Rally Cry and Army National Guard bring FORGE to San Antonio

A rebranded scholastic esports festival is turning gaming tournaments into a full pipeline for education and career development.

FORGE Scholastic Esports Championship details

• Rally Cry and the Army National Guard are backing it.
• The Boeing Center at Tech Port San Antonio hosts again.
• The three-day event runs May 15-17, 2026.
• FORGE Trials let partner-league teams qualify nationally.

Qualifier system and partner leagues

• ECAC, EGF, and NECC squads can earn spots.
• A formal competitive-ladder structure replaces old formats.
• K-12 and collegiate players both get pathways.
• Career panels and interactive exhibits round things out.

Rally Cry's growing military-adjacent lane

• Rally Cry has been merging collegiate gaming with recruitment.
• Their 2025 Championship Tour featured EA Sports tailgates.
• ECAC Esports recently teamed up with the U.S. Space Force.
• Guard sponsorship targets a digitally native demographic.

Event vision and infrastructure

• Evan Cameron called it a launchpad for students.
• Boeing Center's setup handles competition and career programming.
• Ubisoft and Twitch are among the featured activations.
• Leadership training ties directly into the esports framework.