(Arlington, VA, Wednesday, November 30, 2022) – More than 20,000 U.S. military service members have deployed to Eastern Europe in response to the Ukraine/Russia conflict. This holiday season, U.S. service members in the region will be far from the comforts of home and the family and friends they love – and most Americans have no idea this is the case or how they can help.
According to a new survey from the United Service Organizations (USO) – America’s leading nonprofit organization supporting service members and their families – and Morning Consult, 62% of Americans aren’t knowledgeable about what the U.S. military is doing in Eastern Europe.
Other key findings include:
• 67% of Americans incorrectly believe that most U.S. troops deployed in response to the Ukraine/Russia conflict are located in Ukraine.
• While 59% of Americans often follow news about the Ukraine/Russia conflict, far fewer (33%) often follow news about U.S. military service members deployed in Eastern Europe.
• 86% of Americans believe it is important to support individual U.S. military service members and their families, but only around four in 10 currently do so.