November 20, 2025 • 9 mins
As the holidays approach, thousands of American service members will be far from home, deployed around the world, standing watch, and ensuring our nation’s safety. The USO, nearly marking 85 years, continues to be a bridge. A bridge to home—delivering comfort, connection, and care when it matters most.Now, under the leadership of Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Linnington, the USO is entering a powerful new chapter, one that honors its enduring legacy while reimagining ways to support the people who serve and their families in today’s military.Few leaders understand service and sacrifice like Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Linnington. A 35-year U.S. Army veteran, he has spent his life leading soldiers and supporting their families, from the front lines to the Pentagon. After retiring from active duty, he became the first civilian director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, championing the effort to bring every missing service member home. Later, as CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, Linnington guided a major transformation that expanded programs and strengthened the nonprofit’s impact nationwide.Now, as CEO of the USO, Linnington steps in at a defining moment. In 2026, the USO will celebrate its 85th birthday as America celebrates its 250th, two milestones that highlight a shared legacy of service, resilience, and unity. Linnington’s vision is to ensure that wherever service members go, the USO goes with them. From installations and airports to ships at sea and remote deployments around the globe.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You would never mix up your peanut butter with watermelon,
or even Taylor Swift with the piano. Guys, then again
you might, Well, that's what this is all about. Arrow
dot net, Arroe dot net, Seventeen different podcasts to choose
from for your driving or just being at work entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Arrow, how are you anetenant General? Mike Lynnington, retired CEO
of USO.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Oh, before we even get started, thank you so much
for everything that you're doing, sir. You observed this nation greatly,
and you continue to put that seat in the soil
every day to make sure that our lives are protected
as well as we're always growing forward with our family
and friends.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Thank you. Er very pleased to meet you. My privilege,
my privilege, and my honor.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Sir Well, I can almost guarantee you that the USO
is getting ready for us up there as Charlotte Douglas
right now, because we are one of those hub airports.
And my God in Heaven, what you guys do here
in Charlotte for the men and women of this nation
continues to blow me away year after year after year.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Sir Well, I've been to that airport lounge there in Charlotte,
and I'll tell you it's a happening place. And to
see the way we take care of our service members
and their families that are coming and going from new
assignments or deploying overseas or coming back from overseas, it's
just a real honor. And I just take my hat
(01:17):
off to the entire Charlotte community that welcomes them with
open arms.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Sir, I can't imagine what life would be like for
them if the USO did not provide this, because we
just to walk through there and hear the stories and
to smile, to share jokes, to laugh. If it wasn't
for the USO, we would not get that chance to
be with these men and women.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's been like that for eighty five years. I mean
when USO was founded during World War Two, it was
really just about connecting service members, young men and women
deploying or coming back from deployment, and then keeping their
families connected with them while they're overseas. And that mission
continues today and it's something we're really proud of. We
can't do without our volunteers or full time staff and
the communities that welcome us. So I just thank you
(01:59):
and your entire listening audience for taking such good care
to our nation service members and the USO.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I got to tell you what happens here in Charlotte
and how we've embraced the USO. Is that Harris Teeter
who's part of the Kroger family. All year long, they're
taking money in for the USO and you and to
have this opportunity to share a conversation with you, We're
it's like this is the continuation of the circle. It's like,
this is what it's all about, because you're gonna take
those funds and you're gonna help out these men and women,
(02:26):
not just here in Charlotte during the holidays, but you
reach out and you get into the families at the USO.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, we are in a We are in two hundred
and sixty four locations around the world, not just in
the continent of the United States, but forward deployed Europe, Asia, Pacific,
Southwest Border everywhere. I mean, if there's a forward deployed
location or a training base or a military base, Army, Navy,
Air Force, Mareens, Coast Guard, there's usually a USO there
staffed with volunteers that want to keep those service members
(02:57):
connected keep them, keep them, you know, resilient, you know,
improve their well being, take care of their families. I mean,
we're the largest military service organization and the only service
