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JBSA News
NEWS | June 30, 2020

Army's Family MWR to kick off 12-week esports tournament

By Brittany Nelson U.S. Army Installation Management Command Public Affairs

Complexity gaming, one of North America’s most elite esports organizations, and the U.S. Army’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, part of the Installation Management Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, are joining forces to conduct a worldwide 12-week online esports tournament starting July 4th.

The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program will be promoting participation in the tournaments at the garrisons.

"We understand the challenges with social distancing and the closure of certain facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Department of the Army's BOSS Representative, Staff Sgt. Adrian Mooney. "We wanted to bring a form of entertainment that would be easily accessible to Soldiers. It is a form of entertainment that most Soldiers already have the resources for in the comfort of their barracks or homes."

There will be multiple game titles for Soldiers to compete in at their garrisons throughout the 12 weeks. The first game will be Madden NFL 20. Signups for the tournaments will open every Wednesday, three days before the Saturday they are held.
 

Complexity is organizing the tournaments, which are sponsored by the Army National Guard.

“We’re proud of our continued work with the Army and the Army National Guard,” said Complexity Gaming’s founder and CEO, Jason Lake. “During these unprecedented times, this program will allow Soldiers to stay connected through competition and continue to build comradery.”

Every week, the winner of each time zone will receive a gaming package that includes an Acer Nitro backpack and an Acer Predator gaming mouse courtesy of Acer and the Exchange.

The top three players will win a trip to Complexity’s headquarters, the GameStop Performance Center, in Frisco, Texas, to experience a day in the life of a professional gamer.

“Esports can challenge a Soldier cognitively as well as physically,” Mooney said. “It provides a constructive platform for Soldiers to release stress, connect socially, and engage in tactics. The cognitive and constructive aspect also mirrors what some of our Soldiers have as resources for training in their particular military occupational specialty.”

The tournament is open to Army service members including the Army National Guard. Soldiers can sign up at www.armymwr.com/esports.