Community News
USO Okinawa Staff Spotlight - Meet Shawna!
By
USO Okinawa June 27, 2024
Shawna Franklin and Meghann Blochowski
USO Okinawa June 27, 2024
Shawna Franklin (Photo courtesy of USO Okinawa )
Name: Shawna Franklin
Position/Title: Center Operations Manager
Time worked at USO: 9 months.
Center/Office location: Camp Kinser
Shawna, originally from Alabama (ROLL TIDE) is the Center Operations Manager at USO Camp Kinser, USO Okinawa’s most southern camp. She, her husband of eighteen years, who is also her high school sweetheart, along with their three children have made Okinawa their home for nearly five years. A self-proclaimed Disney adult, Shawna enjoys all things Disney as well as the magical wizarding world of Harry Potter. When she is not fully emersed in the University of Alabama sports, she is reading her Kindle. As a lover of reading, especially Fantasy and dark/lighthearted romance, she has read a total of one hundred and thirteen books for 2024 but her list continues to grow!
1. Why do you love working at the USO?
Our guests and volunteers feel like family. I love being able to support our service members on Camp Kinser, whether we are baking cookies, preparing a homemade meal, or making crafts and playing games, I love being able to bring happiness into their day. Our center and team make efforts daily to continue to connect our service members to family, home, and country.
2. What is your favorite memory of working at the USO?
I recently had the opportunity to attend the re-enlistment of one our longest standing volunteers with over 1,000 hours and my spouse was also part of the ceremony. It was a special moment and I treasure being able to be an extension of their mothers back home and provide a support system when their family is thousands of miles away.
FEATURED PROGRAM:
We are excited to welcome service members and their families to USO Kinser on Wednesday, July 31st at 11 a.m. as we celebrate the most famous literary wizard! We’ll be making magical crafts and enjoy homemade baked goods; check out our Facebook page, @USOKinser for more details!