USO Coffee Connections at Osan Air Base: Building Community for Military Spouses

Jetta Allen
Dec 1, 2024
4 min read

Orange bag with "USO," Halloween-themed crafts, and an anti-abuse flyer on table. Emotional support message: "You're enough."

Since 2016 the United Service Organizations, better known as the USO, has intentionally focused on programs like Coffee Connections to address the needs of military spouses. Through this worldwide effort, the USO aims to empower military spouses, connect them to support in their community, and create a space that can form bonds of friendship between spouses. At Osan Air Base, the USO Coffee Connections program is more than just coffee.

Hyoseon(Sunny) Cheon, the Osan Center Operations Manager, shared that she has observed their program changing into a dynamic, practical support for the military spouses in their community. During their Coffee Connections, spouses share their experiences in South Korea, give advice to others about shopping in local markets, how to navigate using Korean applications, and share about travel and recreational opportunities on and off the peninsula. These aren’t the typical topics people think are “life-changing”, but when you are new to a foreign country, these tips and topics drastically improve one’s quality of life in South Korea. Coffee Connections is fostering joy, managing the anxiety of navigating a new home, and providing a forum for military spouses to improve their emotional wellness as they adjust to military life abroad.

Smiling woman holds a purple bag and mug in front of a screen displaying "Coffee Connection" and "Halloween Lantern Making." — Dr. Monigan, psychologist and the Director of the 51st Fight Wing Integrated Resilience Office spoke on domestic violence and shared strategies and solutions for military families.

When I visited October’s Coffee Connections I met their guest speaker Dr. Monigan. She is a psychologist and the Director of the 51st Fight Wing Integrated Resilience Office. She asked the critical question, “What does a spouse do when another spouse shares about abuse?” There was a silence that Dr. Monigan would fill with crucial information about domestic abuse prevention and what to do if someone knows someone in an abusive situation. She gave them resources and materials to use or share with others too.

Dr. Monigan’s attendance was not by chance, but a deliberate programming decision to increase understanding around domestic violence and she stressed that trauma can impact you and your loved ones for years to come, but through counseling, you can find support and strategies. I often say to friends, we never know what people are going through. We never know if we will be the bright spot in someone’s day or the “right” person they need to talk to in a time of need. USO Osan wants every military spouse to be the “right” person others can rely on and to be equipped with the information to build communities of support, one connection at a time!

Four people and a child display Halloween crafts in a classroom, smiling. Instructions on a board and phones on the table are visible.

Coffee Connections continued with Halloween crafts and delicious, homemade pineapple cream puff made by USO volunteer Ralph Nelsen. Walking around the room I heard conversations covering health recommendations, the best chiropractors to help with injuries, and even spouses sharing about their children’s routines and sports accomplishments.

Most of the spouses had never been to a Coffee Connections and had never met one another, but you wouldn’t know it by the depth of the conversations. One spouse shared she wished she would have started coming to Coffee Connections sooner! Other shared comments of gratitude to the USO Osan for allowing her children to come as they are brand new to the community. The attendees' consensus was that Coffee Connections is fantastic and everyone should come at some point during their time in Korea.

Two smiling women hold decorated boxes with Halloween designs. They're seated indoors at a table with craft supplies in a bright room.

The USO Osan wants to encourage more military spouses to attend their Coffee Connections programs. In the future, they aim to have more Korean culture immersion with other agencies like the International Dharma Instructors’ Association affiliated with the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

Ms. Cheon stressed the importance of community partnerships, sharing these collaborations allow the USO to expand programming and vary the options for attendees. The Osan Air Base Military and Family Readiness Center is another supporter of the USO Osan’s programming. The USO’s mission is truly a collaborative effort, made possible by a community that selflessly cares about military spouses.

Two smiling women in blue sweaters stand in front of a yellow presentation slide with text and a diagram in a classroom setting. — Volunteer Jessica and Hyoseon Cheon smile as they reflect on another successful event at Osan USO.

At the USO Osan, there are so many wonderful volunteers. Jessica, an Air Force spouse, volunteers to help spouses network and meet new friends. She shared that volunteering has also helped her make more friends with other volunteers and by meeting new people. Ralph is a retired Air Force giving back to the military community nearly every day. If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, consider volunteering with the USO Osan or your own local USO.

Volunteers power community organizations every day by creating solutions for community needs, building bridges between cultures, and being the welcoming face to newcomers and visitors to the installation! The USO values its volunteers and their contributions to the community, so what do you have to lose? Next time you’re on Osan Air Base or your local installation, pop into the USO. Find out about community programs and check out how you can volunteer!