The Faces Behind The Forces: Yana Blair

Yana Blair is the Field Programs Manager for USO Andersen. She is a spouse of an active duty Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force who actively seeks to succeed in everything she does.

For many years, Yana struggled to find a job. With the challenges of being an immigrant from Russia and her need to find a fulfilling career, her goal to be successful became increasingly hard. Yana had been welcomed by multiple USO’s around the world and was amazed by the incredible things every USO had to offer for herself and her husband. After volunteering with the Red Cross and experiencing the positive impact it had on herself and others, she knew that working for the USO was the perfect opportunity to help others like her husband and herself.

Her favorite thing about being at USO Andersen is how “the dedication and selflessness of volunteers and staff goes above and beyond. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

Ultimately, the USO has provided Yana with a lot of freedom to explore just how creative she and her team of volunteers can be.

One of Yana’s most memorable USO experiences was when she took charge of her first ever program. After only being on the job for 10 days, she was tasked with setting up a live viewing of a Boston Celtic’s game and live conference chat between team members and local military service members and their families. With less than a 48-hour notice to plan and execute, her team of volunteers, including her husband, rallied to pull off a tremendously successful event - the first of its kind on Guam. Yana’s ongoing goals to succeed helped a Celtic fan’s dreams come true by getting him on live TV on his birthday.

With the hundreds of programs that USO Andersen hosts, Yana’s favorite program was “Couples Night Out.” It was a program close to her heart that allowed service members and their spouses to bond and remind each other of how thankful they were for one another, all while enjoying a free, five-star home-cooked meal and dining experience provided by volunteers.

“I believe this program was unique and had a profound impact on military couples, as it can be a struggle living on Guam,” Yana said.

When Yana isn’t at the USO, she can be found at the beach or catching up with her friends and family located all over the world. Her unique skills and immense kindness helps encourage volunteers to push themselves in whatever they choose to do. She is a big part of our “Force Behind the Forces.”