Cooperative Living July 2023 - 33

LIFESTYLES
●●●●●●●● Down
Story courtesy of Statepoint Content
How video games help boost military morale
F
or military members, video games
are not just a fun way to unwind
during downtime, they can
provide much-needed stress relief and
an opportunity to connect with friends
and family.
For these reasons, video games
have had a place in United Service
Organizations' centers over the past four
decades - from the early days of standup
arcade games and pinball machines to
today's modern video game consoles
and livestreaming. The USO has taken
its gaming initiative to the next level
by outfitting more of its locations with
dedicated gaming spaces, equipped
with all the latest technology, as well as
by hosting in-person and online video
game events.
Here are the top ways these initiatives
benefit service members:
COMBATING ISOLATION
In recent surveys, time away from
family because of military service is
a top concern within the military
community. Through gaming, military
members can connect with loved ones
back home.
CL
co-opliving.com
STRESS RELIEF
About half of military and veteran
video gamers specifically play video
games to deal with military-related
stress. Research conducted by the
Department of Veterans Affairs shows
that gaming can improve mental
health by helping veterans cope with
combat-induced trauma, by alleviating
stress and by providing opportunities
to bond with others.
BUILDING CAMARADERIE
Gaming often encourages collaboration
and can be an important way to socialize
and make friends with fellow service
members. USO locations are outfitted
with a variety of gaming equipment
and consoles designed specifically so
that groups of service members can play
together. This is significant, as studies
show that playing video games on teams
and with others can improve teamwork
in daily life.
BREAKING BARRIERS
Gaming allows service members of
all ranks to step away from the chain
of command and be on equal footing
as they compete against and alongside
one another. And thanks to dedicated
spaces at USO centers around the
world, such as the 2,500-square-foot
facility gaming center on Eglin Air Force
Base in northwest Florida, service
members and their families can enjoy
state-of-the-art systems and games at
no cost.
ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY
In addition to local gaming events at
its centers, the USO hosts larger online
gaming competitions, which are
often livestreamed via Twitch. These
competitions, which are occasionally
open to the public and sometimes feature
high-profile professional gamers, serve
as a means for active military to engage
with members of the community,
bridging the civilian-military
divide.
" Gaming's ability to give service
members a break from the pressure and
responsibility of their daily missions,
while building community and
strengthening bonds, goes straight to
the heart of our mission, " says Callum
Fletcher, USO director of Global
Gaming Operations. " Although video
games are in fact games, for America's
military, they can be so much more. " 
July 2023 ● Cooperative Living ●
31
PHOTO COURTESY UNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living July 2023