organization that has the authority the Memorandum of Agreement with
the Department of Defense now the Department of War to
actually be forward deployed and be on aircraft carriers and
(03:19):
destroyers and forward bases. It's really an honor and we
couldn't do it without the support of the whole Charlotte community.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Let me ask you a question about the USO performances,
because I mean to this day, I mean I have
seen you can go to WI channel or what is it. Yeah,
on the HD channel, you can see the Bob Hopes
of the world. You can see those big concerts in
the past. Will we get to see the modern day
concerts because I know that Third Eye Blind and all
of these bands have helped out with the USO. And
it's like this did not go away. You said eighty
(03:47):
five years. It is still going on and we're still
affecting men and women of this nation.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, I mean, it's really it's really the signature program,
one of one of more than a dozen programs in
the USO provides is that entertainment abroad. In fact, right
after the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm taking a trip with the
most senior military officials and an entertainment tour WOW, and
we're going to three continents. And again, the volunteerism from
(04:15):
the performers that donate their time and talent, the ability
of them to connect with young men and women that
them on their different social devices and then get to
see them in person, especially over the holidays. I think
think about being deployed Thanksgiving or Christmas or the New
Year or other holidays. You miss your family. But when
(04:36):
those entertainment tainers show up with a piece of home
along with them and a little love from the American people,
really raises their spirits, improves their morale, and I will
tell you I errow, it improves their war fighting ability
because if you're if you're emotionally straight, you know that
Americans care about you, You're more able to do what
our nation asks you to do while you're forward deployed.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I was going to ask you about the men and
women who don't get that pass to go home, that
is there a way that the USO gets involved in
their lives, because I mean because they're just as important
to our souls as anybody else.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I in my military career, many
many assignments, both in the continent of the United States,
several in Iraq and Afghanistan, Korea, Germany. All those young
men and women that are forward deployed, whether you're in
combat or not, most of them don't come home over
the holidays. But the location, the location where you go
to get that sense of family, that connection to home
(05:33):
is the USO Center, Holiday meals, holiday gatherings, you know, gaming,
and just a variety of programs. Most importantly, the ability
to speak with your families, you know, read your child
a story remotely from a base seven thousand miles away,
(05:55):
providing you know, comfort items for the families back home,
baby showers, coffee connections where we help the military bring
those families together as well. You know, when mom or
dad is going forward deployed, the families that are left home,
they need connection as well. And the USO is in
all of those locations the only military service organization that
(06:15):
does that. With the size of the scale that we are,
we're honored to do it, and we're most importantly, we're
honored by the support of the American people and the
tens of thousands of volunteers, many of them that's from
themselves that come out and support us.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Please do not move. There's more With Lieutenant General Michael
Linnington coming up next. He is in charge of the USO.
Something I really encourage you to look into. Lieutenant General
Michael Lennington. I was going to ask you about those volunteers,
because that's how I get involved every year, is that
we volunteer and then and then that's where the journey begins.
(06:49):
And if more people would do that, I swear in
my heart people would have a better love for the
entire foundation of this nation, knowing the men and women
that sacrifice to be there.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Arrow, I will tell you the volunteers are the heart
and soul of what we do at the USO. The
volunteers will tell you they get more than they give.
If you ask a service member, they say, the volunteers
give more than they get. It's like the entertainment guys,
the entertainment teams that go overseas and entertain the troops.
Not a single one of those entertainment teams on the
military aircraft coming back home don't say the same thing.
(07:23):
Oh my god, that was life changing for me to
witness first hand the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes.
Being a part of that, being a USO volunteer, giving
back to those that serve today, you know, being part
of the being part of supporting the one percent of
Americans that are protecting the other ninety nine percent of
us that are living in comfort, the comfort of our
homes over the holidays. Be a part of it. I mean,
(07:45):
you got to be a part of it. So thank
you and thank you for highlighting what we do at
the USO to keep our service members connected to their
families and as importantly to the communities back home.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
How can people help because we're in that time of year.
