Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Selva: USO volunteers offer hope to service membersPublished Oct. 22, 2015
                    
                    By Terri Moon Cronk
                    
                    
                    DoD News, Defense Media Activity
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**The USO volunteer force brings hope to service members in every corner of the planet, said Gen. Paul J. Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the 2015 USO Gala and awards ceremony Oct. 20.
Selva was the keynote speaker at the formal event where an estimated 1,000 dignitaries, military leaders, congressional members and USO board of governors and sponsors gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
“It is an absolute privilege to stand before you this evening and say the two words in the English language that are wholly inadequate to this evening’s event: Thank you,” Selva told the USO volunteers. “Thank you for what you do every day for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and National Guardsmen who defend freedom and liberty for this nation every day.”
The sun was just casting its morning shadows in the mountains of Afghanistan and dawn had yet to break in Baghdad, the vice chairman said, “But somewhere out there tonight, a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman or a member of our National Guard is defending the freedoms and liberty that you and I hold dear. And we all owe you a debt of gratitude because standing next to that young man or woman is the spirit of the (USO).”**USO volunteers are special**
USO volunteers touch 75,000 lives every day, Selva said.
The vice chairman said he and his wife recently visited USO volunteers working in mortuary affairs at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, where they “provided loving embraces to families who had lost loved ones.”
It takes a special kind of person to open his or her heart to families who are grieving, Selva noted.
“I’m humbled tonight,” he said. “I’m not here as a senior military leader or as an officer in the United States Air Force, but as a citizen of the United States, a member of the greatest nation in the world that is defended by some of the greatest young men and women humanity has to offer.”
Selva thanked the USO for “not for standing in our shadow, but for standing by our side and taking care of us and our families when it’s most important. When we need a little touch of home, we know you will always be by our side.”**2015 USO awards**
The annual USO Gala is also a time to honor and recognize volunteers and service members for significant achievements.
The USO volunteer awardees were former Airman Richard “Dick” Anderson of the USO in Las Vegas, who received the USO Volunteer of the Year, U.S. award; and Airman 1st Class Eric Chun of the USO in Guam, who was honored with the USO Volunteer of the Year, Overseas.
Senior military leadership presented a service member from each service branch for outstanding and heroic actions.
- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley presented the USO Soldier of the Year award to Spc. Christian T. Sheers of Beast Troop, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
- Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert B. Neller presented the USO Marine of the Year to Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bednarik of Company E, 2nd Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego.
- Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle J. Howard presented the USO Sailor of the Year award to Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica A. Jusino of the USS Abraham Lincoln in Newport News, Virginia.
- Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein presented the USO Airman of the Year award to Senior Airman TJ Brantley of the explosive ordnance disposal flight, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
- Coast Guard Vice Commandant Vice Adm. Charles D. Michel presented the USO Coast Guardsman of the Year award to Petty Officer 1st Class Angel J. Leott of Maritime Safety and Security, Team Boston in Boston.
- National Guard Bureau Chief Army Gen. Frank J. Grass presented the USO National Guardsman of the Year award to Minnesota Army National Guard Sgt. Aaron Burdash of 204th Area Support Medical Company, 347th Regional Support Group in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.CJS 



vice chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff 



Joint Chiefs of Staff 



DOD 



volunteer 



USO Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil