USAG Japan, USO pair to bring ‘Coffee Connections’ to Zama community

CAMP ZAMA, Japan - U.S Army Garrison Japan's Army Community Service team has paired with the USO to offer a Halloween-themed "Coffee Connections" event Oct. 30 for military spouses here to connect.

According to the USO, the Coffee Connections events help spouses tackle the isolation many may feel after moving to a new duty station. The USO understands that military spouses often face challenges when trying to build new social networks after relocating.

Mary Wanjohi, a program analyst with Army Community Service at Camp Zama, helped coordinate the event with the USO team from Yokota Air Base.

Wanjohi said she believes it is important for the community to take advantage of the various family programs available, to include Wednesday's first-ever event on Camp Zama.

"There is a lot of isolation for the military spouses when they get here and this event will help connect them with other spouses," she said.

Wanjohi added that the event will also provide a "great space to relax, learn and network."

Christian Asante, USO area operations specialist, stressed the importance for people to find a community, stating that "spouses who move to Japan face a language barrier and can find it difficult to go out and enjoy new experiences, especially if they don't already have friends or family in the area."

He said Coffee Connections makes it easier to establish a network of friends, some who have lived in the area longer, and who can help newly arrived spouses overcome the issues they might be facing.

Command Sergeant Major David A. Rio, USAG Japan's senior enlisted adviser, emphasized the need for such networks in an overseas environment where spouses are so geographically separated from their traditional support network.

Rio also said he hopes to continue to build a strong relationship with the USO.

"The USO is a great resource that provides many benefits to military members and their families," he said. "They have historically supported our Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, and Coffee Connections is a way to expand that support to another part of our community."

All service member spouses are welcome at the event, which is scheduled Oct. 30 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Camp Zama ACS building.

To register, visit: https://register.uso.org/en/4111BMB7/g/x8s48YbDv5/uso-coffee-connections-camp-zama-october-30-2024-4a3IQKb1Zp/overview

To find more information on USO events and activities, visit www.japan.uso.org.

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