For United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Tim Gick, the concept of service is not merely a professional obligation—it is a familial legacy. His life has been defined by the cadence of the military, a path forged by generations of kin who wore the uniform. Yet, his most ambitious mission to date does not involve tactical reconnaissance or intelligence operations in the Republic of Georgia. Instead, it involves a deck of cards, a commitment to American manufacturing, and an effort to ignite a spark of purpose in the next generation.
Through his initiative, Mission Match!, Lt. Col. Gick is attempting to address two distinct crises facing modern American youth: a declining culture of physical fitness and a widening disconnect between civilian life and military service.
A Legacy of Service: The Roots of a Mission
To understand the philosophy behind Mission Match!, one must first understand the man behind the project. Lt. Col. Gick’s upbringing was steeped in the values of the armed forces. His father served in the Navy, his grandfather in the Army, and an uncle in the Marine Corps, supplemented by other uncles who served in the Air Force. His brother-in-law currently serves as a two-star general in the Army.
"I guess there is a lot of military in my family," Gick reflects, acknowledging that the path of service was not just an option, but a foundational pillar of his identity.
This commitment was reinforced during his time at Texas Tech University, where he met his roommate, Joseph Shamy. Both were members of the school’s Air Force ROTC program. Shamy, now the JROTC Senior Aerospace Science Instructor at Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas, vividly recalls their formative years together. "Tim and I connected at Texas Tech, and we were roommates," Shamy says. "He saw me training for ROTC, which ultimately led him toward his own career."
Gick’s career trajectory has been nothing short of exemplary. Since joining the military in 2007 via Officer Candidate School, he has served in multiple tours across Afghanistan and the Republic of Georgia, holding critical leadership roles in intelligence and reconnaissance. However, it was a volunteer experience in 2022 that shifted his focus toward a domestic front: the health and future of American children.
The Catalyst: A Moment of Clarity
While volunteering for Toys for Tots in San Francisco, Gick experienced a moment of professional and personal dissonance. As he packed gifts and managed logistics, two troubling realizations surfaced. First, the majority of the products were manufactured overseas, disconnected from the American workforce. Second, the toys themselves felt hollow—devoid of meaning, education, or inspiration.
"I told myself, ‘I can make my own toy made here in the United States that provides a pathway to purpose and service,’" Gick recalled.
At the time, the world was still reeling from the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators and military recruiters alike were noticing a troubling trend: children were increasingly sedentary, and the cultural appetite for military service was waning. Gick reconnected with Shamy, recognizing that his old friend was on the front lines of this issue as a JROTC instructor. Together, they began to architect a solution that would combine physical literacy with patriotic education.
Decoding Mission Match: Education Through Movement
Mission Match! is a military-themed card game designed to be more than just a pastime; it is a pedagogical tool. The core gameplay involves matching characters—such as the spirited "Muscle Monkey" or the clever "Cosmo Cat"—which are thematic representations of the various branches of the U.S. military.
When a player draws a pair of action cards, they are required to perform specific physical tasks, such as squats, pushups, jumping jacks, or leg raises. The game effectively turns exercise into a reward-based system, gamifying the pursuit of physical excellence.
Beyond the immediate physical activity, the game utilizes digital integration. Each card features a scannable element that directs users to educational landing pages. Depending on the user’s age, these portals provide tailored information about different military branches, connecting interested youth to resources like the Young Marines, JROTC, or direct recruitment information for the respective service branches.
"I saw that there was a deficiency in at least the kids that wanted to go into the military in their physical fitness," Shamy notes. "Integrating fitness was something we wanted to do because it makes the game more different than just a normal card game."
Chronology of Impact: Scaling the Vision
The development of Mission Match! has been rapid, fueled by Gick’s founding of "Not a Very Good Teacher," an organization dedicated to creating products that foster growth and purpose.
The game’s efficacy has been tested in the field, most notably in Shamy’s own classroom. While the game is aimed at younger children, high school students have gravitated toward it as a challenge. Shamy points to a success story of a student who utilized the exercise components of the game to overhaul his lifestyle, ultimately losing 40 pounds.
This success has birthed the "Pathfinder Games," a series of real-world events where children step away from digital screens and engage in face-to-face, purposeful activity. A significant milestone occurred at the Pentagon during a "Bring Your Child to Work Day" event, where the Pathfinder Games were introduced to the families of service members. The event was a testament to the potential for growth, demonstrating that when youth are given a tangible link to the military, their interest in service—and their own potential—increases exponentially.
Official Perspectives and Implications
The implications of the Mission Match! movement are twofold. First, there is the immediate health benefit. By normalizing exercise as a fun, competitive, and social activity, Gick and Shamy are combating the rising tide of sedentary lifestyles that plague modern youth.
Second, there is the issue of national security and civic engagement. With the military facing recruitment challenges, there is a critical need to familiarize the next generation with the realities and the nobility of service. By presenting the military in an approachable, engaging, and age-appropriate format, Gick is creating a "pipeline of purpose."
"It’s definitely about making sure that you’ve ingrained those lifestyle habits into your kids today because the decisions they make today definitely affect them tomorrow," Shamy emphasizes.
Gick’s approach is a departure from traditional recruitment tactics. Instead of waiting for young adults to reach the age of enlistment, he is focusing on "Generation Alpha," instilling a sense of duty and physical capability long before they graduate high school. By ensuring the product is American-made, he is also signaling to the next generation the importance of domestic industry and economic self-sufficiency.
Supporting the Mission: The Road Ahead
As the Mission Match! movement gains momentum, the focus has turned toward distribution and scaling. The project is currently supported through a Kickstarter campaign, a testament to the grassroots nature of Gick’s vision.
The ambition is not just to sell a card game, but to change the narrative surrounding physical education and military service. In an era where digital distractions are ubiquitous and the physical requirements for service are becoming harder for the average youth to meet, Gick and Shamy are providing a necessary bridge.
For parents, educators, and service members looking to support this initiative, the message is clear: the strength of the nation begins in the living room. By providing children with the tools to be active, the knowledge to understand the military, and the inspiration to seek purpose, Mission Match! is arguably one of the most important grassroots military initiatives in recent years.
"This provides that pathway to purpose so that they can meet these organizations they wouldn’t have otherwise," Gick says. "That’s the whole point of Pathfinder Games."
As the movement continues to expand, it serves as a reminder that the most complex problems—like declining fitness and civic disengagement—often require simple, human-centric solutions. Through the lens of Mission Match!, the future of the nation looks not only more active but more connected to the values that have sustained the United States for centuries.
For those interested in supporting the initiative, the team invites the public to view their efforts via their Kickstarter campaign or by visiting their official website.
Reporting contributed by M&S Senior Military Editor Rob Wilkins.
