Video by Eric Brandner

EL PASO—You never know when a burrito-wielding volunteer will strike.

OK, so it’s not that dramatic. In fact, the soldiers on Fort Bliss who saw the Mobile USO canteen on Tuesday morning started flocking to the truck in hopes of a free lunch.

The volunteers inside didn’t disappoint.

USO El Paso started its Burrito Ambush program last year as a way to thank service members for their hard work. USO El Paso employees and volunteers fan out around the base on select mornings to pass out hundreds of burritos to unsuspecting service members.

“The biggest payoff is to see those huge smiles,” USO El Paso Director Yolonda Castillo said.

You can send a message of support and thanks directly to service members via the USO’s Campaign to Connect. Your messages will appear on screens at USO locations around the world.