Eglin, Fla. (April. 25, 2022) – Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families will have a new center to recharge and reconnect as the United Service Organizations (USO) opens a state-of-the-art USO Gaming center at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in Northwest Florida.
The USO Gaming center at Eglin AFB will hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, April 28 at 4:00 p.m., opening the doors to the 2,500 square foot USO Gaming center and café, featuring 24 gaming stations.
The establishment of the new USO Gaming center was carefully coordinated between Eglin AFB leadership and the USO and will provide the 11,000 active duty service members and 37,200 military dependents who call Eglin home, with a world-class USO gaming experience.
Brigadier Gen. Scott A. Cain, Commander, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel Command, Eglin Air Force Base, will officiate the ceremony, joined by Jim Whaley, USO President, Southeast Region, and Dana Cervantes, Executive Director, USO Northwest Florida.
As the interest in gaming continues to grow within the military community, the USO is poised to support. By constructing gaming centers across the U.S., creating dedicated spaces at USO centers, and sending gaming units overseas to remote locations, the USO serves as a place for service members and their families to unwind, connect and participate in USO Gaming events.
“As we continue our support of service members and their families, we must find new ways to ensure their connection to family, home and country stays strong and relevant to them, and our new state-of-the-art USO Gaming center here at Eglin Air Force Base does just that,” said Cervantes.
The Eglin Air Force Gaming center serves as the largest USO Gaming center in the world. Primary funding for the construction of the center was made possible through a generous gift from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation. Operational costs for the first year were also made possible in part by their gift and that of The Armed Forces Family Foundation, which has been a significant partner and source of support for numerous construction and renovation projects at USO Centers in the southeast.
“The generous support of our donors and partners make the USO mission delivery possible,” said Jim Whaley, Regional President, USO Southeast Region. “Without it, we could not provide the quality programs and amenities we make available for our service members and their families each day here in the U.S. and around the globe. Our centers and program delivery are a direct expression of America’s gratitude to those who serve our country.”
The grand opening of the Eglin Air Force Base USO Gaming center serves as an opportunity to showcase the USO’s newest center, meeting the needs of today’s generation of service members and their families.
The new USO Gaming center boasts 24 gaming stations, where service members and their families can enjoy playing their favorite video game on either an Xbox Series X – Halo Infinite Limited Edition console graciously donated by Xbox, or on a HP Omen 30L Desktop GT13-0380t console.
Service members and their families will sit comfortably in any one of the Razer™ Iskur ergonomic gaming chairs designed for posture-perfect, hardcore gaming. Each station also includes computer mice, mats, keyboards, headsets, headset stands, and other gaming equipment and peripherals all donated by Razer™.
