The US Army is forming a 'Fortnite' team to help with recruitment

The United States Army is in a bind. It failed to meet its recruitment goal this year, so it's looking for other, newer ways to drum up interest with today's youth.

The Army has decided to get into esports.

In an attempt to appeal to today's youth, the Army is putting together teams to compete in esports and competitive games like Fortnite, Overwatch, League of Legends, Madden, and Call of Duty, according to independent American military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

Stars and Stripes reports that the Army is interested in having soldiers represent the branch of the U.S. military in competitions, tournaments, and other such events as a way to get the Army brand out there and connect with young players who may be interested and eligible to join the military.

There is a form available online that allows interested parties to put down their information and preferred video games. Soldiers who are interested will have to try out to see if they have what it takes to game at a professional level, Stars and Stripes reports. Only Army soldiers can apply — the Army is not accepting civilians, members of other military branches, or National Guard members who aren't on active guard orders.

To help spread the word of the Army's esports initiative, the Army will offer to compete with college-level esports teams via 18-wheeler trailers that can be brought to college campuses, according to a video posted by Staff Sgt. Astin Muse (a.k.a. Amuse).

The first competition will begin internally for the game Tekken 7, and the winner will be sent to PAX South to compete in January.

Those who are skilled enough to make the squads will be part of the Army's Marketing and Engagement Brigade, Army Recruiting Command spokesperson Kelli Bland told Stars and Stripes, which currently supports the Army's marketing efforts by demonstrating their skills in things like marksmanship competitions.

“They will be in a support role to help young people see soldiers in a different light and understand the many different roles people can have in the Army (and) help the Army address the growing disconnect with society,” she told Stars and Stripes.

In making soldiers more visible through initiatives like this esports one, the Army hopes to aid its recruitment efforts. The military branch's failure to meet its goals in 2018 was its first shortcoming since 2005.

There seems to already be a community for competitive gamers who are in the military with the Military Gaming League, a community that brings together members of the military to play video games together and against each other.

h/t Polygon