The Story of the United Services Organizations

Many philanthropic organizations in America are dedicated to the welfare of active duty service members and veterans of the United States military. One of the oldest and most highly rated of these organizations is the United Services Organizations (USO).

The USO was established in 1941 as a collaboration between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and social reformer Marty Shotwell Ingraham, the first woman to receive the Medal for Merit award. Roosevelt discussed the importance of maintaining high military morale and providing service members with recreational opportunities. Ingraham developed the program in response, while President Roosevelt served as the organization's first honorary chairman.

As part of the USO launch in 1941, the organization brought together several disparate agencies to better focus on military support during World War I. The six agencies that constituted initial USO programming were the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the Salvation Army, the National Travelers Aid Association, the National Catholic Community Service, and the National Jewish Welfare Board.

The USO maintained a unique relationship with the federal government from the beginning. Per President Roosevelt's request, the government would construct facilities for the USO. Still, USO would need to generate funds to host events and provide services designed to raise morale throughout the military.

More importantly, the USO was an immediate success. From 1941 through 1947, the USO put on more than 400,000 camp shows. Some 7,000 volunteers during those years included Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, and Fred Astaire. Bob Hope was an early USO supporter and went on to host 48 USO Christmas shows overseas. As a result, Congress named hope the first and only honorary military veteran.

The USO was active during the Vietnam War, opening more than 20 locations in Vietnam and Thailand. These clubs offered entertainment and other services to upwards of one million troops every month. During this period, the organization began to open smaller locations at airports, providing comfort and respite to troops stuck between flights.

Following the Vietnam War's conclusion and the draft's suspension, some questioned whether the USO was still needed. A joint inquest into this subject conducted by the United Way of America and the Department of Defense determined that the USO was, in fact, a critical component of the US military. In 1987, any doubts about the relevance or longevity of the USO were put to rest when Congress officially recognized the organization as the main body "representing civilian concern for United States forces worldwide."

Today, the USO is a Congress-chartered non-profit that operates independently of the federal government under the leadership of president and chief executive officer Dr. J.D. Crouch II. USO makes an annual government grant request of $20 million, though this figure represents just 10 percent of revenue and expenses.

The organization has established more than 160 facilities around the globe, plus 10 mobile service providers in America and abroad. A few of the most notable USO services range from free access to the internet and email to family crisis counseling, which benefits nearly five million service members annually.

That said, the USO is still in the business of raising morale through recreational activities. Marilyn Monroe, Robin Williams, and Chris Rock are just a few of the iconic American entertainers who have taken part in USO shows and tours.

 

A Look at the Annual United States Defense Budget

 During the fiscal year of 2021, the United States spent approximately $754 billion on national defense programs. This figure represents 11 percent of the national budget. In addition, defense spending accounted for 15 percent of the national budget in the four previous fiscal years, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced federal leaders to reallocate funds.

Even with the reduction in spending, the United States spends far more on defense than any other G7 nation, a collection of the seven largest economies in the world. When viewing defense spending as a percentage of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), America leads the world at about 3.5 percent. The United Kingdom ranks second at just over 2 percent, while Japan's defense spending is less than 1 percent of GDP.

In terms of raw numbers, China ranks second in the world despite an estimated defense budget of 237 billion, with less than one-third of America's defense spending despite China supporting a population of over 1.4 billion, compared to the US population of just under 340 million. Moreover, no other G7 country ranks among the world's top six largest defense budgets, while the United States budget is higher than the next nine largest budgets combined.

America's defense budget is one of the largest on earth and one of the world's single most expensive government programs. By comparison, Social Security and Medicare spending in America are around $560 and $689 billion annually, respectively. One of the only areas of defense in which the United States is not a world leader in size, with 1.36 million active duty members, America commands the world's third largest military, behind China and India.

Defense spending in America covers several services and government departments. The Department of Defense (DoD) controls the lion's share of the national defense budget, to about $718 billion. Other departments, including the Department of Energy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, utilize the remaining funding for defense-related projects.

More specific areas of spending include $18.5 billion on annual maintenance and repairs and $20.6 billion on the development of ships and submarines. The Virginia-Class series of submarines cost $19.6 billion on their own. Other notable defense projects from the last five years include the F-35 JSF aircraft, at $31.3 billion, and the $21.3 billion DLA direct delivery fuels program.

Exploring spending branch by branch is another way to contextualize defense spending in America. For example, the Army's fiscal year 2023 budget request was $177 billion, compared to $230 and $234 billion requests by the Navy and Air Force, respectively.

The United States' defense budget changes for a myriad of reasons each year. For example, when President Joe Biden took office, he announced his intentions to focus defense spending on nuclear modernization and research and development while minimizing the emphasis on Army troops, partly by lowering the retirement age. In addition, a variety of external events can also influence the defense budget. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, the defense budget included more than $11 billion to produce vaccine BNT162b2.

