The USO is known for filling the bellies and hearts of servicemembers with a plethora of delicious food, drinks, goodies, and just overall support, and it will now fill servicemembers' ears as well.

"We are super excited to be the first-ever radio show for the USO," said Andrew Oczkewicz, the director of Operations for USO Northwest on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  Oczkewicz has recently begun voicing the USO's first weekly radio broadcast, which airs every Thursday at 8:40 a.m. on Olympia's 95.3 KGY.

"The purpose of this weekly radio broadcast is to share all of the cool stuff that the USO Northwest does for our servicemembers and their families in Seattle, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Portland," Oczkewicz said.

For nearly 75 years, the United Service Organization (USO) has been the nation's leading organization, serving men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, during their time in uniform, according to the USO website. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side.

The USO is not only available to support active-duty military members, but retirees, National Guard and Reserve members, and families as well.

For the first USO Radio Broadcast, which aired in June, Oczkewicz shared information about the USO Northwest's "No Dough Dinners" program, which is held once a month around payday and provides a full meal for servicemembers to help alleviate some of the financial burden that can come at the end of a pay period.

"It's just a great way for the troops and their families to come in and have a free meal," Oczkewicz said.

The next radio segment honored a fallen soldier and local hero from Olympia.

The July 7 broadcast featured avid USO supporter and USO SeaTac Center staff member Bill Baker, who provided an update about the SeaTac Airport USO Center.

"It's a fantastic place for men and women who are serving in the military, retirees, veterans and their families to have the opportunity to go through the USO Center, located smack dab in the middle of the airport on the Mezzanine level, and receive support," he said.

In 2015 alone, more than 120,000 military members and their families passed through the SeaTac USO Center, which is open 24/7.

"It's a place for them to rest, to lay their heads down, to have a snack," said Baker, who served 23 years in the Air Force and now actively supports and works with USO Northwest.  "We have hot dogs and chips, donuts and sodas, everything that a growing boy, or girl, needs!"

The July 14 broadcast provided an update about the many resources and services available for servicemembers at the USO Shali Center located on JBLM. The center serves 4,000 servicemembers every month, and it remains open for every single deployment, no matter the time. Last year, the Shali Center served close to 40,000 sandwiches and 8,000 hot dogs to servicemembers on JBLM.

The July 21 segment featured an in-depth look about how the USO supports troops before deployments.

Upcoming segments will highlight USO Mobile Canteens, the Portland USO Center, the United Through Reading Program, and the Hugs from Home Program.

USO Northwest focuses on remaining one of the primary support resources for the military community and continues to take strides to stay ahead of the curve and continue to expand its reach.

To tune in to the radio show or to view previous broadcasts, visit: http://stream.noctel.com/kgy/ or view the segments on USO Northwest's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USONorthwest/?fref=ts.