SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The USO of North Carolina held a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of opening a new USO center, Nov. 21, 2019 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The ceremony included a ribbon cutting and speeches from the 4th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Donn Yates, USO of NC president and CEO James Whaley, and others.
The USO of NC – SJAFB Center, will serve more than 6,000 Airmen stationed at the base, along with any other DOD ID card holder.
“I want people to feel welcome when they come in,” said Torette Williams, USO of North Carolina- SJAFB center manager.
The USO of NC aims to provide a location for Airmen to gather, relax and network, added Williams.
The new center contains a coffee station, snacks and a lounge area. It’s also home to the first USO E-Sports gaming arena, which includes 10 top-of-the-line gaming computers, gaming consoles and stations for guests who choose to bring their personal consoles.
The center offers a conference area which includes a large table, seating and white boards for meetings. Make It Better clubs from throughout the base have already signed up to utilize the space, added Williams.
The SJAFB Airmen Against Drunk Driving program has worked alongside the USO of NC and will use the center as their primary location for operations.
“I’m impressed and excited to use the center when I volunteer with AADD,” said Airman 1st Class Antonio Romo, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron structural apprentice. “It’s a great place for our AADD volunteers to socialize and hangout while we wait for calls.”
The center is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights.