USO Volunteers achieving Academic and Service Goals

Volunteering is something that can create an impact on both a large and small scale, but it is a selfless way to give back. While all volunteers are amazing, some take pride in their contributions and ownership in a way that stands out amongst the rest. These four volunteers not only gave back hundreds of hours to their community, but they also worked, maintained households, raised children and pursued an education. Walking together during the 2025 commencement ceremony showed that despite all that active duty sailors and spouses face living overseas hundreds of miles from family, they can accomplish something amazing. These four volunteers looked at those roadblocks and took a different road to meet their goals.

Kai is a mother of two and freelances as an Audiobooks Narrator and enjoys volunteering at the USO. While volunteering at the Center, she utilized her time wisely to support the mission here and gain her master’s in communications: “it has been a goal of mine for the last decade”. She came into the center three times a week, looking her best, and prepared the center for daily operations. Going through the daily checklist to ensure smooth operations, Kai would open the Center and be ready to greet patrons with her beautiful smile and positive attitude. She didn’t just sit there waiting for people to come in, she brought in books to study and made every minute count.

“As a mother, I strive to be a role model for my children, showing them that committing to something that adds value to your well-being is attainable with the right focus, discipline and commitment. Failure only happens when one stops trying,” said Kai.

Having volunteered over 300 hours, Kai wanted to maximize her time and work toward her future to earn her master’s and walk in the graduation ceremony earlier this year. She not only inspires people with her great fashion sense and amazing wardrobe, but she inspired fellow volunteers to use their time and work on personal goals as well as serve their community here at the Center.

“You’re never too old or too young to just start. Growth happens when you get past your fear and anxiety of something new. A year from now, you’re going to wish you started a year ago, especially if furthering your education has been one of the things you constantly think about. And once you start, commit and be proud of yourself. Also, be kind to yourself,” said Kai.

Taylor is another great example of a spouse who wants to make a difference. When he joined the USO volunteer team, Taylor immediately shined with his quirky attitude and love for directing. Taylor, or TAG as he likes to be known, worked on his degree in General Education but has a passion for film and movies. His unique point of view lead him to film and edit several projects for the Center that became a fun way to highlight things happening and help train fellow volunteers. His work has helped his journey in his film classes and created lasting memories for the Center to enjoy. Having accomplished his degree, walking with fellow volunteers was a check mark for TAG to move into bigger and better things.

“To me, it feels like I have actually accomplished something for myself. I am super proud of me for doing it after having constant setbacks. If not for the USO letting me study there as I volunteer so I wouldn’t get distracted by everything, I would have struggled a lot more,” said TAG.

Being a service member comes with its own unique set of challenges and standing watch while holding collateral duties are just a few ways to stand out. To be considered a well-rounded sailor you need to volunteer and get an education, which is what D’andra did. She wanted to do more to set herself apart from her fellow sailors.

Volunteering for center shifts gave her the opportunity to help and study at the front desk, but volunteering for special events gave her the chance to work with kids. D’andra worked on her Degree in History to one day become a teacher, so working for special events made sense to help young minds learn and create.

Last, but certainly not least, is Christian, a talented individual who has many passions and a love for cosplay. As an active duty sailor, he too worked on being well-rounded and wanted to give back to the community while serving in Yokosuka. Christian spent time volunteering and studied for his Business Administration degree. Not only did he volunteer to help with the center and training his fellow volunteers, but Christian also created custom pieces for the Center. His love for cosplay and making things lead him to create special characters for events, props for photo backdrops and even teach his skill to patrons during a gaming event. Christian’s drive to work on all these things inspired many volunteers. It even pushed Christian to pursue his degree and his pilot’s license. He is a flying example of what it means to shoot for the stars.

All these volunteers embody the core values with excellence, accountability and doing the right thing. They are shining examples that all things are possible when you put your mind to it and don’t give up on what you want. It’s truly an honor and privilege to work alongside all these volunteers and be a small part of their everyday lives. They are all unique and different in ways that make them stand out and bring a special element to the center. No doubt they will succeed in all they do and continue to be a positive force for good.