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COMBAT TESTED GAMING

A free veteran gaming community built to fight isolation, build connection, and open doors to support.

Combat Tested Gaming logo featuring a dog tag design and bold text, symbolizing strength and resilience in gaming.

A FREE COMMUNITY WHERE VETERANS CONNECT.

Combat Tested Gaming (CTG) started in 2023 with a single mission: build an unbreakable community among veterans through gaming. Run by the VFW and always free, it now operates as a daily-active hub for veterans, service members, and their families with competitive leagues, live streaming, and veteran resources built in. Every streamer, podcaster, and moderator on the CTG team is a veteran.

ONE DISCORD, DOZENS OF WAYS IN.

Everything happens in one daily-active Discord:

  • Dozens of game channels: Rocket League, Battlefield, World of Warcraft, racing sims, tabletop, and more
  • Veteran-only voice channels for peer-to-peer connection
  • An embedded VFW Accredited Service Officer for real-time VA benefits help
  • Weekly league competitions throughout the season
  • Live matches on the VFW Twitch channel, archived on YouTube
  • The “Waking Up With Combat Tested Gaming” podcast
A gamer wearing a headset focuses intently on a vibrant Rocket League match displayed on a large screen.

MEETING VETERANS WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE.

Three billion people will play video games worldwide this year, and many veterans already game every day. CTG meets them there, combating isolation and building real peer connections. Those connections open low-pressure pathways to benefit help and mental wellness resources, on each member’s own terms.

FIVE SEASONS, 100+ EPISODES, FREE TO JOIN.

Now in its fifth season of official league play, with 100+ episodes of the “Waking Up With Combat Tested Gaming” podcast and a daily-active community of members across the country. Always free to join, open to every branch, including active duty, Guard, reservists, and veterans.

A DIGITAL ENTRY POINT BUILT FOR BRAND SUPPORTERS

For technology, gaming, hardware, and digital-native consumer brands, CTG is the Foundation’s premier digital entry point. Supporters can activate through stream sponsorships, league naming rights, tournament programs, and multi-year engagements. Engagement ranges from entry-level programs to Premier-tier programs.

VFW Foundation
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