Why C.O.D.E. Bowl III is a Next Level Event for Military Veterans

Cause meets applause as our celebration of esports and the military community goes the extra mile for veterans

When the third C.O.D.E. Bowl kicks off this weekend, we’ll be asking our US and UK military branches to bring their A-games, and we’ll be asking streamers and influencers to rally their fanbases. But the question we asked ourselves this year at the Call of Duty Endowment is: How can we do more for the cause? Frankly, it’s a question that has powered our core mission from the start. 

The first time around, we raised awareness and funds through friendly competition among our participating pro gamers and streamers. When it came time for C.O.D.E. Bowl II, we were fortunate that sponsors like USAA helped us up the ante and extend our reach to the broader military community. When we started planning C.O.D.E. Bowl III, we knew we had to raise the bar even higher. We had to put our mission to build on the 110,000 veterans (and counting) we’ve already placed in quality jobs this year, front and center. 

For an event where we were already thinking how to go “above and beyond” – the literal stratosphere came to mind where launching the C.O.D.E. Bowl trophy into space became the ultimate “come & get it” taunt from the Space Force. So, taking it further, C.O.D.E. Bowl III is the first time we will literally be placing the Endowment’s efforts into practice right there on the ground, by bringing a veteran career symposium to Raleigh, North Carolina, featuring training, speaker panels and networking events open to all veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. 

As much as C.O.D.E. Bowl is about fun, games, and bragging rights, it is also a rare opportunity to have all branches of the UK and US military represented in the same place, at the same time. We knew the event would draw veterans and transitioning service members which in turn means we can change lives on the spot. 

This is more than just “here, take a pamphlet”. In partnership with Hire Heroes USA, one of the most impactful of our grantees, the Endowment will be hosting an hour-long networking symposium, where expert speakers from organizations such as Hire Heroes USA will offer advice and provide tangible practices for veterans looking for more effective ways to transition their skills and experience into the working world - skills that have become even more important in an increasingly difficult job market. This will be followed by “practice sessions”, where veterans will engage with more than 20 local employers, to better hone their personal sales pitches. Finally, there will – naturally – be an entire panel dedicated to opportunities in the gaming industry, aimed at educating veterans with a passion for gaming on how their skills and experience can open doors they never expected to enter. 

Hire Heroes USA expressed their enthusiasm for the event, and its potential for lasting impact on the lives of veterans with this statement. “Hosting events in conjunction with the C.O.D.E. Bowl brings a lot of excitement and energy - it’s a chance for local veterans to foster relationships out of common interests in a professional setting. Having such an impactful organization like C.O.D.E. fosters an environment where veterans can learn and leverage critical career skills with others while doing something they enjoy.”

All this and the only all-branch, transatlantic military esports competition on the planet. 

Get ready, Raleigh. This year’s C.O.D.E. Bowl is going to be one to remember, and its impact will be felt in more ways than ever before. Now who’s going to bring the Space Force back down to earth? 

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TAKE ACTION:

👁️‍🗨️ Follow @CallofDutyEndowment on Instagram and Facebook and @CODE4Vets on Twitter for more C.O.D.E. Bowl announcements.

🎖️ Learn more about how the Call of Duty Endowment goes above and beyond for veterans

🪖 Are you a veteran interested in a career at Activision Blizzard? Find out more.

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