Army Veteran and American Legion Gaming streamer ImJustTheJustin is turning his lifelong passion for video games into something bigger than entertainment. Through streaming, teaching, and community building, he’s helping other Veterans find connection, purpose, and support.
His love for gaming began early. “Nintendo. Atari, actually,” he said. “My uncle had an Atari, and he let me play that. Then I had a computer with DOS-based games, which were kind of weird in hindsight. Once Nintendo came out, I’ve just been gaming ever since.”
Over the years, that hobby developed into a deeper appreciation for story-driven games, MMOs, RPGs, and multiplayer titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. Recently, he’s been hooked on Dune: Awakening, a mix of survival and MMO elements.
“I’ve never not played video games,” he said. “When I was in the Army, that’s what I would do after work, unless I had family stuff. Otherwise, I was on the computer playing Final Fantasy XI, World of Warcraft, or Final Fantasy XIV.”
Now a regular presence on American Legion Gaming’s stream team, ImJustTheJustin makes it a point to choose content that keeps him engaged. “If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, I don’t think your community is going to enjoy your reactions. A lot of people are really there for you, not just the game.”
That connection with viewers is key. “I want people to have a good time hanging out, laughing, and interacting,” he said. “It’s about having fun and creating a place where people feel welcome.”
You can often find ImJustTheJustin streaming on TikTok in the mornings, a time he’s found to be most active. “People are getting up and getting ready for work. They start scrolling and end up on my page, which has been great. It’s a good time to be online.”
ImJustTheJustin is also committed to helping others get started with streaming. After running a successful ALG class for Veterans interested in content creation, he says there is potential for future lessons broken into specific topics.
“There’s a lot I could go over. I can do sessions focused on audio setup, streaming programs, or even how to create overlays using free tools like Canva,” he said. “I rushed through a lot in one class. Breaking it up would let me spend more time on each part.”
He encourages aspiring streamers to think beyond just going live. “Try not to be just a streamer. Be a content creator,” Justin said. “If you’re not making short content for TikTok or YouTube, you’re not going to draw people in. That’s how you grow.”
He’s also big on networking and staying active across platforms. “If you’re not a networker, you’re going to struggle to gain traction. Platforms are saturated. You need content to bring people in.”
Beyond streaming, ImJustTheJustin is a marine biologist, and he’s looking at ways to blend his passion for science with his content. “There’s actual equipment that lets you livestream underwater and still talk to your chat. I want to teach people about the ocean in real time. It’ll be quite different from gaming, but just as rewarding.”
His long-term vision for American Legion Gaming includes around-the-clock coverage and new opportunities for streamers. “I would like for us to have a full stream team running at all hours so that someone is always live. That way, any Veteran who’s up late or struggling has someone they can talk to.”
Justin also wants to bring more attention to the platform. “I’d love to see us producing more short clips, doing giveaways, and eventually bringing in donations. That could help us build gaming centers at different Legion posts,” he said.
What drew him to American Legion Gaming wasn’t the Legion itself, but the chance to combine his love for gaming with something meaningful. “I’ve done a lot in politics for Veterans in my state. A lot of people know me for that. But I never thought I’d want to be part of the Legion until I found ALG. Now I’m all in. This is something I genuinely enjoy.”
Gaming, for ImJustTheJustin, is more than fun. It’s therapeutic. “We all have stuff going on in life. Gaming gives you a way to fully focus on something else. It helps with mental health, especially for Veterans. It keeps your mind sharp, gives you a social space, and lets you relax.”
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I agree with the concept of the viewer being key to successful streaming.