OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- A new e-sports team has launched at Offutt Air Force Base.
Helmed by Senior Airman Micah Johnson, 55th Security Forces Squadron, the team is comprised of four people: SrA Ryan Ky, 55th Logistics Readiness Squadron, SrA Travis Erickson, 95th Wing, SrA Shanon Quintanilla, 55th LRS, and Johnson.
“I found out about it last year from a friend that was already participating,” said Johnson. “I did the qualifier and ended up playing for the Air Force team in San Antonio. This year, I decided to form a team here at Offutt.”
Johnson asked his commander, Lt. Col. Andrew Ferguson, 55th SFS, for help in getting the word out around base. Within 24 hours, Johnson had his team.
“I found the ad on Offutt’s Instagram page,” said Ky. “I’ve been playing Call of Duty for about 12 years now, but this is the first time I’ve ever played it seriously, even though my friends and family have continually told me to.”
Currently, the team focuses on participating in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 tournaments. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a team-based, tactical first-person shooter game that combines strategic gameplay, precise aim, and a focus on teamwork, offering an exhilarating experience for players and spectators.
“I’ve known about Air Force Gaming for a while, but haven’t had the opportunity to compete,” said Quintanilla. “I’m kind of living my childhood dream right now. Coming from Guam, there wasn’t as much opportunity to do these kinds of things as there is in the U.S.”
The team placed in the top six in the Eastern Regional tournament on February 22nd out of 30 teams and is now setting its sights on the CONUS championship, before hopefully competing in the World championship, where the top six qualifiers from the CONUS championship will face off against the top three from USAFE and the top three from PACAF.
“I think that Air Force Gaming is growing a lot, and adds a lot of opportunity for people,” said Johnson. “I get to meet people from other career fields and meet people with the same interests as me—it gives me a lot more insight into the Air Force as a whole.”
Headquartered at the Air Force Services Center at Joint-Base San Antonio, Air Force Gaming continues to build the foundation for gaming and esports in the military for all branches of the US Armed Forces. The Center houses both Air Force Gaming and Space Force Gaming, the virtual home for all gamers within the Department of the Air Force.