The YMCA movement began in England in 1844; and was transplanted to this country in 1859 at Boston, Massachusetts. The real beginning of extensive service to the military did not begin until April, 1861 during the Civil War when YMCA members voluntarily provided helpful services to the soldiers on the battlefield or relief to prisoners-of-war. The YMCA's peacetime charter to serve military personnel was formally endorsed by the U S Government in 1902 with the construction of facilities on many installations for recreational, sports, and counseling services for service members. During World War I, the YMCA developed a massive program of morale and welfare support for the military both at home and overseas.To effectively manage the need for a large volunteer effort for World War II, the YMCA joined five other voluntary agencies in February 1941 to form the United Services Organization for National Defense or USO.

The YMCA operated 25% of the USO centers in the United States. The YMCA's War Prisoners Aid Program undertook a massive humanitarian service similar to what it had accomplished in World War I. Lasting more than seven years, the program cost $15,000,000 and was involved with POW camps in 33 countries. As the USO was deactivated in 1948, the YMCA changed its name to YMCA Armed Services and continued to provide social services to the Armed Forces. In 1951 the USO was reactivated to support the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and the YMCA became the USO's major independent operating agency. By 1977, the YMCA National Board of Directors determined the work of the USO had been successfully been completed and the YMCA needed to resume delivering its unique services directly to the military within its own organizational structure. With this decision, the USO requested, and the YMCA accepted responsibility of the 12 USO centers in the United States. Following an organizational review in 1984, the YMCA's Armed Services Department became the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) of the USA and executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense attesting to the relevancy of ASYMCA programs and services to the Armed Forces.

The Armed Services YMCA, Twentynine Palms Branch (ASYMCA) has been in operation as a satellite of Camp Pendleton aboard the Marine Corp Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MCAGCC) since 1992. In 2001, we became an independent branch of the Armed Services YMCA. The Armed Services YMCA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, separately incorporated, with the sole mission of serving military service members - single and married- and their families stationed at MCAGCC. The focus of the ASYMCA is on the junior enlisted, primarily the pay grade of E-5 and below, offering low, or no cost programs. Financial support to the ASYMCA comes solely from grants; donations from businesses, fraternal organizations and individuals, and fund raising events. In cooperation with unit and area commands, the ASYMCA offers programs and services that strengthen families and encourage individuals to achieve their fullest potential.