We’re with Andrew: An Airman Building Belonging at RAF Lakenheath

By Trey Smith

On Friday nights at Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, in the United Kingdom, the USO Center fills with the sound of laughter, shuffling cards and the steady rhythm of video game controllers. For many airmen stationed far from home, it’s a place to relax, make friends and feel connected. For Andrew McQuary, it’s a place he’s proud to help bring to life.

Andrew leads Gilded Games, a biweekly local program he built alongside Air Force Gaming and the USO. What started as a simple idea — a consistent place for airmen to gather — quickly grew into one of the most popular recurring events on base. On an average Friday, about 50 service members show up to play board games, tabletop games, trading card games and console favorites. His commitment to creating community for others comes from a personal understanding of how challenging military life can be.

Andrew’s Road to the Air Force

Serving in the U.S. military was not Andrew’s original plan. After attending Oklahoma State University for four years and leaving without a degree, he joined the U.S. Air Force in January 2012 looking for direction.

“I didn’t do too well [in college]. I ended the four years without a degree, and student loans started to pile up,” he said. “I didn’t have any skills, really. So, I basically made the decision to join the Air Force after that, which was probably one of the best career decisions I ever made.”

Since enlisting 14 years ago, the military helped Andrew find stability, earn his degree in history and discover a passion for teaching and leadership. His career has taken him from New Mexico to Turkey and now England, where he has been stationed with his family since 2020. Eventually, he and his wife made a decision that would shape their family’s future: they extended their time overseas so their son could spend six years in the same place — a rare gift for a military child. In these years abroad, the family has made the most of their time together. They’ve explored Europe, seeing landmarks most children only read about.

“Not many kids can say they’ve chased pigeons in Venice, London and on top of the Parthenon in Athens,” Andrew said.

But while his family found stability, Andrew turned his focus outward. He watched young airmen struggle with being far from family, spending holidays alone and the challenge of rebuilding a sense of home in a new place. When he realized gaming could bridge that gap, he leaned in fully.

Volunteering With the USO

As he settled into life overseas, Andrew looked for ways to support younger airmen — a search that ultimately led him to the USO.

Andrew has been volunteering with the USO since 2022, primarily through a local program called Gilded Games. The biweekly program provides a space for service members to gather and play board games, tabletop games, trading card games and esports.

USO Gaming provides service members stationed or deployed overseas with access to gaming equipment, organized events and supported gaming spaces on military bases. These programs give service members a chance to relax, connect with peers out of uniform and enjoy shared hobbies in a structured, welcoming environment.

“Our goal is to build community and provide a space where service members can connect,” Andrew said. “Many of the younger airmen are stationed overseas without their families, and events like this give them something consistent to participate in and enjoy.”

Gilded Games has grown steadily since its inception, attracting an average of 50 participants per event. Notably, the program also saw a record attendance of nearly 700 participants at one particular event. Andrew and other volunteers work with the USO to organize the program and ensure it runs smoothly, coordinating resources such as gaming consoles and materials provided by USO Gaming.

“We built something that makes a difference for service members who might otherwise feel alone overseas,” he said. “That’s why I keep showing up.”

USO Gaming plays a crucial role in bringing service members together through shared interests and friendly competition. By providing resources, equipment and support for programs like Gilded Games, the USO Gaming Program helps create consistent opportunities for camaraderie and connection — especially for younger airmen who may be far from family or traditional support networks. Andrew emphasized that the partnership with USO Gaming allows USO volunteers like himself to focus on building community and organizing events, ensuring that participants not only have access to games but also a welcoming environment where they can form friendships and feel part of a larger military family.

During the holiday season, Andrew also makes it a priority to host gaming sessions that fall near major celebrations. Because many of the regular participants are younger airmen who may be stationed overseas without their families, holiday periods can be especially challenging for them. By intentionally scheduling events around major holidays, he hopes to give those service members something positive to look forward to.

“I’m always looking out for younger service members who are out here alone and don’t have a community and may be missing out on big holiday events because they’re here by themselves and may not have family support,” Andrew shared. “The most rewarding part is knowing that we’re able to build a community and host events for these airmen who may otherwise struggle to find community overseas.”

These gaming sessions provide a chance for airmen to gather, relax and enjoy a familiar activity during times of year when they might otherwise feel overlooked or alone. For Andrew, offering these opportunities is simply an extension of what Gilded Games aims to do year-round: create a welcoming space where people can find connection and strengthen their well-being.

Andrew’s commitment to service is not limited to Gilded Games. He has also supported larger events in collaboration with the USO, including Mil-D-Con, an annual comic convention held at RAF Mildenhall, in the U.K., that draws thousands of service members and visitors. At these events, he helps set up booths, coordinates activities and ensures attendees know about the USO’s resources and programs available to them.

While volunteering with the USO keeps him connected to service members on base, Andrew has also channeled his expertise into teaching.

“I found in the Air Force that I really love teaching,” he said. “My focus has been on continuous process improvement, leadership and my role as a manpower analyst. I teach others how to understand their workplace and how to find better ways of getting things done.”

Across both teaching and volunteering, Andrew works to create meaningful connections for the people he serves.

Although he still has six years before retirement, Andrew hopes to eventually teach history and support his wife’s return to her own career. Until then, he’s focused on what he believes makes the most impact — helping the USO provide comfort and community to airmen far from home.

“It’s the people,” he said. “It’s knowing you’re giving them something that matters.”