We’re With Phan and Tammy: Married Service Members and Volunteers Who Have Used the USO to Stay Connected Through Deployment

By Kristen Loflin

The support that the USO provides to service members and military families at more than 250 locations around the globe takes more than just our dedicated staff – it takes an army of USO Volunteers.

Our approximately 20,000 USO Volunteers are the backbone of the organization. Thanks to our volunteers, we can carry out our mission and provide a high level of support to the U.S. military community throughout the world. From hosting events inside USO Centers, to providing a homecooked meal, to delivering programs and resources to those who need them most, our volunteers are always there to lift up the military community. But more than that, USO Volunteers are the friendly faces our service members, military spouses and military children see when they turn to the USO in times of need. They offer comfort and support, building a welcoming environment at each USO Center that lets the people who serve know that they belong and their sacrifices are not forgotten.

While many USO Volunteers are everyday Americans and supporters looking for ways to give back to the military community, in some locations, active-duty service members also choose to dedicate their time to the USO. This is especially crucial in front-line deployment locations, where there are not as many civilians and veterans to fill the role of USO Volunteer at these Centers.

While every volunteer’s inspiration for giving back with the USO varies, for one military couple, it all started as a chance to stay connected while separated by deployment.

A Relationship Strong Despite the Distance

Khanh Phan, affectionately referred to as “Phan,” and Tammy Nguyen are a dual-military married couple stationed in Okinawa, Japan – Phan is a Marine at Camp Foster and Tammy is in the Air Force at Kadena Air Base.

The couple met while studying at Saint Louis Community College - Forest Park, Missouri, when Tammy started using the computer lab where Phan was working as a student assistant. Phan was drawn to Tammy after realizing they shared a Vietnamese heritage, and the two began chatting as friends. Their relationship began to bud on lunch dates and walks to class, and three years later, Phan proposed at “the very tip top” of the St. Louis Aquarium Ferris Wheel. Phan and Tammy were married in February 2021, after which the couple would enlist into their respective military branches.

Phan and Tammy are proud of their service to this country, but being a dual-military couple undeniably presents unique challenges. The couple has found that balancing work and family time can be difficult, especially as the mission and priorities of the Air Force and Marine Corps differ. While the U.S. military strives to keep dual-military couples together with joint duty assignments so that both spouses can be stationed at the same location, it can be challenging to secure, given the limited availability of compatible base locations. Phan and Tammy have had to make many personal sacrifices in their marriage to stay connected and together.

“We have to communicate, work with each other’s schedules and try not to stress at home because stress already exists at our workplace,” said Tammy. “Being a military-to-military couple, we have to be flexible and know that at any time there can be a period for separations, whether it is deployments, trainings or challenges for the greater missions you get tasked. It can be hard, but we work it out together.”

Their commitment to each other was vital, as the couple was recently separated from October 2024 to April 2025, while Tammy was deployed to Qatar. Like many families, the couple looked for ways to stay connected through the six-month deployment – and they found it with the USO.

From Phan at USO Camp Foster

After being on the island of Okinawa for over two years and having volunteered with other organizations, Phan started looking for a new and more fulfilling way to give back. He was familiar with the USO from visiting a Center in San Deigo as a patron, and Phan knew the organization provided an avenue to serve his fellow military members.

Although the island of Okinawa makes up less than 1% of Japan’s total land mass, it is home to approximately 75% of all U.S. military bases in this allied country. With that many service members, there is all the more need for support of our Armed Forces, so it is no surprise that the USO has a heavy presence throughout the subtropic island, with six USO Centers located on six different bases, as well as extensive outreach operations beyond our Centers. For Phan, USO Camp Foster, Okinawa, was the ideal location to start his volunteer journey, due to the Center’s proximity to his unit’s location.

Phan’s impact on his military community was felt immediately at USO Camp Foster. Phan jumped in with both feet, quickly establishing a routine of volunteering at the Center for a few hours after work throughout the week. From refreshing the Center with a new coat of paint to helping deliver USO support to outreach locations, Phan has become a vital part of the USO team.

Phan first began volunteering in late October 2024, when his wife Tammy left for her deployment, and although he has only been a volunteer for a short time, he has quickly grown to love everything the USO mission delivers – boosting morale, building relationships and helping connect units together.

“By the end of the day, [service members] look so serious, but we come in joking around and handing out some love. I am changing their emotions, and by the end of the day they are happier, laughing and [we are] boosting their morale up,” said Phan.

Phan is an avid part of Center events, assisting at watch parties and visiting units to bring fun morale-boosting gifts. He enjoys the opportunity to talk and relax with others and lifting the spirits of his fellow service members. For him, it is all about helping others create memories while stationed or deployed overseas.

With aspirations to potentially transition into a Marine Corps Officer and later work for the FBI, education and professional advancement is also important to Phan. Through the support of the USO, Phan graduated with his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) in April and joined other graduates for a commencement ceremony. He was even decked out in a USO-decorated cap, to help spread awareness.

“A lot of people do not know about the USO and the volunteer opportunities the USO provides,” Phan explained. “I wanted to use this chance to spread the message to people about the opportunities at this organization that supports you in your career as well.”

Phan continues to be an advocate for the USO every chance he has, encouraging his Marines to volunteer or visit the Center. When able, such as at his command award ceremony, he even provides USO staff with a chance to address others about the support the organization provides to the military community and how they can benefit from the organization.

“I told all my Marines as well: if you just stay in the barracks room watching movies and playing video games, you’re not going to have any memories or any outside experiences, so do something,” Phan said.

One such service member inspired by Phan’s experience was his wife. In seeing the joy her husband gained and shared by volunteering with the USO, Tammy began volunteering with the USO Center in Qatar while she was deployed.

