Vacation traditions for US troops stationed abroad this season

As households throughout the USA collect for the vacations, hundreds of U.S. service members are spending the season abroad, marking the event removed from house whereas persevering with their duties.

American troops stay deployed throughout Europe, the Center East and the Indo-Pacific, supporting missions that vary from NATO deterrence operations to maritime patrols and humanitarian help. Whereas Christmas overseas not often resembles celebrations again house, service members typically discover methods to acknowledge the vacation throughout the constraints of their mission and site.

Throughout abroad installations, troops generally beautify workspaces, dwelling areas and eating services with lights, timber or improvised decorations. Many bases set up particular vacation meals, typically with commanders and senior enlisted leaders serving meals. 

Chaplains usually maintain Christmas providers when schedules and safety permit, typically in chapels, hangars or non permanent services. For sailors deployed at sea, Christmas is usually marked between watches, with embellished mess decks and vacation meals labored round operational calls for.

The vacation season additionally brings outreach from senior leaders. In current days, Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth positioned Christmas morale calls from the Pentagon to service members stationed throughout the globe, together with troops in South Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Greenland and aboard a Navy plane provider working within the Pacific. The calls have been meant to thank service members for standing watch away from house and to acknowledge the vary of missions persevering with by way of the vacations.

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In Japan, the place hundreds of U.S. service members are stationed year-round, bases typically emphasize morale and group traditions through the holidays. At Yokota Air Base, leaders delivered baked cookies to airmen dwelling in dorms as a part of the set up’s annual “Cookie Crunch,” a practice aimed toward supporting these spending the vacations away from household. 

Different installations throughout Japan and the Pacific usually host concert events, meals and volunteer occasions that typically embrace host-nation communities.

Operation Christmas Drop highlights U.S., allies’ and companions’ capabilities to shortly mobilize and mission energy and airlift operations at a second’s discover. (Senior Airman Samantha White/AIr Drive)

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Elsewhere in Japan, the U.S. Band of the Pacific carried out vacation music for native audiences, utilizing seasonal concert events as a solution to have interaction surrounding communities through the vacation interval.

One of many army’s most seen vacation efforts within the area is Operation Christmas Drop, the Division of Battle’s longest-running humanitarian airlift mission. Now in its 74th yr, the operation lately concluded at Andersen Air Drive Base in Guam, the place multinational groups ready and delivered a whole bunch of assist bundles by C-130 plane to distant Pacific island communities. 

The mission combines humanitarian help with airlift coaching and regional cooperation.

Vacation experiences additionally fluctuate primarily based on task sort. In locations like Japan and components of Europe, many U.S. troops serve on accompanied excursions, which means spouses and kids reside with them abroad. 

Bases in these areas typically host bigger vacation occasions and family-focused actions. 

In distinction, deployments to the Center East and components of Africa are usually unaccompanied, with service members dwelling on base or at ahead areas with out household current. In these environments, vacation observances are normally smaller and formed by operational and safety constraints.

That distinction additionally impacts depart. Troops stationed abroad on long-term assignments could also be eligible to journey house through the holidays if schedules permit, whereas service members deployed on rotational or fight deployments usually stay in place, with models sustaining regular staffing and mission necessities all through the season.

In Japan, the U.S. Band of the Pacific carried out vacation music for native audiences, utilizing seasonal concert events as a solution to have interaction surrounding communities through the vacation interval. (Airman 1st Class Kayla Karelas/Air Drive)

Troopers of the U.S. Military participate within the army and civilian parade for Nationwide Day 2025 at Place des Palais – Paleizenplein on July 21, 2025, in Brussels. (Xavier Piron/Photonews by way of Getty Photographs)

Throughout Europe, U.S. forces mark the vacations whereas supporting NATO missions and ahead presence efforts. Senior leaders use the season to acknowledge the sacrifices of these stationed overseas. In a vacation message to troops, U.S. Military Command Sgt. Maj. T.J. Holland inspired troopers to spend time embracing native tradition and connecting with household when doable. 

U.S. Air Drive Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich additionally thanked service members and their households for his or her service.

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For a lot of deployed troops, the United Service Organizations (USO) performs a key function through the holidays. Throughout Europe, the Center East and the Indo-Pacific, USO facilities, cellular automobiles and expeditionary groups present festive meals, seasonal decorations and areas the place service members can relaxation and join. 

Cell USO groups typically attain personnel stationed at distant or demanding areas, providing transient alternatives to recharge.

For deployed models, the vacations typically are marked quietly slightly than ceremonially. Traditions differ by location, mission and safety atmosphere, however service members proceed to search out small methods to acknowledge the season earlier than returning to the routines of deployment.