But once again, just like what Kroger always tells us,
and that is that it's all year long. It's not
just the holidays, it's all year.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, Kroger and Harris Teeter is a great place to start,
but I would also say go to our USO website
at USO dot orgorg USO dot org. There's lots of
ways on that website learn about what the USO does,
who we serve, why we do what we do, and
then find ways to give back, whether it's a volunteer
(08:28):
or somebody that gives a few bucks a month to
support our mission. We are not a government organization. We
do it with the support of the American people. We
can't do what we do today without the support of
the American people. So please find a space in your
heart over the holidays to get back to those that
are all keeping us free and keeping our way of
lights secure.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I can't thank you enough for what you do. You
have no idea what we see. Yes, you do know
what we see on this side, and we all walk
away different people because of people like yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Sir, God bless you er. Thanks for having me on
and thanks for highlighting this most important, needing, the most
important mission. More importantly, thanks for highlighting what our men
and women are doing forward deployed we as we sit here.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Today, will you be brilliant? Okay, sir?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
All right, sir, Thank you
You would never mix up your peanut butter with watermelon,
or even Taylor Swift with the piano. Guys, then again
you might, Well, that's what this is all about. Arrow
dot net, Arroe dot net, Seventeen different podcasts to choose
from for your driving or just being at work entertainment.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Arrow, how are you anetenant General? Mike Lynnington, retired CEO
of USO.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Oh, before we even get started, thank you so much
for everything that you're doing, sir. You observed this nation greatly,
and you continue to put that seat in the soil
every day to make sure that our lives are protected
as well as we're always growing forward with our family
and friends.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Thank you. Er very pleased to meet you. My privilege,
my privilege, and my honor.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Sir Well, I can almost guarantee you that the USO
is getting ready for us up there as Charlotte Douglas
right now, because we are one of those hub airports.
And my God in Heaven, what you guys do here
in Charlotte for the men and women of this nation
continues to blow me away year after year after year.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Sir Well, I've been to that airport lounge there in Charlotte,
and I'll tell you it's a happening place. And to
see the way we take care of our service members
and their families that are coming and going from new
assignments or deploying overseas or coming back from overseas, it's
just a real honor. And I just take my hat
(01:17):
off to the entire Charlotte community that welcomes them with
open arms.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Sir, I can't imagine what life would be like for
them if the USO did not provide this, because we
just to walk through there and hear the stories and
to smile, to share jokes, to laugh. If it wasn't
for the USO, we would not get that chance to
be with these men and women.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
It's been like that for eighty five years. I mean
when USO was founded during World War Two, it was
really just about connecting service members, young men and women
deploying or coming back from deployment, and then keeping their
families connected with them while they're overseas. And that mission
continues today and it's something we're really proud of. We
can't do without our volunteers or full time staff and
the communities that welcome us. So I just thank you
(01:59):
and your entire listening audience for taking such good care
to our nation service members and the USO.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I got to tell you what happens here in Charlotte
and how we've embraced the USO. Is that Harris Teeter
who's part of the Kroger family. All year long, they're
taking money in for the USO and you and to
have this opportunity to share a conversation with you, We're
it's like this is the continuation of the circle. It's like,
this is what it's all about, because you're gonna take
those funds and you're gonna help out these men and women,
(02:26):
not just here in Charlotte during the holidays, but you
reach out and you get into the families at the USO.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Yeah, we are in a We are in two hundred
and sixty four locations around the world, not just in
the continent of the United States, but forward deployed Europe, Asia, Pacific,
Southwest Border everywhere. I mean, if there's a forward deployed
location or a training base or a military base, Army, Navy,
Air Force, Mareens, Coast Guard, there's usually a USO there
staffed with volunteers that want to keep those service members
(02:57):
connected keep them, keep them, you know, resilient, you know,
improve their well being, take care of their families. I mean,
we're the largest military service organization and the only service
organization that has the authority the Memorandum of Agreement with
the Department of Defense now the Department of War to
actually be forward deployed and be on aircraft carriers and
(03:19):
destroyers and forward bases. It's really an honor and we
couldn't do it without the support of the whole Charlotte community.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Let me ask you a question about the USO performances,
because I mean to this day, I mean I have
seen you can go to WI channel or what is it. Yeah,
on the HD channel, you can see the Bob Hopes
of the world. You can see those big concerts in
the past. Will we get to see the modern day
concerts because I know that Third Eye Blind and all
of these bands have helped out with the USO. And
it's like this did not go away. You said eighty
(03:47):
