Written by Sgt. Richard Daniels Jr.
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
Fort Campbell, KY – With the objective before them and the enemy coming from all directions, they rush to the nearest firing position – killing three hostiles along the way and losing a teammate to an airstrike.
Video games such as this have become the modern day battlefield for many soldiers seeking solace from life in the military here in the Fort Campbell community.
“[Shooting games] was something that I enjoyed when I was younger, and I was pretty good at it when I first started playing,” said Spc. Sean Russell, a M240 machine gunner with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, who has been playing video games since he was four. “Down the road, I figured I wanted to join the Army. I thought it was pretty cool.”
Thanks to video games Russell also noticed a sudden change in his shooting habits, one that neither benefits nor hinders him.
“I’ve noticed that I shoot with my middle finger now and in video games I shoot with my middle fingers,” said Russell. “I don’t know if it’s really increased my accuracy but it’s more comfortable shooting with my middle finger than most people with their pointer finger.”
Each shooter offers a unique environment and gameplay, adding a new depth of excitement for its players. For Russell, that’s exactly what he is looking for.
“What I think about first-person shooters, it’s always a challenge and you can build teamwork and other such things,” said Russell. “It kind of helps out towards the job, like I use to do competitive type stuff. On there I was a team leader type of person and I’d lead [people]. So that kind of helps out my leading ability in the infantry.
For Spc. Jeremy Sweeting, an assistant gunner with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, it was a different story.
“It’s something that I can play for a while,” he said. “It doesn’t get old to me. It’s nice not playing against yourself; you get to play against other people.”
Though already an excellent player, Sweeting learned he was able to incorporate other skills into his gaming experience.
“Like, when you’re a sniper, instead of just going where ever, actually go and set up with cover,” said Sweeting.
All and all, playing these games has accomplished its goal for both soldiers. Whether it is from puzzle games to role-playing games to first-person shooters. Ultimately, depending on one’s taste, they can allow a soldier to retreat from the hustle and bustle of military life and other stressors.
“It calms me down,” said Russell. “It’s really something to get away in the barracks because I don’t have a car. It’s something to do in my off time that I really enjoy.”
