JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany – A military police Soldier with 527th Military Police Co. at U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria - Hohenfels, traveled Nov. 12 to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, to participate in the gaming finals of the USO + NFL Salute to Service Showdown.
Salute to Service is the NFL’s year-round effort to honor, empower and connect with the U.S.’s service members, veterans and families.
It is the first year NFL allowed the Department of Defense outside the continental U.S. to participate, and Spc. Trevor Bethke’s gaming skills earned him the trip stateside.
Every November the USO and the NFL celebrate military service, and each year service members get the chance to participate in the video game tournament through the USO to get the chance to win two tickets and paid travel to the Super Bowl.
Out of 275 service members across the world, Bethke was one of eight finalists to travel to the Cowboy’s football stadium for the finals. This was the first time Bethke competed in this event.
“I did have to practice a lot,” he said. “I was constantly playing some of the best players in the world after work – also playing my battle buddies.”
Bethke is the first service member to represent OCONUS in the USO + NFL Salute to Service Madden Tournament. Before, participants had to be in the U.S. This year, USO flew Bethke from Hohenfels, Germany, to the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington where he played EA Sports™ Madden NFL 23, an American football video game, in a tournament in front of thousands of people.
While Bethke did not take home the tournament prize, he was the winning champion for Europe, the Middle East and Africa across all service branches.
“Events like this help Soldiers because it gives them something to look forward to,” said Bethke. “Working overseas for three years is hard on Soldiers’ lives, and for the USO to give this opportunity to Soldiers is amazing.”
Bethke had been stationed in Germany for almost three years and had not seen his parents in over two years. For the event, they drove all the way from South Sioux City, Nebraska, to watch him compete. The USO also connected him with his brother, who is currently deployed to Kuwait.
“Being able to go home and seeing my family after two years of not seeing them was amazing,” said Bethke. “It felt amazing to see my family. They look great, and it takes a weight off my shoulders to see them doing good.”
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