JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - While Soldiers and their families must adjust daily routines during times of deployments, the United Service Organization here ensures one beloved routine can stay the same.
With the United Through Reading program offered by the USO, parents have the opportunity to keep reading bedtime stories to their children back home while they are stationed here.
"It's a positive way to stay connected while you're gone and let your children know you still care and haven't forgotten about them," said Spc. Sean White, a Task Force 38 paralegal.
Soldiers pick out the book of their choice, record themselves reading the book in a private room, and the USO mails the DVD and book back home to the Soldier's family.
Soldiers can read one story per child per household per week with no appointment. Reading locations are at the USO building on the east side of base from 10 p.m., to midnight, and at Catfish Air on the west side every Monday from 4-8:30 p.m. Videos and books are mailed out twice per week and take about two to three weeks to arrive to Soldiers' families.
White said he has been reading to his three-year-old daughter, Addison, since she was in the womb and didn't intend to stop because he was half way around the world. He has read about 19 books to his daughter and continues to do so during his remaining time in Iraq.
"It's beneficial to read to children," he said. "Addison usually watches the DVD and then carries the book around with her. She is quite a bit more familiar with letters now."
An Indiana Army Guardsman uses the program not only to connect with his children while he is deployed, but he also uses the books to help his daughters keep track of time when he is coming home.
Army Maj. Kevan Crawly, the Task Force 38 medical operations officer, reads to his daughters Eliza, 5, and Keira, 2, every week.
"I told my daughters I would be gone about 40 weeks," Crawley said. "With each book that comes, it gives them an idea when I'm coming back, and it keeps them in the normal routine like I was there."
But Crawley said the program benefits more than his daughters. "The whole experience of coming and picking out a book that they would enjoy is great," he said. "It satisfying that I'm able to connect with them."
Crawley also uses the 15-20 minutes video time allowed for each Soldier to read his book of choice, update his children and family on his current events and experiences.
More than 1,500 packages containing books and videos were sent in August, said Jennifer Faux, a duty manager at the USO here and program coordinator for United Through Reading at JBB.
"It's a blessing to reach so many people with the program," she said. "I am happy to bring a little bit of joy in Soldiers' days in helping them read to children back home."
Faux said even though the program has been so successful at JBB, she hopes to expand it and extend it to Soldiers in other bases in Iraq.
She added that as a volunteer for the USO and United Through Reading program, she is here to serve the Soldiers first and foremost, and takes pleasure in being able to help them stay connected with family back home.
"I am moved by the appreciation of the troops for the opportunity for the chance to read to their children," Faux said.
One Task Force 38 Soldier was so appreciative of the program that she not only read to her three-year-old daughter, Kennedy, every week, she also volunteered to help run the program.
Army Sgt. Chanel Reagan, human resources noncommissioned officer from the Indiana Army Guard, said she knows reading to her daughter helps Kennedy cope while she is deployed and started volunteering to get the word out to other Soldiers.
"It's a nice way to bring families closer together even though there is such a big distance between them," Reagan said.
She also said whenever her daughter asks about "mom," Reagan's parents will play one of the recordings, and her daughter will contently watch mom read to her.
"It gives me peace of mind that she's not going to forget me while I'm gone," said Reagan.
She added that the program is not only for young children and people can read, play games with, or talk to any of their children, spouses or friends.
"It's worth showing them you still care and make good memories out of an inconvenient situation," said Reagan.