USO center at San Diego airport temporarily relocated

The USO center at San Diego International Airport was temporarily relocated to Terminal 1 on Thursday to make way for the construction of a larger facility.

When completed in early 2013, the Neil Ash USO Center at Terminal 2 will provide military members and their families with 3,000 additional square feet of space and an outdoor area with picnic tables and grassy areas for relaxing, according to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

“More than 100,000 service members and their families travel through the Neil Ash USO Center each year,” said Thella Bowens, president of the Airport Authority board. “We are honored to continue to serve San Diego’s military community through the construction of this USO center while the permanent facility is being built.”

The temporary facility will continue to provide free Internet access, a game room, televisions, refreshments, lounge, baggage storage, showers and a children’s play area to those in the military and their families while the new center is built.

The temporary center will be open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight.