In December, the Association of the U.S. Army’s “Army Matters” podcast series delves into how the Army has ventured into the world of esports to reach out to gamers and fans alike.

In the past decade, esports has grown into a global, billion-dollar business. Tapping into this popularity, particularly among young people, is the Army’s esports Call of Duty team. These soldiers not only go up against other gamers, but they also share their stories about life as a soldier and the benefits of service.

In a podcast available Dec. 6, Staff Sgts. Randy “Deja” Ojeda and Stephen “SteveOWalle” Waller talk about the benefits of gaming, how they balance it with their daily work and how they came up with their unique nicknames.

Next up, on Dec. 20, is a podcast highlighting Call of Duty, one of the largest video game franchises, and the Army veterans behind the blockbuster success.

Dave Swenson, creative director for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Mitch Hall, the game’s military consultant, talk about the newly released game sequel and how gaming can help relieve stress, particularly for deployed troops.

They also compare notes on their all-time favorite games.

Additionally, in a celebratory year-end segment, some recent guests give special shoutouts to soldiers and other members of the Army family who have helped them along the way.

Full details on the podcasts are available at https://www.ausa.org/podcast. Listeners also can subscribe to “Army Matters” for updates.