I am a former member of the United States Coast Guard and an Xbox software expert. My passion is using video games to bridge the globe. I’ve witnessed a remarkable technological revolution in my lifetime that today enables video games to completely alter how we interact with one another and keep relationships strong. I am aware that using technology to keep in touch with loved ones is crucial for the welfare of service members and their families based on my own defense experience, my sister’s continued support, and my upbringing in a military community.

When I was younger, I enjoyed taking apart images to look at their parts before putting them back together in an effort to make them better. After my relatives tried to hide the Nintendo console from me, my mother once found me trying to connect it to our underground TV while holding a screwdriver. As a result, it was only natural for me to join the United States Coast Guard as an electrical engineer. There, I created innovations to incorporate various technologies, such as radars, television, radio, and even motors, into computers. During my time in service, I witnessed the switch from flexible gear to fully integrated technologies with real-time communication capabilities, which enabled us to locate search and rescue operations effectively and solve problems more quickly.

From cartridge-based platformers to interactive, open-world RPGs and strategy games with online and talk capabilities, I also saw the revolution in video game technology. When we did had time for use while we were busy serving in the Coast Guard, we played hard. One of my lovely weekends was when we held a gambling festival and used LAN( Local Area Network ) and Xbox to connect buildings. I could be out of communication with the property and my family for several days at a time when I was stationed on an outboard blade( a ship ). But whether it was building settlements in Fallout 4 or competing for the best rating in Zuma, my wife and I frequently used video games to re-connect and sing after trying times of isolation. She made me laugh, which helped me feel at ease and integrate back into my life.

I was deployed globally for a while. My time there was challenging, and I developed complicated post-traumatic stress disorder. However, playing video games like Halo and Call of Duty gave me the freedom and security to approach my fact. Playing video games made it easier for me to return to the human world after I finished my system. In a way, my brain felt damaged, but when I learned that I could play the game on the hardest mode and win it, I also realized I was now able to analyze problems and effectively solve them, and I felt confident that my hobby, which I had enjoyed since I wasn’t quite young, could still be engaged in.

Here are some ways you can support military families and their communities in honor of them.

Xbox Supports Defense Families Through USO Partnership

It &# 8217 makes it difficult for civilians to fully comprehend the sacrifice and dedication made by service members and their families. sacrifices like the ability to hug one’s associate after a long time. after a lengthy week, being able to socialize with their closest friends. Their initial strikeout in minor league was missed by their children. At dusk, the folk pet was strolling through the neighborhood. But despite all of these commitments and sacrifices, a lot of things are still doing their part to keep them in touch with their loved ones, their homes, and their place. letters from loved ones, colleagues, and life. fun reports and guides. telephone calling game activities. & nbsp,

Gaming is different for everyone, and # 8220 is something that makes each player unique and unites us. &# 8221, For some people, relaxation is a means of socialization. It &# 8217 is a tool for establishing relationships with loved ones and escaping reality. For some, it serves as a means of decompressing, establishing relationships with their companion program members, or checking in with relatives back home.

Since 1941, The USO has provided services to those who help us. Throughout their whole military careers, the company works hard to support and strengthen system members and their families. Service users can seek shelter in USO Centers, physical locations with welcoming amenities like Wi-Fi, gaming apparatus, pool tables, snacks and drinks, and programs created to integrate service members with their loved ones back home, all over the world. Programs like USO2GO and Entertainment assist the organization in reaching service members in difficult situations by offering connectivity that boosts morale in areas where it &# 8217 is most needed. Through initiatives like the USO Reading Program and defense families with Coffee Connections, defense family software supports both defense children. & nbsp,

The USO continues to transform how it accomplishes its goals, and in 2019 it introduced its Gaming Program as an additional means of offering assistance. The USO strives to develop a detailed gambling system that captures some of everything for everyone after realizing the value of gaming. Service customers have the opportunity to compete for all-inclusive travel to the Super Bowl at competitions like the Salute to Service Showdown. Military kids have the chance to compete against their peers in academic competition thanks to the Department of Defense Education Activity ( DoDEA ) Esports program. Gaming Coffee Connections gives military communities the chance to connect by allowing them to play games with other people. Gamers can play with family, friends, or take a break from it all and dive right into the most recent single player story at USO Centers thanks to their entertainment equipment.

Video games are so much more than just a show, game system, and the ability to play for hours on end. Through the USO, they are able to give service members a short break from the stress of their duty to this country. Xbox and USO have been working closely together to empty gaming centers all over the world for the past year. Xbox is dedicated to assisting USO in completing their journey, whether that means supporting the introduction at a cutting-edge hospital at Eglin AFB or establishing 750 km northwest of the Arctic Circle at Pituffik Space Base. Xbox is announcing the sponsorship of two Rapid Response Gaming Kits to be used where they are most needed in order to honor the link that gaming can offer. You can read more about USO’s entertainment program, which includes Rapid Response Kits, around.