five years. It is still going on and we're still
affecting men and women of this nation.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, I mean, it's really it's really the signature program,
one of one of more than a dozen programs in
the USO provides is that entertainment abroad. In fact, right
after the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm taking a trip with the
most senior military officials and an entertainment tour WOW, and
we're going to three continents. And again, the volunteerism from
(04:15):
the performers that donate their time and talent, the ability
of them to connect with young men and women that
them on their different social devices and then get to
see them in person, especially over the holidays. I think
think about being deployed Thanksgiving or Christmas or the New
Year or other holidays. You miss your family. But when
(04:36):
those entertainment tainers show up with a piece of home
along with them and a little love from the American people,
really raises their spirits, improves their morale, and I will
tell you I errow, it improves their war fighting ability
because if you're if you're emotionally straight, you know that
Americans care about you, You're more able to do what
our nation asks you to do while you're forward deployed.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I was going to ask you about the men and
women who don't get that pass to go home, that
is there a way that the USO gets involved in
their lives, because I mean because they're just as important
to our souls as anybody else.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I in my military career, many
many assignments, both in the continent of the United States,
several in Iraq and Afghanistan, Korea, Germany. All those young
men and women that are forward deployed, whether you're in
combat or not, most of them don't come home over
the holidays. But the location, the location where you go
to get that sense of family, that connection to home
(05:33):
is the USO Center, Holiday meals, holiday gatherings, you know, gaming,
and just a variety of programs. Most importantly, the ability
to speak with your families, you know, read your child
a story remotely from a base seven thousand miles away,
(05:55):
providing you know, comfort items for the families back home,
baby showers, coffee connections where we help the military bring
those families together as well. You know, when mom or
dad is going forward deployed, the families that are left home,
they need connection as well. And the USO is in
all of those locations the only military service organization that
(06:15):
does that. With the size of the scale that we are,
we're honored to do it, and we're most importantly, we're
honored by the support of the American people and the
tens of thousands of volunteers, many of them that's from
themselves that come out and support us.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Please do not move. There's more With Lieutenant General Michael
Linnington coming up next. He is in charge of the USO.
Something I really encourage you to look into. Lieutenant General
Michael Lennington. I was going to ask you about those volunteers,
because that's how I get involved every year, is that
we volunteer and then and then that's where the journey begins.
(06:49):
And if more people would do that, I swear in
my heart people would have a better love for the
entire foundation of this nation, knowing the men and women
that sacrifice to be there.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Arrow, I will tell you the volunteers are the heart
and soul of what we do at the USO. The
volunteers will tell you they get more than they give.
If you ask a service member, they say, the volunteers
give more than they get. It's like the entertainment guys,
the entertainment teams that go overseas and entertain the troops.
Not a single one of those entertainment teams on the
military aircraft coming back home don't say the same thing.
(07:23):
Oh my god, that was life changing for me to
witness first hand the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes.
Being a part of that, being a USO volunteer, giving
back to those that serve today, you know, being part
of the being part of supporting the one percent of
Americans that are protecting the other ninety nine percent of
us that are living in comfort, the comfort of our
homes over the holidays. Be a part of it. I mean,
(07:45):
you got to be a part of it. So thank
you and thank you for highlighting what we do at
the USO to keep our service members connected to their
families and as importantly to the communities back home.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
How can people help because we're in that time of year.
But once again, just like what Kroger always tells us,
and that is that it's all year long. It's not
just the holidays, it's all year.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, Kroger and Harris Teeter is a great place to start,
but I would also say go to our USO website
at USO dot orgorg USO dot org. There's lots of
ways on that website learn about what the USO does,
who we serve, why we do what we do, and
then find ways to give back, whether it's a volunteer
(08:28):
or somebody that gives a few bucks a month to
support our mission. We are not a government organization. We
do it with the support of the American people. We
can't do what we do today without the support of
the American people. So please find a space in your
heart over the holidays to get back to those that
are all keeping us free and keeping our way of
lights secure.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
I can't thank you enough for what you do. You
have no idea what we see. Yes, you do know
what we see on this side, and we all walk
away different people because of people like yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Sir, God bless you er. Thanks for having me on
and thanks for highlighting this most important, needing, the most
important mission. More importantly, thanks for highlighting what our men
and women are doing forward deployed we as we sit here.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Today, will you be brilliant? Okay, sir?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
All right, sir, Thank you
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