Content Warning: Mentions of suicide.
Depending on who you ask, a “bunker” may bring back memories of dirt, sand, artillery fire and trauma, but there’s a new kind of bunker nestled in Henrico Country that’s filled with calming lights, game controllers and….Fortnite?
You may be scratching your head as to why Tech for Troops, a multi-faceted support organization for veterans, has focused its energy on gaming, but it turns out video games are one piece of a larger mental health puzzle for our service men and women.
The Department of Veteran Affairs released its annual suicide prevention annual report earlier this month, and while overall suicides are decreasing, the report notes rates are elevated for those between the ages of 18 and 34. The average number of veteran suicides per day fell from 17.6 in 2022 to 17.5 in 2023 (the most recent data available), but the numbers are concerning. It’s these very data points that fuel Tech for Troops and its GAME CORPS team.
Tech for Troops’ GAME CORPS
With the mission of “Aiming for ZERO” – zero veteran suicides – GAME CORPS is an initiative that leans into research that online gaming creates meaningful connection, community and distractions for veterans. While it may feel counterintuitive to put video games in the hands of veterans who may have PTSD or traumatic brain injuries (TBI), there is a sense of world-building, escapism – and most important – safety and control over a digital environment that can be empowering and healing.
“GAME CORPS is a reaction to the life I was living and my individual recovery,” said Jason Parker, GameMaster and suicide survivor. “I know that there is no unique story that a vet can tell anymore. It’s so common to see other vets in the same shoes, and one of the most common reactions to negative emotion and trauma is isolation. We shut down and corner ourselves off to people who try and break through that shell.”
That’s where GAME CORPS comes in.
GAME CORPS provides a virtual gaming community through its Twitch page, but it also works with organizations and healthcare partners to build physical Gaming Bunker spaces to remove the invisible walls veterans build around themselves and replace them with an interactive community. Parker emphasizes the need to meet veterans where they are and build a connection – a lifeline – to each other.
For veterans who are struggling with and seeking treatment for post-service issues like PTSD and TBI, uncomfortable settings are commonplace. They may be working through their traumas on a regular basis, and they may experience triggering events, which can lead to judgements, confusion, misconceptions and hard conversations. Throw a game controller in their hands, and shame gets replaced with something more positive.
“We remove the stigma,” said Parker. “You’re not coming into the doctor’s office. You are joining either a virtual stream or a physical bunker, and it’s something we hope you want to do. We’re not a replacement to therapy and psych, but we run parallel to those. It’s an extension of the continuum of care.”
Game Therapy Bunker at Popular Springs
One of GAME CORPS’ newest projects is its Game Therapy Bunker in Poplar Springs, an inpatient, outpatient and military treatment center in Petersburg, Va. This bunker provides a similar gaming experience that other GAME CORPS bunkers do, however, in the clinical setting, it provides a safe place for veterans to game – not just by themselves, but with their families.
“When you’re in treatment and your children and partner come in – before the advent of this, it’s really hard to see the person in the facility as anything other than a victim or a patient,” Parker said. “You’re walking around in socks. You’re not wearing a belt. But, a universal experience is when you drop a control in a vet’s hand, and in their child’s hand, and they’re not a patient: they’re mom, they’re dad, they’re a friend.”
Tech for Troops’ Impact
Operating out of a bunker of its own, Tech for Troops does more than gaming. Tech for Troops does guaranteed data destruction of both physical and digital data, meaning it will physically destroy hard drives and digitally clean computers ensuring that the data that was on the technology is no longer there. Some of the leftover equipment businesses hand over can be resold, recycled or repurposed and given to a veteran in need. On the veteran-support side of its operations, Tech for Troops also focuses on workforce development, education and training to make sure veterans are equipped with the knowledge and equipment needed to be successful in civilian life.
Like most nonprofits, Tech for Troops relies on the community for donations and volunteerism, but Mark Casper, president and CEO, has one more ask of those interested in supporting the organization.
“We want your equipment,” Casper said. “Every nonprofit is going to say money, but work, wealth, wisdom and your old computers that need to be decommissioned. That helps keep our operations going.”
Tech for Troops is based in Richmond, but serves veterans across the United States. One of its game moderators lives in Seattle, and GAME CORPS bunkers have popped up all around the country.
If you are a veteran looking for an online community to join, consider engaging with GAME CORPS via Twitch. You can also support the effort by connecting your Amazon Prime membership with Twitch, which sends Tech for Troops a small donation at no cost to you. Learn more about Tech for Troops and GAME CORPS by visiting https://techfortroops.org/.
