Need a valid reason for your parents to stop bothering you about your gaming? You may have just found the right one. Gaming has gained wide acceptance all over the world. But it is still a controversial topic among some older generations.
The opinion on video games being a waste of time is fairly common among boomers and older millennials. But you can’t really blame them. The video games they knew existed in a time before widespread internet services and high-quality graphics. Our world is very different.
The Surprising Benefits of Gaming to Future Combat Pilots
Back then, you could choose to play outside. Or you could tune into a show on an old CRT TV with a primitive version of modern Charter Spectrum cable. Back then, too much TV was already a subject of contention inside homes. Video games are typically plugged into the TV, and that only made gaming consoles guilty by association. The perception has persisted through decades. And even though modern games are miles ahead of their ancestors, gaming still earns dirty looks on occasion.
Gaming kids usually try to counter angry parents with several simple arguments. All of which revolve around the same theme: modern video games are actually beneficial. From improvements in hand-eye coordination to efficient teamwork, gaming does offer many lessons. But what if you were able to present your parents with a much more specific argument?
What if you told them how specific aspects of gaming could help you become an Air Force pilot? If you feel like you’ve defended your gaming habits enough, here are a few points to earn you some peace:
Improved Motion Detection
Staring at a screen may not always harm your eyes (if safely done). In fact, it may prove to be a significant advantage in a combat pilot. Jet fighters are not your average passenger plane. They are purpose-built weapons on wings. And one of their most fearsome advantages is incredible speed: earning them the moniker “fast movers”. However, as technology advances, fighters become faster and require more precise maneuvering.
In many ways, a lot of video games revolve around the same principle. Fast and precise movements help win games. And to reach that, you need to be paying more attention to the game. That’s why you’re hesitant to look away from the TV when gaming. A fighter’s forward canopy is almost intuitively the same as a TV screen. And while extensive training is always needed, an already existing ability to detect motion and respond could prove invaluable.
Intuitive Communication
If there’s anything your gaming buddies are good at it is team communication. Surprised? Sure, you may not win 100% of your games. But you’re able to call out warnings and instructions from time to time. You can even strategize while playing and improve your chances of winning. From asking for a medic on Call of Duty to calling plays on Dota2, this stays constant in team games.
If you’ve been playing for a while, give yourself the credit for effective communication. And that too while you’re not even sitting in the same room.
Better Squadron Coordination
Of course, in a combat role, your communication ability isn’t limited to bantering or swearing. There are precise protocols to follow. And you’re not just communicating with the base or a mission control center. You’ll be in constant communication with other pilots as well. This may sound simple but it isn’t for many people.
Flying faster than sound, engaging combatant jets, and evasive maneuvers are still going to be necessary. All while actively communicating and listening (sometimes in code).
However, online gamers already do that. Obviously, not in a fighter jet. But they’re still creating and coordinating complicated plays. And gaming elements these days can often prove as unpredictable as the real world. This means a future pilot squadron with a history of co-op gaming may be able to create and execute maneuvers far more fluidly than a conventional pilot.
Improved Physical Adjustment
If you jumped at this thinking it was about strength or agility, it isn’t. Nothing will prepare you for the real thing like actual Air Force training programs. But that doesn’t mean your gaming lifestyle doesn’t add an advantage. Unless using something like a Kinect, you’re usually in the same spot for hours while gaming. And as time goes on, your body gets so used to it that you don’t feel as stiff as you should.
A fighter pilot has a space much smaller than the average couch. And when flying training missions or sorties, you will have to sit in that cramped space for hours, all with fierce concentration. This can result in unbelievable fatigue and stiffness once you land. While most air forces enforce strict fitness regimens, it wouldn’t hurt to already have some exposure to sitting in fixed positions for extended periods.
