Article: KSI Honors Veterans! By Opie
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Did you know that all United States Armed Forces branches have a professional esports team? As Veteran’s Day is upon us we take a moment to remember the sacrifices the brave men and women take and how gaming and our beloved community help them cope with those sacrifices. In a world where mental health struggles often go unspoken, one gaming community is changing the narrative. A passionate group of gamers, both veterans and civilians, have come together to create a supportive and inclusive space where veterans can connect, heal, and find solace through the games they love. The initiative, led by the IGY6 department in KSI, has become a beacon of hope for veterans dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. By combining the power of gaming with a shared commitment to supporting mental health, KSI aims to not only provide entertainment but also foster a sense of camaraderie and mutual support. As many of you may know being a servicemember and a gamer, like we all are, have many similarities. They both require on-point teamwork and communication between teammates to get the objective done efficiently and with minimal casualties. As well as Skill Development and Training, While service members learn first aid training and how to use weapons of war efficiently, gamers train to master the mechanics of the game like Siege shooting. We’ve talked to a lot of amazing members here in KSI who have put their lives on the line, You will get an insight into a few people like KSI Anarchy from Savages in Infinite Anarchy, DirtyHeathen the director of Clan ops, and myself KSI Opie Raz. We asked them “How has gaming helped you cope with the stresses of Military life?” Anarchy replied to this by saying “It’s a good way to release and escape the violence of life in the military”. As modern-day warriors we all see so much unnecessary violence, and a lot of times it pushes us to drink or use drugs. So having a safe and supportive community like KSI Global is very dear and helpful to us no matter how long or short our time was serving. Our follow-up question was, “How has KSI impacted you in relation to your service history?” KSI the Wardon said “It has become another brotherhood like my unit and the military as a whole was to me, or as close as it could be”
We also asked some fantastic leaders in our community about how KSI helps and supports our veterans, such as Uppish 7, Heroism 7, and DirtyHeathen. We started by wanting to know what KSI does to support veterans and their unique challenges. Hero 7 said, “We have a Veteran only channel as well as an IGY6 gaming team which is only veterans.” Uppish 7 added, “We have an Open-door policy as well as a channel with community resources for people in crisis and hotline numbers for them to call.” DirtyHeathen said “I understand their crazy schedules due to their military commitments due to being a Veteran myself” in response to How do you address their unique need while still actively serving? In the next paragraph we have a story from a veteran so please read it if you are interested in a firsthand account of what our fellow gamers have faced while in their selfless service.
In February of 2015, I was deployed with the 2nd Brigade combat team, 10th Mountain Division. In April of the same year, we were taking part in a convoy. At a moment’s notice, the vehicle in front of me was on its side, they ran over a pressure plate IED and came under fire from small arms and RPGs. I rushed to the vehicle pulling the only survivor out of the five man crew, while getting injured myself. Staff Sergeant James Scott did survive but once we returned to the States, he suffered from PTSD and Alcoholism. On May 10th, 2021 after another deployment, he ended up taking his own life despite the best efforts of myself and other friends to help him.” Opie_Raz said.
In conclusion, our clan’s unique and cherished members face challenges unbeknownst to us. Please let accept them into our community, like our leadership has graciously.
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Written by: Opie Raz
Publish Date: 11/14/2024 5:29 PM
Featured People: KSI the Wardon, KSI Uppish 7, KSI Heroiism 7, KSI Viking 7
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