Many military families spend months or even years apart from one another due to training, change of duty stations or deployment – and this separation can take a toll on both service members and their loved ones. To help bridge this gap, the USO provides military families with the chance to remain connected during times apart through reading.

With the USO Reading Program, service members can record themselves reading bedtime stories to the child in their life – whether it be your son, daughter, younger sister or brother, niece or nephew – and have that recording and a copy of the book sent home to that child so they can have the comfort of hearing your voice.

On the other end of the screen, military children can record themselves reading books and have that recording sent to the service member in their life. Not only does this allow them a connection to their loved one, but it also provides them the opportunity to practice reading “with you” during a time in their lives when reading skills are critical.

Whether you’re reading the book or receiving it, the USO Reading Program offers military families a chance to connect through a shared joy of reading, no matter the distance or length of deployment.

How It Works

  • Active duty, Reserve or National Guard service members can visit the closest participating USO location to record yourself reading a children’s book from our library. Many USO Centers have designated USO Reading Program corners or rooms, to provide some privacy while recording. The USO team will then send your recording and a copy of that book, free of charge, to the child in your life to keep your connection strong across the miles.

  • Military children, accompanied by an adult, can visit a USO Center to make a recording of their own, and the USO team will send the recording to their parent or other military family member in their life.

  • If you are a service member deployed to a remote location without a brick-and-mortar USO Center nearby, there is still the possibility of participating in the USO Reading Program and other USO programs!

What Service Members and Military Families Receive

  • Personalized story recordings, read by the service member or military child in your life.
  • A copy of the book read in your recording, which is sent to the military child in your life.
  • The ability, as a deployed service member, to still “be home” for a story before bedtime, even while thousands of miles away.
  • The opportunity for military children to practice their reading skills with their deployed parent during critical learning years.
  • A connection between family members and loved ones during a challenging time of separation due to military service.