To USO Qatar

For service members deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in the Middle East, USO Qatar is a home away from home. USO staff and volunteers are passionate about creating a comfortable space for service members to recharge in a high-stress environment. The Center offers delicious snacks and coffee, free Wi-Fi to stay connected with loved ones, as well as fun events and programs catered to service members’ needs.

Tammy arrived in Qatar in October 2024 for a six-month deployment. Though nervous at first, Tammy explained that she quickly got to know her fellow deployed service members and the community on base and, despite working six days a week and long hours, Tammy came to enjoy the challenge. However, the distance was still difficult for Tammy, as it required her to spend extended time apart from her loved ones.

“It made me miss my husband and dog, Kai, very much. We called every day and having USO in common was nice as well,” Tammy said. “We talked about the events going on, milestones and our hours, but it was not the same.”

The USO is committed to ensuring the people who serve feel connected to their loved ones, no matter where the mission takes them, and we do so through various programs, events and our Centers. For some, it may be a voice recording of a children’s book sent to a loved one through the USO Reading Program; for others it can be a simple email sent back home by utilizing a Center’s free Wi-Fi. Aside from utilizing USO Centers themselves in their respective locations, Phan and Tammy took the opportunity to stay connected even further by finding a common sense of purpose through volunteering with the USO.

Prior to her time in Qatar, Tammy’s experience with USO Centers was limited to visits to an airport location while traveling, just like Phan. However, on December 8, 2024, that experience expanded with her first shift as a USO volunteer.

Looking for an opportunity to meet new people through a community and bring smiles to her fellow deployed service members, Tammy decided to follow in her husband’s footsteps and began volunteering.

“My husband told me he started volunteering and how great the people are. I decided I can start here [in Qatar] and, when I return to Okinawa, we’d volunteer together,” Tammy explained. “It is also nice because it is the start of a good memory and paves a good path for our careers as well.”

Much like her husband, Tammy jumped right into volunteering.

“I remember my shadow shift being cookie night for the holidays, and I loved it because everyone was jolly and welcoming,” Tammy said, explaining how she “shadowed” another volunteer to learn the ropes.

Both Tammy and Phan share a passion for making the most out of a challenging military situation and making positive memories during their time apart. Those memories started with a little friendly family competition to help the separation go by quicker. As one of them would mark off a volunteer milestone, the other would be motivated to go a step farther. Phan was awarded Volunteer of the Month (VOM) and Volunteer of the Quarter at his Center in February, only to be followed by Tammy’s announcement as USO Qatar’s Volunteer of the Month just a few days later.

Both of them receiving special honors in February was fitting, as the second month of the year has become important to the couple. In addition to Valentine’s Day, February marks their wedding anniversary, both of their birthdays as well as Tammy’s recent promotion. Receiving the Volunteer of the Month recognitions during “their month” solidified the honor as Tammy’s favorite volunteer moment thus far.

Whether it is sharing incentives or comparing hours, Tammy credits their USO volunteer experience for making the couple feel like they are together despite the distance.

“We still call and video call all the time, and it makes our bond even better because we have this in common.”

Along with staying connected, volunteering has given Tammy a purpose while deployed. Instead of working long hours and then simply going back to her barracks, Tammy has found a home away from home on deployment – a place to uplift her spirits, boost the morale of others and help pass the time until she can be reunited with her husband.

“Volunteering allowed me to meet new friends and be a part of an awesome community. I volunteered here so much that everyone remembers me, and always jokes and asks if I live here,” said Tammy. “It’s great laughter. The USO is my second home.”

Tammy explained that the family-like atmosphere at USO Qatar makes her grateful that it was the location where she started her USO journey. The staff, other volunteers and the opportunity to impact the morale of fellow deployed service members all contributed to making her first volunteer experience all the more special. She cherishes the relationships built while giving back.

“It is a great community, and being able to provide smiles to deployed members who are away from home and loved ones makes me feel great. Having an impact on other military personnel’s morale and happiness feels more rewarding than anything,” Tammy said. “I love to spread joy to others and try to make as many connections as possible.”

Reunited on Okinawa

Tammy returned to Okinawa in April, arriving just in time on the morning of Phan’s college graduation. Now, the pair are a staple at USO Camp Foster, where they now volunteer together. From greeting visiting service members to sharing some of their favorite cuisine such as pho, the couple are still competing for those little volunteer milestones – just now together in the same location.

“Phan and Tammy are a dynamic duo. Their heart for serving their community is relentless, individually and as a couple,” said USO Camp Foster Center Operations Manager Christi Brent. “We’re thankful to have had the powerhouse couple collaborate and put their twist on the pho food program they facilitated in June.”

Expecting new orders soon, this Okinawa chapter will be coming to an end for the couple as they move to the next duty station the military chooses for them. However, their impact will be felt for many years and their time with the USO will continue.

“When we leave, we want to leave an impact or a memory here,” said Phan. “I believe everyone wants to cook something or give back to the community, but are shy. They need someone to take the first step and then people follow and do a similar thing.”

And through it all, Phan and Tammy remain committed to one another and their marriage. Although they wear the uniform, bravely serving this nation both at home and abroad, they are also husband and wife, striving to remain connected despite the distance of deployments.

“Our relationship is strong, built on a foundation of love, trust and mutual support. We stand by each other through every challenge, working together to find the best path forward with understanding and care,” Phan said. “Each day, our love grows deeper as we continue to cherish the little moments like cooking dinner together or watching movies. Supporting one another wholeheartedly and encouraging each other for everything is important to us and finding meaningful ways to show appreciation. Together, we make life more joyful, more beautiful and full of lasting connection.”

Are you interested in giving back to the people who serve and volunteering with the USO? Learn more about what it means to be a USO Volunteer and if there’s a USO Center near you by clicking here!