.org/ or call 850-452-8280.

Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

With four school-house commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past two years. Training more than 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

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For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training, visit www.navy.mil/.