Airman First Class Jose “Nate” Vitolas, who is stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, was recently named one of the two winners of the USO and NFL’s 5th Annual Salute to Service Tournament. This event is an EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 26 tournament held during the Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions Salute to Service game on Sunday, November 9th.
The Madden NFL 25 Salute to Service Showdown is a USO Gaming event in partnership with the NFL and EA Sports™. The tournament drew nearly 300 contestants stationed in 16 countries. After a month-long series of online and in-person qualifiers, the USO selected eight grand finalists to compete at Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD.
The stakes were high, with the top two contestants receiving two tickets and an all-expenses-paid trip to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara for themselves and a guest. Nate, along with Air Force Technical Sergeant Mike Evans from Colorado Springs, CO, emerged as the winners, claiming this ultimate prize.
Nate is highly excited about this opportunity to attend the Super Bowl and intends to take his Uncle Cody Barragan, who introduced him to the Madden NFL Game.
USO Gaming Centers are equipped with top-of-the-line screens and consoles, designed specifically for groups of service members to play games and bond together. USO Gaming Tournaments allow service members to build relationships with other gamers, stay in touch with friends and family, and remain connected to life beyond the military.
Gaming with the USO has a rich history, transitioning from board games to the current video gaming landscape. The tournament this year is specifically for football, with Madden NFL being one of the most popular sports video games for the past 30 or so years.
By Karen Anderson: December 5, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
