How Army West Point Prepares for Esports Competition

Army West Point Esports Deputy Director Victor Castro talks to Esports Illustrated about the role fitness plays in esports competition

FITGMR and Esports Illustrated spoke to Victor Castro, the Deputy Director of the Army West Point Esports, to discuss their day-to-day process. Castro serves as a DOD and specifically works in analysis modeling and simulations. 

The cadets start their day at 0500 and immediately clean their rooms. Both roommates have an area of responsibility that they have to clean. They complete small tasks throughout the entire day. The first thing they do is start working out and getting ready for classes, which start at 0730 and finish at 1155. Each class is around 55 minutes with a 10-12 minute gap in between.

They go eat lunch together as a group to connect and talk. Once lunch wraps up, they have a study period immediately after.

After lunch and the study period, they have a mandatory exercise period called Company Athletics. Every student is an athlete, and this ensures that each cadet is physically fit at all times. This gives them a chance to vent and get some frustrations out and play a sport. Continuing this process helps the cadets gel together as much as possible.

Once the Company Athletics is finished, which is from 1630-1800, the cadets head back to get cleaned up, get dinner, and start doing personal items. Then they have evening study period, which is mainly for the freshmen, but everyone has to do it throughout the day. Every cadet understands how to manage their time and balance their schedule. 

After all activities are completed, the cadets have lights out and are asleep at 2300. 

Key Quote

"Take Rainbow 6 Seige, in its core design, really gets after teachable things that we do at the Academy in regards to strategic planning — Knowing your terrain, using the right weapon for the right job, countering those different weapons, effective communications — not anything specifically tactical in nature but generalized things that we are reinforcing at the Academy."