US Troops Mark Christmas While Serving Abroad

As U.S. Troops Mark Holidays Far From Home, Traditions Continue Overseas

As families across the United States gather for holiday celebrations, thousands of American service members are spending the season deployed abroad, maintaining their duties while finding ways to observe Christmas far from home.

American military personnel remain stationed across Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region, supporting missions ranging from NATO deterrence operations to maritime security patrols and humanitarian assistance. Despite being separated from loved ones during a traditionally family-centered season, service members have developed methods to maintain holiday spirit within the constraints of their assignments.

Across military installations worldwide, troops typically decorate their workspaces, barracks, and dining facilities with whatever holiday décor is available – sometimes improvising with materials at hand. Many bases organize special holiday meals where commanders and senior enlisted leaders serve food to personnel, temporarily inverting the usual chain of command in a gesture of appreciation.

Military chaplains conduct Christmas religious services when schedules and security situations permit, holding them in formal chapels, aircraft hangars, or temporary facilities depending on the location. For sailors deployed at sea, Christmas observances occur between watch rotations, with decorated mess decks and holiday meals worked into operational requirements.

Senior Pentagon leadership makes special efforts to recognize deployed personnel during the holidays. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently conducted morale calls from the Pentagon to service members stationed globally, including troops in South Korea, Kuwait, Norway, Greenland, and aboard a Navy aircraft carrier in the Pacific. These calls aim to acknowledge those standing watch away from home and recognize the variety of missions continuing through the holiday season.

In Japan, home to thousands of permanently stationed U.S. military personnel, bases emphasize community traditions during December. At Yokota Air Base, leaders delivered homemade cookies to airmen living in dormitories as part of the installation’s annual “Cookie Crunch” tradition, intended to support those spending holidays away from family. Other bases across Japan and the Pacific typically organize concerts, special meals, and volunteer activities that sometimes include participation from local host communities.

The U.S. Band of the Pacific performs holiday concerts for Japanese audiences, using these seasonal performances as cultural engagement opportunities with surrounding communities. These musical events serve both as morale boosters and diplomatic outreach.

One of the military’s most visible holiday efforts in the Pacific region is Operation Christmas Drop, the Department of War’s longest-running humanitarian airlift mission. Now in its 74th year, the operation recently concluded at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, where multinational teams prepared and delivered hundreds of aid bundles via C-130 aircraft to remote Pacific island communities. This mission strategically combines humanitarian assistance with practical airlift training and regional cooperation.

Holiday experiences vary significantly based on assignment type. In Japan and parts of Europe, many U.S. troops serve on accompanied tours where spouses and children live with them overseas. Bases in these regions typically host larger holiday events focused on families and children. In contrast, deployments to the Middle East and parts of Africa are usually unaccompanied, with service members living on base or at forward locations without family present. In these environments, holiday observances tend to be smaller and more constrained by operational and security requirements.

Leave policies also differ between assignments. Personnel stationed overseas on long-term assignments may be eligible to travel home during holidays if operational schedules permit, while those deployed on rotational or combat deployments generally remain in place, with units maintaining normal staffing and mission requirements throughout the season.

For many deployed troops, the United Service Organizations (USO) provides crucial support during the holidays. Across global regions, USO centers, mobile vehicles, and expeditionary teams offer festive meals, seasonal decorations, and comfortable spaces where service members can relax and connect with home. Mobile USO teams frequently reach personnel stationed at remote locations, providing brief opportunities to experience holiday cheer amid demanding duties.

Across Europe, U.S. forces support NATO missions and forward presence efforts while finding ways to mark the season. Senior leaders use the holiday period to acknowledge the sacrifices of those stationed abroad. U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major T.J. Holland recently encouraged soldiers to embrace local cultures and connect with family when possible, while Air Force General Alexus G. Grynkewich issued statements thanking service members and their families for their ongoing commitment.

For many deployed units, particularly those in high-threat environments, holiday observances remain subtle rather than ceremonial. Traditions vary widely based on location, mission parameters, and security conditions, but service members consistently find small ways to acknowledge the season before returning to the demands of deployment life.