UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A group of Penn State World Campus staff members spent an afternoon preparing and serving a hot meal for hundreds of service members at a United Service Organizations (USO) Center at Fort Indiantown Gap, a military training facility in central Pennsylvania.
Staff members worked with on-site USO volunteers to prepare lunch and stock snacks for National Guard members to take with them while they were participating in the 2025 Warfighter Exercise. The afternoon included time spent cooking and cleaning, but more importantly, engaging with service members. They talked about similarities in military life experiences and Penn State football, and they checked in with one another.
The staff members who volunteered all work to support military students learning online through Penn State World Campus. Some are veterans and family members of veterans.
That afternoon is one example of how Penn State World Campus has been supporting the military community during the second year of its partnership with the USO. Through the partnership, Penn State World Campus aims to help service members take the next step toward their educational goals and to be successful in their post-military careers.
A partnership to support service members
The USO supports military service members by offering educational and career resources to assist with the transition from military to civilian life.
Many service members want to go back to school to either finish their bachelor’s degrees or pursue a master’s degree. As they begin transitioning from military service to civilian life, they begin exploring all of their options.
Through the partnership with the USO, Penn State World Campus seeks to show how service members and veterans can get a Penn State degree online while supporting the organization’s mission.
Penn State has a long history of serving the military community, and Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years. Today, more than 3,000 Penn State World Campus learners have a military affiliation as active-duty personnel, veterans, reservists, national guard or family members.
Penn State World Campus and the USO began a multi-year partnership in 2023, through the USO Transition Program, to support each other’s efforts to serve those who serve.
The program is geared toward active-duty, Reserve and National Guard members, as well as military spouses, and offers professional development services throughout the duration of their military service as well as in preparation for post-military life. This includes training on financial readiness, assisting with educational opportunities, networking, career advice and more.
USO Regional President Rebecca Parkes said the two organizations demonstrate how collaboration can aid in setting service members up for successful transitions to civilian life.
"The partnership between Penn State World Campus and the USO in the USO Transitions Program is a powerful example of how higher education and military support services can work hand-in-hand to create pathways for service members transitioning to civilian life,” Parkes said. “By offering flexible, accessible educational opportunities, we are empowering service members to build on their unique experiences and achieve success in their new careers."
Highlighting opportunities for service members’ futures
Over the past year, Penn State World Campus has been educating the USO community on what it’s like for active-duty service members and veterans to earn a degree online. Penn State World Campus and the USO have hosted informational webinars highlighting career paths in which service members can apply their skills.
For instance, the USO’s Military Virtual Programming events offer attendees valuable information in post-military education and careers — including résumé-building, financial wellness and professional networking — and educational opportunities like Penn State World Campus. The first event in 2024 focused on labor and employment relations careers, and another is scheduled in May.
Josh Fickes, a Penn State World Campus employee and 20-year Air Force veteran who served in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, has been pleased with the opportunities and accomplishments in the partnership so far. Fickes, the assistant director of military marketing strategy, remembers the impact the USO made on him during his service.
“I’ve been to USO centers across the world, from Afghanistan, Asia, and here in the U.S., and have consistently been impressed by the incredible people and sacrifices they make to serve those who serve,” Fickes said. “The military community trusts the USO, and we are honored to partner with them. With Penn State’s history of supporting the military and the ability of World Campus to deliver a high-quality education in a flexible online format, I wanted to share that and make it more accessible through the USO.”
Fickes was among the staff members who traveled to Fort Indiantown Gap, a post where he participated in exercises and other trainings during his time in the guard.
“When you partner with an organization like the USO, it's hard to not also take it personally and lean into their mission and values. To me, this partnership isn't just about what's on paper, it's about the sweat equity in the belief to do good through service to our military community,” he said. “It meant a lot to be able to volunteer at the Gap, and we are looking forward to future opportunities with the USO.”
About Penn State World Campus
Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years, with a comprehensive portfolio of more than 200 degrees and certificates now available.
For military learners, Penn State offers a variety of tailored support services, including financial aid and advising.
Guard members and their spouses who are undergraduate students receive funding through the Penn State World Campus Military Grant-in-Aid program, which aims to make higher education more affordable and attainable. Penn State World Campus also accepts Pennsylvania Education Assistance Program funding, a financial support for Pennsylvania National Guard members.
Visit the Penn State World Campus website to learn more about the opportunities online for military-affiliated students.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.