How Google Beam connects military families globally

For deployed service members, the hardest distance is measured in missed moments. A child’s first steps, a first performance, or simply sitting across the table from a loved one feels out of reach.

That's why we’re partnering with the USO to bring HP Dimension with Google Beam to 20 USO locations globally, helping service members bridge this distance. With Beam’s unique true-to-life, 3D video communication experience, families feel like they’re stepping into the same room and connecting in a whole new way.

Google Beam began a pilot program connecting families between Trzebień, Poland, and Fort Bliss, Texas earlier this year. Now, we’re releasing a docuseries that shows how the program is expanding to Grafenwöhr, Germany, and Fort Hood, Texas, bringing this lifelike closeness to even more families.

Directed by military veteran and filmmaker Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, our new docuseries captures the power of this connection. It follows four soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment (Iron Dukes) during their deployment in Poland. Watch the profound emotional impact of Google Beam as they reconnect with their families back home, proving that love knows no distance.

Four families, one shared mission

The Brown-Orane family

Sergeant Amoy Brown is a Bradley Gunner deployed in Poland, and Tiyanna Orane, his wife, is an aviation logistics specialist in Fort Bliss. For them, military service is an equal partnership. But an eight-hour time difference makes celebrating major milestones,like Tiyanna’s military promotion, feel distant. Google Beam helped create an intimate, lifelike reunion where Amoy and Tiyanna could celebrate her achievement, and Amoy could interact with their young son, Azeal.

The Kassales family

Throughout his first two years of service, Army Chaplain Roland Kassales has been deployed for 15 months. Staying present with this family during the time apart is incredibly important. Google Beam helped bridge the distance, bringing his family into focus. When his daughter, Blythe, read stories she wrote to him aloud, Beam let him experience those moments in real time with the body language, eye contact, and all.

The Jennings family

Mayra Jennings manages a bustling, blended household of seven while working 12-hour work shifts, leaving her deployed husband, Sergeant First Class Matthew Jennings, feeling the absence of daily family life. Standard phone calls made it difficult to connect across the miles with their 4-year-old son, Dimitri, their newborn daughter, Lilly, and his two sisters. Google Beam gave Matthew a front-row seat to experience how much his newborn daughter had grown, to see one of his sisters play guitar, and offered Mayra a moment of comfort, recreating the feeling and warmth of sitting directly across the table from one another.

The Rodriguez family

Major Michael Rodriguez, an armor battalion operations officer with 12 years of service, knows the heavy toll deployments take, especially on his family. His wife Jessica balances a demanding job as a pediatric physical therapist, while solo parenting their four young children. With Google Beam they’re able to create new memories, including witnessing his one-year-old daughter Kathryn practice taking her first steps.

Watch the docuseries

To see these emotional reunions and follow the journey of the Brown, Kassales, Jennings, and Rodriguez families, watch the complete docuseries. And to learn more about how Beam is redefining human connection visit goo.gle/USO.