Friday, August 01, 2025…read more
I'm writing to share a disappointing experience my spouse and I had at the USO located at NAS Jacksonville. As a military family, we've always appreciated the mission and values of the USO--to support and uplift service members and their families--but unfortunately, our visit left us feeling disrespected, unwelcome, and possibly even discriminated against.
We came in to inquire about Jacksonville Jaguars tickets. Upon entering, we noticed a staff member named Marge warmly hugging and greeting another guest. This made us feel that the environment was friendly and welcoming. However, when Marge saw us, her demeanor changed. She asked why we were there, and we said we were just inquiring about the tickets. She immediately responded, "Did you check in?"--in a noticeably different tone. We then checked in as instructed and selected "Travel and Information" and "Food" on the kiosk.
Another elderly staff member (not Marge) kindly approached us to explain that the deadline for the Jaguars tickets had passed. She then offered us drinks and snacks, which we appreciated. When my husband asked what drinks were available (more out of politeness than anything else), she kindly invited us to follow her to the fridge, explaining it was easier to show us than list them all.
After grabbing two Sprites, she asked if we'd like bread. As we followed her to where the bread was located, we passed by Marge, who suddenly snapped at us, saying, "Go ahead and hurry up!! We're busy here!! Go ahead and pick and then go!!"
We were shocked by her tone and words. Even the woman assisting us was visibly taken aback and commented, "Marge!" My husband immediately took my hand and said, "Let's go." As we were walking out, we heard Marge make a comment along the lines of, "People don't come here just to shop," which felt like an unfair and unnecessary judgment.
The entire experience left us feeling embarrassed, humiliated, and deeply disrespected. We couldn't help but wonder if her treatment toward us was rooted in bias--especially in contrast to the warm, friendly way she treated the guest before us.
We came in simply seeking information and maybe a small treat, and instead, we left feeling hurt and unwelcome. This is not what the USO stands for, and it's disheartening to experience such behavior from someone representing your organization.
We hope this feedback is taken seriously, not just for us, but for the sake of every military family who deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported when they walk into a USO facility.