After a 28-year absence, the USO once again opened their doors inside Naval Station Rota's passenger terminal during the grand opening celebration, October 2, 2017.

With more than 200 locations worldwide, Rota's new USO center will offer transiting passengers a warm, comforting place where service members can connect with loved ones via internet or phone, play a video game, watch TV, enjoy a snack and beverage or just put up their feet and relax.

"It's great to be welcomed back to Naval Station Rota with open arms," said Orlan Boston, USO Board of Governors principal. "Our mission is to strengthen the armed forces service members and their families by connecting them to family, home and country. As soon as they join, all they way until they transition back to the civilian world, the USO is with them all the way and have been for 76 years."

Boston has deep ties to Naval Station Rota as his father served here as a chief warrant officer and met his mother here 45 years ago. He was born at U.S. Naval Hospital Rota and also attended DGF schools. Boston says his role within the USO is a way he can give back to the community he cherishes and which played a crucial role in his upbringing.

"My roots are here in Rota with the military community and it is an absolute honor to be back and bring this great organization with me."

USO continuously adapts to the needs of service members and their families so they can focus on their mission and the mission of Naval Station Rota is complex and critical to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

"Rota is the strategic doorstep to combatant commands in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and we are the hub of combat capability and power projection," said Cmdr. Neil Hoffman, Naval Station Rota executive officer. "That is why having the USO back at Naval Station Rota is so important. They provide a place for a weary service member to rest and get refreshments. It provides them a way to connect with their family and a home they have vowed to protect. This USO center will add to our mission support providing top-notch services to us in uniform, our families and transiting personnel through our installation. We officially welcome the USO back here in Rota after 28 years. Welcome back to Team Rota!"

For more than 75 years, USO airport centers throughout the world have offered around-the-clock hospitality for millions of traveling service members and their families. The USO also brings celebrities to service members who are assigned far from home to entertain them and convey the support of the nation.

Before the ribbon-cutting portion of the celebration occurred, Rear Adm. Alan Reyes, USO senior vice president of operations and programs, had a few words for the hundreds in attendance.

"Because of Naval Station Rota's strategic importance to the national security of the United States, we decided it was a great opportunity to come back to Rota and support the community here. To be able to connect the service members and their families to family, home and country where we have such an important mission is absolutely important to the USO. "

Naval Station Rota, which is part of, Navy Region EURAFSWA, provides operational platforms ashore that enable U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

Just as ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the Fleet, joint and allied forces. These eighth lines of operation are: air operations, port operations, safety, security, housing, MWR, Fleet and Fleet and Family Services and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through our lines of operation, our installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units.

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