American Legion Gaming connected with active-duty Service Members, Veterans and military families during LA Fleet Week, using video games and an online community to bring people together.
At the event, American Legion Gaming invited active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members to stop by its tent, join its Discord server, and learn about a free one-year membership to The American Legion.
“American Legion Gaming is happy to hook you up with a free one-year membership to the American Legion, the largest Veterans organization in the country,” said BJ Lange, a member of American Legion Hollywood Post 43.
Steve Travali, incoming commander of American Legion Ronald Reagan-Palisades Post 283, said the goal was to help more Veterans connect through gaming.
“Right now we’re here at Fleet Week, and we’re trying to promote Legion Gaming to involve more vets, create camaraderie, and help them connect online in a digital space instead of just being by themselves,” Travali said.
He said gaming can help Veterans stay connected beyond traditional in-person events.
“We see that as a way to combat several different issues, from PTSD to depression, and just create general connectivity for Veterans out there in the community,” Travali said.
Travali said American Legion Gaming continues to grow as more members learn about the digital gaming community.
“I think Legion Gaming is a newer initiative of the American Legion in general,” Travali said. “It’s growing. It’s being adopted more and more every day, and we’re seeing more members come in to be a part of this digital gaming space.”
Jacob Hammersmith, senior team lead for partnerships and development with American Legion Gaming, said the event also introduced Service Members to the group’s Discord community.
“We have a QR code for Legion memberships, and then we have a QR code to join our Discord server,” Hammersmith said. “Our Discord server has thousands of active duty soldiers, military veterans, military spouses, sons, daughters, and more.”
Hammersmith said the server gives people a place to reconnect, even when they are no longer stationed together or living near one another.
“I personally have met people I served with in the infantry in the Army just sitting in a voice channel one day,” Hammersmith said. “I was like, ‘Oh, really? You know that person, too?’ We served together for three years and didn’t even know it.”
He said those moments show why the online space matters.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Hammersmith said. “We’re trying to get people communicating, reconnecting, and having fun.”
Jennifer Fligor, team lead for events and logistics with American Legion Gaming, said the group wants Veterans and Service Members to know they still have a community during and after military service.
“We are trying to reach out to Veterans to let them know that the community is there for them even after their service and even during their service,” Fligor said.
She said the loss of military camaraderie after service can be difficult, but it does not have to be permanent.
“We want them to know that there’s a place for them to be and that they have people there no matter what,” Fligor said. “We can game together, sit together, and show that the sense of community and camaraderie we lose after we get out is never truly gone. You just have to find it, and we’re here.”
Fligor said American Legion Gaming’s Discord and online streams give people a place to talk, play, and spend time with others who understand military life.
“We have a Discord you can join,” Fligor said. “You can talk to somebody if you need to. You can sit with somebody.”
Jeff Sterling, incoming commander of American Legion Post 1337, said American Legion Gaming came to LA Fleet Week to give Service Members a place to relax while the USS Essex was in port.
“So the USS Essex is pulled into port, and the Navy and Marine Corps get to come out and have a little bit of fun in town,” Sterling said. “American Legion Gaming came out so we can give them a little entertainment, a little relief on their shore duty, and let them hang out.”
The setup included three PlayStations, a two-on-two tournament, and an IndyCar racing simulator with a full driving seat.
“We brought three PlayStations,” Sterling said. “We’ve got a tournament going on where it’s two-on-two competition through a tournament bracket.”
Ryan Okita with the USO said American Legion Gaming helped add to the Fleet Week experience for Service Members coming off the ship.
“Our main mission here is just to make sure all of our Service Members coming off the ship are having a great time over here in Los Angeles,” Okita said. “Having the opportunity to play games out here has really enhanced what we’re doing out here.”
The outreach also introduced more Service Members to The American Legion.
“A lot of our Service Members who weren’t aware of the American Legion are now becoming aware of the American Legion,” Sterling said.
At the time of the interview, Sterling said the effort had helped bring in about 25 new members. By the end of LA Fleet Week, American Legion Gaming had signed up 163 new members.
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