Xbox expands support for veterans, military members and their families

Last year marked the beginning of an unforgettable journey as we joined forces with the United Service Organizations (USO) to bring the joy of gaming directly to you, even as your service takes you around the world. We are honored to provide a digital bridge to your families and friends, ensuring that distance does not affect the bonds that matter most.

This year, we’re proud to deepen our commitment as the USO’s premier gaming partner, ensuring that Xbox gaming is an integral part wherever the USO gaming program reaches. We understand that for many of you, being away from loved ones is the greatest challenge of military life. We’re inspired by all the ways we’ve learned from you about how video games can positively impact your life and create a tangible connection with your loved ones and the broader military community.

We recognize that deployments and remote assignments can be challenging and being away from friends and family can feel profound. Video games are more than just entertainment – they are a means of companionship, a temporary escape from the rigors of duty, and a tool for staying busy with life at home. With Play Xbox anywhereYou can continue your gaming adventures seamlessly across Xbox console and Windows 10/11 PC, ensuring you stay connected with your loved ones, whether near or far. You can stay connected with your loved ones, whether near or far.

Xbox is excited to expand our gaming offerings, host more community events, and introduce new initiatives designed to enhance your gaming experiences and strengthen connections with your loved ones. Read on to discover the Call of Duty Endowment update, new job training for military spouses, and other ways we connect with the military community:

Last year, We announced our partnership with the USO to expand its mission execution capabilities by providing greater access to services such as Xbox Game Pass and gaming devices, as well as through event partnerships and program collaboration. This year, we’ve expanded our partnership as the USO’s premier gaming partner, offering Xbox gaming wherever the USO gaming program takes place. With 50% of military personnel With time away from family being the biggest issue in military life, it’s encouraging to see the real, positive impact gaming can have on the lives of service members by keeping them connected to their loved ones and the broader military community.

For many military members, deploying overseas or stationed at remote bases can be an isolating experience. Separation from friends and family can leave them feeling disconnected from their civilian lives. That’s why video games can be a lifeline and provide a way to stay connected, have fun and relax after a stressful day. For example, last year Xbox donated 500 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes to the USO for its gaming centers, allowing service members in many regions of the world to play hundreds of games on their preferred platform and access them across multiple devices.

Last year, USO and Xbox also collaborated on USOCON, an event at Fort Knox where families and cadets could escape the stressful challenges of their everyday lives and relax at their own mini gaming convention. During USOCON, the partnership with Xbox was a standout feature, not only providing fantastic prizes but also creating the “FOB Xbox Area.” This unique space was designed to resemble a forward operating base and provides participants with a fun, free gaming environment filled with Xbox consoles. An immersive setup allowed soldiers and their families to play a variety of games, strengthening the sense of community during the event and demonstrating Xbox’s commitment to supporting our troops through interactive and engaging gaming experiences.

In September 2023, Xbox partnered with the USO to provide a pop-up gaming activation on an aircraft carrier during a family day out. This activation provided a unique opportunity to bring gaming to the seven seas, where military members and their families could sit back, relax and have fun along the way. This collaboration demonstrates the value of the partnership between Xbox and the USO not only for our nation’s military members, but also for their families and loved ones.

In addition to our well-received virtual Xbox Series in partnership with USO in 2023, we hosted a partner session at Game Developers Conference in March 2024, “Operation Innovation: How Xbox Employs Military Talents in Gaming,” featuring experts from Xbox and USO who shared their insights on how Xbox and USO approach supporting U.S. veterans and active-duty military in career development . More than 70 GDC guests attended the session, including both active and retired military personnel from most U.S. Armed Forces.

The USO Transition Program extends the USO experience to active duty, Reserve, National Guard and military spouses by providing professional development services throughout the period of military service and in preparation for life after military service. Your military role does not determine what you do when you transition out of military service or capture how the skills developed in that role translate to other industries.

Xbox has partnered with the USO Transition Program to host a series of panels highlighting various career paths in the video game industry. More than 340 participants attended sessions in 219 locations around the world to learn about the daily work and career paths of panelists with careers in video game development, production and communications.

Panelists shared key points on their path to rewarding careers in the gaming industry and included military veterans who came to Xbox through Xbox Microsoft Software and Systems Academy

(MSSA), Microsoft’s 17-week training program that empowers veterans and military service members to find meaningful careers in tech. U.S. military members can apply through SkillBridge or as a veteran for a spot in Microsoft’s rigorous, fully-funded program, designed to develop technical and career-building skills to help military professionals enter IT.

After working with over 3,700 transitioning and ex-military members for ten years, we’ve learned, let’s say, a thing or two about the tremendous skills developed by many in military service, by service members of all MOSs – and by military families, too . Juggling the logistics of the military lifestyle, such as: E.g., family responsibilities across multiple deployments is a tremendous skill that is difficult to capture on a resume. In April Microsoft Military Affairs announced the pilot cohort of MSSA – Military Spouse and a new Technical Program Management (TPM) learning path designed to do just that! This free 17-week program uses live virtual instruction to equip military spouses with the technical skills they need to access remote, mobile employment as a TPM. Applications will be accepted May 13-27 learn more about this exciting opportunity for military spouses and others Success stories.

Make a legendary difference for US and British military veterans by purchasing the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE) Knight Recon: Tracer Pack for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III And Call of Duty: Warzone. The full purchase price of this special item, less VAT/VAT, will be donated to the Call of Duty Endowment, which provides grants to registered charities that place unemployed and underemployed veterans in quality employment in the UK and US. By purchasing this package, you are directly contributing to the foundation’s mission. Get it now from the Xbox Store.

A reminder that Rewards Members can earn and donate Rewards Points to the USO and Call of Duty Endowment on certain marketplaces.

Xbox players can earn reward points in a variety of ways, such as: B. by playing games, completing Game Pass quests, and purchasing games and other eligible items from the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning today and redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points in the Rewards Hub or on the Microsoft Rewards redemption page.