USO Celebrates Women’s History Month throughout the Southeast U.S., Honoring Women Service Members and Spouses

Women’s History Month is a time when Americans honor women who have helped shape our country over the years through their remarkable achievements. While Women’s History Month is in March each year, the USO honors and serves our women service members all year round.

More women serve in the U.S. military today than at any other time in its history.

According to the 2020 Demographics Profile of the Military Community report published by the Department of Defense (DoD), there are 229,933 women serving on active duty with another 169,675 serving in the Selected Reserves and National Guard. These dedicated women serve in every branch of the military, and hold ranks from enlisted personnel to four-star general, and perform in critical jobs from doctors to combat engineers.

Since its founding in 1941, the USO celebrates the remarkable achievements of women in history and continues to support women service members currently serving today.

Here’s a look at how the USO is supporting our women service members throughout the U.S. Southeast:

The USO Pathfinder® Transition Program and USO Southeast Region is hosting a Women’s Empowerment Summit. This one-day virtual summit, which will be held Tuesday, April 26, 2022, will provide the women of the military community a secure space to ask questions, engage with industry experts, and receive encouragement and motivation to pursue success in the transitions they face.

Register for the free summit HERE

This summit will discuss barriers and illuminate opportunities that women service members and military spouses’ encounter. There will be breakout sessions hosted to address specific issues such as: salary negotiation, how to address employment gaps in your resume, how to find a mentor, and more. The goal of this summit is to provide a safe space for women service members and military spouses to connect with industry experts, USO resource partners, and their peers to be more prepared for any transitions in their life.

Throughout the U.S. Southeast, USO Centers conduct weekly and monthly USO Coffee Connections.

These monthly gatherings allow spouses to relax in a comfortable setting, share advice, learn about local events, and make new friends over a cup of coffee and pastries. Spouses are encouraged to come as they are or bring other military spouses with them to join in on the friendly conversation.

North Carolina

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Female service members were invited to experience an exciting day of whitewater rafting, rock climbing, rope course trapezing, and ziplining as part of USO North Carolina’s Outdoor Adventure Team (OAT) initiatives March 26.

“This was such an uplifting, team building, memory making event. I enjoyed meeting new women that share the same interests,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Marlene Hoover who enjoyed the OAT trip. "My favorite activity was most certainly Rafting. Despite the cold weather I had a great time and would do it all over again and with the same group of women”

USO North Carolina also hosted a “She Can Be Anything Party” in Jacksonville, N.C., March 26. The purpose of this event was to encourage our future female leaders of the world that no dream is too big or too small. If they can dream it, they can achieve it.

The girls in attendance were encouraged to dress up in what they dream to be when they grow up.

“The room was full of mommies, singers, doctors, veterinarians, Marines, and even a future Disney Princess,” said Megan Boggs, Center Operations Supervisor, USO North Carolina, Jacksonville.

“The atmosphere in the room was magical and encouraging, they were so engaged in all of the careers listed in the book we read, they even saw the careers they were dreaming about in the book ‘ABC What She Can Be’ read by LtCol Natasha Everly, the fist ever female commanding officer commanding officer of Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune,” said Boggs. “Everyone was engaged and having a great time in all the small activities we had that represented various careers.”

The USO is proud to support the historic achievements of women serving in the military and other notable women, to include our future female leaders throughout the month of March and all year long. Be on the lookout for other events taking place near you by visiting your local USO’s webpage and explore the Events tab to learn more.