An Overview of Fisher House Foundation Services

 Individuals or families interested in contributing to a reputable philanthropic organization that provides services to veterans and active duty military personnel should consider supporting the Fisher House Foundation. The foundation is an A+ military charity with a Charity Watch Program Percentage of 91 and a four-star rating with the Combined Federal Campaign. Established in 1990, the program assists veterans and family members with costs associated with healthcare needs, particularly in areas of travel and housing. Over the years, the foundation has paid for nearly $550 million in transportation and lodging expenses at nearly 100 houses.

The Fisher House Foundation team excels at finding suitable accommodations close to essential healthcare facilities. Additional Fisher House locations can be found near Veterans Affairs health centers around the world. The organization provides veterans and families with several services.

First and foremost, Fisher House Foundation provides comfort homes at no charge. Meals are typically not included with lodging, but this service varies from one volunteer group to the next. The organization's international network of homes has a combined daily capacity of 1,300 families. These homes have provided shelter to upwards of 455,000 families over a combined 12 million days of lodging.

The standard Fisher House consists of 21 suites, each with its own private bedroom and bathroom. Families staying at a Fisher House share certain amenities with other families, including kitchens, laundry rooms, and various family areas. The organization hopes to complete the Road to 100 initiative in the near future, at which point Fisher House capacity will increase to 1,400 families.

In addition to providing shelter, Fisher House Foundation assists with travel expenses through the Hero Miles program. Driven by frequent flyer mile donations from supporters, the Fisher House Foundation Hero Miles program provides round trip airfare in several medical scenarios. First, a service member receiving treatment at a medical center who needs to travel home or to an authorized event can use the Hero Miles program. In addition, the program can be used as a travel aid for family members and loved ones visiting a service member at a medical center, or traveling to the Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of remains of a fallen service member. The Hero Miles program has provided more than 70,000 airline tickets, with a monetary value of over $100 million.

Despite the growing reach of the organization, there are times when an eligible service member needs to travel to a medical facility with no Fisher House locations in the area. In these situations, the foundation's Hotels for Hero program pays for lodging at a nearby hotel. Furthermore, any person eligible to stay at a Fisher House that is at full capacity can visit fisherhouse.org and apply for lodging via the Hotels for Heroes program. The program is also open to service members receiving medical care who are not eligible for government reimbursement, as well as family members and close friends of these service members.

Finally, the foundation manages a grant program that both funds like-minded charities and provides scholarships to military children and spouses. The Fisher House Foundation has provided approximately 15,000 students with an estimated $27,000,000 in scholarship funds.

Top Rated US Veterans Charities to Support

 Individuals living in the United States can support the community of Americans who have served in the US military. Citizens need to research the various US veteran charitable organizations to ensure the charity is reputable and that the organization’s services align with the donor’s interests.

K9s for Warriors, for example, provides a particular service to US military veterans with mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder. While many charities and military groups focus on treating PTSD, K9s for Warriors partners veterans with canines, many of which have been rescued from overcrowded animal shelters. Veterans and dogs are provided a sense of purpose and a second chance at life through K9s for Warriors services.

On the other hand, the people at Semper Fi & America’s Fund emphasize issues posed by the various physical injuries a person can incur while serving in the military. The organization focuses on aiding veterans in navigating the many challenges of long-term physical recovery and providing physical and emotional support to veterans and family members. Semper Fi & America’s Fund is one of the most trusted charities working with American veterans, sporting a 91 percent rating with CharityWatch.

The Fisher House Foundation also holds a 91 percent rating with CharityWatch. While the foundation is also involved in healthcare and medical services for veterans, Fisher House specializes in alleviating the costs and complications of housing throughout long-term treatment. The charity has established properties near Veterans Affairs offices or other prominent military facilities throughout the country. Individuals who qualify for services receive housing at no cost, in addition to the support provided by the foundation’s Hotels for Heroes and Hero Miles programs.

Individuals interested in supporting the needs of veterans living with disabilities should look into Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). Rather than providing or paying for medical services for these veterans, HFOT focuses time and resources on constructing custom homes that meet the specific physical needs of individual veterans. HFOT has built more than 300 custom homes for veteran living throughout the country.

Wounded Warriors Family Support is a non-profit initiative prioritizes each veteran’s physical and psychological ailments and provides services to the veteran’s family. The initiative allows various services and projects, from career guidance for veterans to memorable family vacations. More information about the program can be found at wwfs.org.

Many charities serving the needs of veterans focus on post-war needs and activities, such as finding a new career. However, charities like Hope For The Warriors provide broader transitional support, understanding how difficult it can be to move from the routines and patterns of a military lifestyle to the very different rhythms of civilian living. The organization’s programming encompasses various aspects of life, including health and wellness, sports, and general recreation.

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is accessible to anyone in the nation. However, TAPS services are geared toward veterans dealing with the death of a loved one or military peer. Individuals can contact TAPS 24/7 and learn about a diversity of survivor support programming. Other highly rated philanthropic organizations supporting US Army veterans include the Gary Sinise Foundation, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, and the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation.