Spotlight!
USO Okinawa Staff Spotlight-Meet Mariah
By
USO Camp Foster February 28, 2024
Mariah Mendoza and Meghann Blochowski
USO Camp Foster February 28, 2024
Mariah Mendoza (USO Camp Foster)
Mariah is a proud Californian, born and raised in Grand Terrace, a small town in Southern California. A Marine Corps spouse of four years and dog mom to three-year-old Husky, Meeko, she holds a B.S. in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University. Mariah is currently completing the final year of her master’s in counseling psychology with plans to be a licensed, practicing therapist by 2025. She and her active-duty husband moved from Camp Pendleton to Okinawa in 2021 and have loved their time spent on island. As a huge fan of all things Disney, Mariah named her loveable husky, Meeko, after her favorite sidekick in Pocahontas.
Why do you love working at the USO?
Working at the USO is truly fulfilling for me, thanks to its overarching mission of strengthening the well-being of people serving in America’s military and their families. I have the opportunity to witness daily the impact the USO has on our troops. It’s particularly special and rewarding when patrons and volunteers share the positive impact USO Foster has on them, particularly during their time overseas. As a Marine Corps spouse, giving back to the service members allows me to gain insight into their experiences and the intricacies of the life of an active-duty Marine. I take pride in providing a warm, home-like environment for our volunteers, service members, and their families at USO Foster. This experience at the USO has not only strengthened my connection to the military community but has also solidified my resolve to pursue a future career as a therapist for active-duty Marines and their families.
What is your favorite memory of working at the USO?
My favorite memory of working at the USO is when our team and a volunteer recently supported Marines stationed on Ie Shima Island during the Christmas holiday. We were able to venture to the island with holiday goodies and offer some holiday cheer. It brought me and our team so much joy to see the impact we made by bringing them a little holiday surprise.
FEATURED PROGRAM:
Join USO Camp Foster for our upcoming Egg-straviganza on March 30th at 10am! This program holds a special place in my heart as it was my first program working at the USO and is one of my favorite USO memories. We look forward to bringing this fun holiday tradition back to our camp this year!