(Photo: American Legion Post 283)

UPDATE: American Legion Gaming is planning to attend Fleet Weeks in San Francisco and San Diego. www.Veterans.gg for updates.

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During L.A. Fleet Week in San Pedro, American Legion Post 283 seized the opportunity to establish a presence alongside the USS Carl Vinson, with a large booth and gaming stations.

The tent featured 14 gaming stations, offering a shared space for participants to connect and bond through their shared interest in gaming. Among the games featured were popular titles like Street Fighter 6, Call of Duty Warzone, Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Brothers, appealing to a diverse audience of gamers.

The initiative aligns with the Legion’s mission to support Veterans in need, with gaming serving as a tool for outreach and intervention. Navy Veteran Andre Andrews and member of American Legion Post 283 led the Department of California’s effort to integrate gaming into Legion events.

“So what American Legion Gaming is going to be doing is bringing Service Members and Veterans together and it’s going to help the American Legion grow,” said Andrews.

This event, coinciding with the first visit of the carrier to San Pedro in a decade, presented a chance for the Legion to connect its members with active-duty sailors. Post 283 Commander Jim Cragg, a Veteran with 30 years of service, expressed enthusiasm for the gaming initiative as a means of connecting with potential Legionnaires and reaching a broader audience.

“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for a Legion Post. We have an aircraft carrier behind us back there with 3,000 active sailors,” said Cragg. “This is the opportunity for us to connect our Legion members, our Veterans with the active, the people who are becoming potential Legionnaires joining our Veteran community.”

“We’re here to offer Service Members a video game community backed by a 105-year-old Goliath in the Veteran advocacy space,” said Jared Morgan, adjutant of Palisades Post 283 and co-organizer of American Legion Gaming’s LA Fleet Week initiative. “As they transition from active duty to civilian life, we’ll be here for them and we’ll have already built rapport. They’ll have a community they feel comfortable in and a network to help support them in their personal and professional lives moving forward.”

Jared Morgan, adjutant of Palisades Post 283 and co-organizer of American Legion Gaming’s LA Fleet Week initiative, with active-duty sailors (Photo: American Legion Post 283)

For individuals like Air Force retiree Douglas Jones, gaming has been a lifeline in coping with PTSD and building connections with like-minded individuals. Jones testified to gaming’s transformative power, stating, “Gaming saved my life.” 

The gaming initiative aligns with the Legion’s mission to “Be the One,” by offering gaming events, the Legion provides a platform for Veterans to connect, heal, and find purpose beyond their military service. This not only strengthens the Veteran community but also improves national defense by encouraging military enlistment and showcasing the Legion as a progressive, tech-savvy organization.

Navy Chief Douglas Armstrong, representing the Goats & Glory esports team sees the collaboration between the Legion and esports as a pioneering step in engaging with today’s youth.

“We look forward to working with the American Legion. I think the American Legion engaging in esports is phenomenal, and I believe it is the future,” said Armstrong. “You know, we are in an era right now where today’s youth is doing their schooling and then they’re going home and they’re playing video games. And how do we connect likeminded individuals? While we game together.”

(Photo: American Legion Post 283)

This event was one of four major events that American Legion Post 283 made its presence known this past week, showcasing its commitment to innovation and connection within the military community. Alongside a 10×20′ video game booth in front of USS Carl Vinson and Memorial Day ceremonies attended by Fleet Week sailors, Legionnaires demonstrated their dedication to fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among Veterans and Service Members. Meanwhile, First Vice Commander Joe Ramirez laid a wreath at the Arlington National Cemetery to honor the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. 

Looking ahead, Post 283 plans to establish regular online tournaments every three months to sustain engagement and foster a sense of community among participants.

“The goal is not just recruitment but about community, connection and connectivity,” said Andrews.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.