Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Georgia brought the fight to the digital battlefield this past weekend as DreamHack Atlanta 2025 transformed the Georgia World Congress Center into a gamer’s paradise. Thousands of players, fans, and creators gathered for one of the nation’s largest gaming and esports festivals, and veterans were right in the middle of the action thanks to the VFW’s Combat Tested Gaming™ initiative and a special collaboration with Regiment Gaming, the world’s largest online gaming community for veterans and service members. Across the weekend-long event, veterans won big at DreamHack.
For three days, veterans, active-duty personnel, and supporters came together to celebrate connection, skill, and the shared spirit of competition. The co-branded Georgia VFW and Regiment Gaming booth offered attendees a chance to learn more about how both organizations are building community, camaraderie, and purpose through gaming, meeting veterans where they are, both online and in person.
Combat Tested Gaming™: Serving Those Who Served
The VFW’s Combat Tested Gaming™ program continues to grow as a national initiative providing free gaming access and events for veterans, bridging the gap between the military and civilian worlds through interactive entertainment. It’s more than just fun and games; it’s a mission-driven approach to supporting mental health, camaraderie, and reintegration.
“Combat Tested Gaming is about creating community through shared experience,” said Andrew Rust, member of VFW Post 5978 in Nashville, Georgia. “Gaming brings veterans together in a space where rank, age, and MOS don’t matter, just teamwork, strategy, and connection.”
Led by Georgia VFW Combat Tested Gaming Committee Co-Chairman, Eric Mason, attendees at the Georgia VFW booth learned how veterans across the country can get involved in Combat Tested Gaming leagues, tournaments, and online meetups, all free for veterans and service members. The program is supported through partnerships with gaming companies, veteran-owned brands, and organizations that are helping redefine how veterans connect after service.
Regiment Gaming: A Brotherhood Reimagined
The weekend’s success was made even better by teaming up with Regiment Gaming, a veteran-founded community that has built a global following by connecting military gamers through streaming, esports, and social platforms. Regiment’s mission is to unite veterans through the power of gaming.
The Georgia VFW extends its sincere thanks to Regiment Gaming for their hospitality and collaboration throughout the weekend. By sharing booth space, combining resources, and engaging side-by-side with attendees, both organizations showcased how powerful teamwork and shared purpose can be. From livestream conversations and friendly competitions to authentic discussions about service and transition, the collaboration highlighted a shared message: no veteran ever fights alone, on the battlefield or in life.
Meeting the Movers and Shakers of the Gaming World
DreamHack Atlanta was also an incredible opportunity for the Georgia VFW team to meet and connect with some of the most passionate and talented members of the online gaming world including streamers, content creators, and esports personalities from platforms like Kick, Twitch, and YouTube Gaming.
Many of these creators are veterans themselves, using their platforms to inspire others, share their stories, and create inclusive online spaces where service members and civilians alike can bond through gaming. These connections are helping expand the reach of the VFW’s message, showing that the organization’s mission thrives both on the ground and in the digital arena.
Among the standout veteran organizations present was Always Give Back, a nonprofit that builds custom gaming computers for disabled and unemployed veterans. Their work embodies the spirit of giving veterans the tools they need to reconnect, rebuild confidence, and rediscover purpose through technology and play. During the event, Always Give Back streamed build-outs of three new computers for veterans; the last build out was live on the Kick Stage in front of a massive, patriotic crowd. The Georgia VFW leadership team was proud to meet and support these incredible advocates who are making a direct difference in veterans’ lives, one computer and one connection at a time.
The VFW Adapts for a New Generation of Veterans
Beyond the controllers and headsets, DreamHack Atlanta showcased how the VFW continues to evolve for a new generation of veterans. Today’s service members are digital natives – diverse, connected, and ready to lead in innovative spaces. The Georgia VFW’s participation in DreamHack proves that the organization isn’t just keeping up, it’s setting the pace.
By expanding outreach through initiatives like Combat Tested Gaming, the VFW is engaging younger veterans while helping them discover the many benefits of membership, from camaraderie and advocacy to community service and personal development.
“Our presence at DreamHack Atlanta shows that the VFW isn’t just embracing our past,” said VFW Department of Georgia Jr Vice Commander Sherrod Conyers. “We’re actively shaping the future, connecting with veterans in new ways and showing them that this organization is built for them.”
Continuing the Mission
As the screens dimmed and DreamHack Atlanta came to a close, the Georgia VFW team left with renewed energy and new partnerships, proof that the gaming world is fertile ground for strengthening the veteran community.
From the high-speed matches to the heartfelt handshakes, DreamHack 2025 was a reminder that whether in uniform or online, veterans continue to lead, compete, and connect.
The Georgia VFW expresses its gratitude to Regiment Gaming for teaming up on the co-branded booth, to all the veterans and creators who stopped by to share their stories, and to Always Give Back and other organizations advancing the cause of veterans in the digital age.
State Chief of Staff – VFW Department of Georgia
Marketing & Outreach – VFW Department of Georgia