The Military is a Live-Action Video Game

I’m not much of a video gamer under any circumstance. But after watching my family enjoy themselves across a variety of dynamic and first-person shooter games, I have concluded that the military is pretty much a live-action version of those games. The military requires its members to continually level up, collect skills, and complete a wide variety of challenges to ultimately get to the same end result.

Every service member starts out at level one — basic training (either enlisted or officer equivalent). That’s where you get your initial gear, learn the controls, and figure out how the system works. You’re thrown into an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by other new players trying to make sense of the same rules, and your main objective is simple: survive, adapt, and pass the mission. From there, every new qualification, school, or deployment is another level with tougher missions, higher stakes, and more rewards. I distinctly remember the first days of basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood. It was a loud mess. Drill Sergeants imposed their role of “teacher” upon us with boisterous proclamations that we weren’t worthy to be called soldiers (a little reverse psychology never hurt anyone). Once the rules of the game (aka basic training) were understood, the players (soldiers) learned to work together toward the daily common goal of unity, teamwork, and trust. Instead of every man or woman for themselves, the platoon focused on “we.” Once we graduated, we went our separate ways, just like in a dynamic video game. No path was the same.

At advanced individual training, each member further collected more skills which would continually serve as the foundation for the next building block and the next one. It’s difficult to see the progress bar at the time, but it’s there. The bar moves with every decision we make and it never stops. From an early professional age, military members are given a path to promote to the next level, but rarely does the path manifest itself in a clear and decisive way. Instead, you’re dropped into a massive open world with countless side quests — from earning new certifications to navigating promotion boards and figuring out the next assignment. Some players get mentors who guide them through the system; others are left to figure it out through trial and error. The difference between coasting through levels and truly mastering the game often comes down to strategy, awareness, and deliberate effort.

Along the way of my own career, I have tried to maintain peeked senses, always trying to listen and learn from those who volunteered for our nation before me, as well as keep an open mind to new opportunities. One such opportunity that fell before me was when I was asked to be our base’s air show director. Like any sane person, my actual words were, “Hell, no.” But after some coaxing, I accepted the challenge for what it was - another quest to gain skills, another adventure to explore, and another pursuit to master. This challenge, like many others, was not something I volunteered for, but I had to face it. I’m grateful not only for the relationships, perspective, and growth I attained through the, sometimes, grueling process, but that I got to do it my way.

The beauty of this real-world game (military) is that you have the power to build your own playbook. You can choose which skills to level up, what missions to take on, and how you want your service story to unfold. Whether your goal is to make it to the top ranks, transition successfully to civilian life, or simply become the best version of yourself while serving, the same principles apply: play smart, not just hard. Learn the systems, understand your resources, and position yourself to win — on your own terms.

And that’s where most service members miss out. They grind endlessly, assuming effort alone equals progress, when in reality, strategy is the real cheat code. If you can learn how to navigate your career like a seasoned gamer — with purpose, planning, and awareness — you’ll not only level up faster but enjoy the process along the way.