Do video games make better soldiers?



It is often argued that games based on war can have an adverse effect on real people, but on the other hand, it is divisible that ``games are just games,'' and games cultivate thinking and judgment. It is sometimes argued that games can be an advantage. The Washington Post introduces the relationship between games and the military, which is shaping up as a culture even in the military.

Inside the Pentagon's long debate: Do gamers make good soldiers? - The Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/10/military-gaming/

On May 29, 2022, an event was held in which e-sports teams from the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard competed in the popular FPS `` Halo Infinite ''. The game was streamed on Twitch, and over 500,000 people watched the seven-hour battle.

For many years, gaming was viewed by the military as 'just one of their personal hobbies', but in recent years, games have been strategically treated as a means to increase, maintain, and increase military strength. I'm here. Each division of the military has its own esports team, the military is increasingly sponsoring gaming events, and it has created its own official Discord channel to encourage military and civilian It is said that an environment where you can talk about 'Halo' etc. is built.



The relationship between military and gaming has a long history. In the early 2000s, the Department of Defense poured a lot of money into creating an FPS called 'America's Army,' where people could pretend to be soldiers and perform missions, and get a glimpse into other aspects of military life. The game became a hit and played by millions. A survey conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2008

found that ``about 30% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 have become more favorable to the military because of this game.''

However, as the quality of other military shooters such as 'Call of Duty' and 'Medal of Honor' has improved significantly, 'America's Army' has declined in popularity. With the rise of online games, military officials realized that they needed a fresher approach, so they began interacting with many audiences, such as using Twitch, and started promoting military life, The Washington Post says.



The military's hopes for games are bright, and the Naval Research Bureau has announced the research results that ``playing FPS may actually produce excellent combatants.'' There is a possibility that the game can be used effectively. shown. In addition, a survey of 35,000 Air Force soldiers showed that ``more than 86% of those aged 18 to 34 are gamers,'' and is an Air Force officer and member of the gaming team `` Air Force Gaming ''. Founder, Major Oliver Parsons, said, ``By making the game approach more formal, the unit will benefit.''

However, some leaders are skeptical of the game, claiming it weakens recruits and causes them to drop out of basic training. 'Video games are the reason why young recruits are not fit for the military,' said Army Major John Marc Thibodeau, director of medical preparations at Fort Leonard Wood. A soldier's skeleton is not strengthened by pre-enlistment activities.' Additionally, gaming experts and lawmakers have lashed out at the military for using gaming channels and influencers to discreetly recruit young people into the military.

There are also criticisms from outside the military about the military's expansion of propaganda activities tied to games. Consultant Rod Breslau is also one of the people who is worried about the military's involvement in esports and games, and has tracked the formation of military and war images on Twitch. In response to this, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also submitted a bill to ban recruitment to the military using Twitch in 2020, but the bill has been rejected.

``War is not a game,'' Cortez tweeted, ``Twitch is a popular distribution platform for much younger generations than the conscription rules apply'' and ``Don't confuse military service with FPS games.''




Breslau warns that the US government is using game sponsorships, distribution and all other tools for military recruitment purposes, ``we need to be aware that we are already in the final stages.''

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