Impact and Gaming with Microsoft Rewards

The USO has been added to Microsoft Rewards on system in the following markets: AU, BE, CA, DE, ES, and FR, as well as US. This is done to honor the connection made possible by play. Xbox users can download the Microsoft Rewards app and sign up to begin earning points for the same activities they undoubtedly engage in, such as playing on their Xbox, shopping for items in the store, conducting searches on Bing, and solving everyday puzzles. It’s enjoyable and simple to earn points through daily new offers and redeem them for warm prizes like games, gift cards, sweepstakes entries, or donations to their preferred organizations, such as USO and others. Join us today, donate through Xbox, and & nbsp. & nbsp,

To learn how to use Microsoft Rewards to support USO, press the strong boy here:

Play Up, Near or Even

Activities are a powerful way to bring people together. You can interact with someone by playing a game wherever you are in the world. Sharing an interactive adventure with a loved one strengthens our bonds in many special ways, including through shared objectives, personal narrative decision-making, and competitive fun. These relationships not only make families feel more connected, but they can also significantly improve mood and mental health, particularly when someone is lonely or homesick after being stationed far away for an extended period of time. & nbsp,

Families can choose from a wide range of online games thanks to Xbox Game Pass, including brand-new games that are constantly being added. We are showcasing a selection of activities that are fantastic to hold together for the month of May. Included in the collection & nbsp are the following games that are accessible through both Xbox Game Pass and PC Games:

Minecraft Legends (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Experience an epic legend from the Minecraft universe in this new action-strategy game with multiple ways to play online with friends and family. Team up and strategize together to overpower groups of fierce piglins in cooperative mode or challenge your loved ones to a Player-vs-Player match for two teams of up to four players each.

Human Fall Flat(Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Up to eight players can team up for silly, lighthearted challenges in this puzzle platformer that is fun for all ages. With over 20 levels of floating dreamscapes to navigate, get ready to make memories full of laughter as you flop around together to solve physics-based puzzles in this playful adventure.

Madden NFL 23(Available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) – Lots of people connect over a shared love of sports. Madden NFL 23 lets people take their love of football to the next level by being a part of their favorite teams. The best part is that you can go head-to-head with friends and family online to prove which team is better, play on the same team to try and win together, or create your own franchise with 31 other players.

The Elder Scrolls Online(Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Begin your fantasy journey with friends, play together with family, or chart your own path in the ever-expanding world of Elder Scrolls. Enjoy epic story quests, take on dangerous enemies, and create your own style of play in a role-playing adventure that is even better when experienced with a full party of explorers.

Grounded (Available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass) – Shrunken to the size of an ant, you must explore the mysterious backyard, build a base, and defend it against roaming creatures. But you don’t have to do it alone in this cooperative survival-adventure. Share the backyard with up to three friends or family members, with the option to come and go as you please and play together when you can.

Xbox and USO: Gaming Career Kickstart

Larry Hryb, Xbox’s Major Nelson, Jenn Panattoni, Head of Social Impact, Tech Advisor Chris Lamb, Senior Producer iAsia Brown, and Senior Sustainability Specialist Gina Kirby recently debuted our online series,” USO Career Kickstarts with Xbox ,” with their session” Explore Communication Careers in the Game Industry ,” on Thursday, May 4. Xbox is scheduled to host two more sessions for this special virtual series, each lasting an hour and covering a variety of game career roles in Game Production and Game Engineering, with support from the & nbsp, Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, and other organizations. Join us for our meetings in July and September.

MSSA, or Microsoft Software and Systems Academy

Participants can focus on NEW, Server and Cloud Administration ( SCA ), or Cloud Application Development ( CAD )! beginning in May 2023, Cybersecurity Operations ( CSO ).

A 17-week professional training program called MSSA prepares ex and transitioning service members for entry-level positions in high-demand IT fields. Individuals who complete the MSSA have access to Microsoft certifications and direct employment opportunities with the company or one of its 1, 000 + training partners.

In order to prepare participants for a significant tech career in any industry, our tested curricula include life digital instruction, hands-on labs tackling real-world scenarios, and industry-recognized certifications.

Additionally, MSSA offers a comprehensive professional development program that includes position search strategies, resume writing and interviewing techniques, expert skills-building, and # 8211.

We will continue to work with our graduates until they land a job because our MSSA program is intended to help them land jobs rather than place them on the bench. # 8211, once an MSSSA grad, always an MD.

View Microsoft Military Affairs for more details and new cohorts.

Related:
# 8211, Here’s How Relic Made It Possible, and Company of Heroes 3 is Coming to Xbox
Team Xbox will help you uplift LGBTQIA + communities and creators while celebrating pride.
Xbox Honors the Gaming and Disability Community on Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Xbox Official news (news.xbox.com)