It’s a war out there. By “out there” I mean online in the world of gaming. Competition is fierce and it’s common for gamers to bad mouth each other while exchanging virtual lead in an online multiplayer battlefield. These verbal jabs can get fierce, and they can be even worse for girl gamers. Comments like “What are you doing playing a MAN’S game? Get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich” are commonplace, and that’s one of the more tame ones! Yet in this testosterone-driven land there is a clan that is both a haven for girl gamers and a force for change.

I first heard about the PMS Clan, also known as Pandora’s Mighty Soldiers, back in the wonderful days of Halo 2. I was always curious what an all girl gaming clan would be like, but I mostly played with my co-workers at the time. It wasn’t until recently that I really looked into it and I’m very happy I did. The PMS clan was founded in 2002 by our very own Valkyrie FD aka Athena PMS, and her twin sister, Athena Twin PMS. What started as a smaller group of girls is now the world’s largest multi-platform female gaming clan. Their mission is to give female gamers a positive, fun and competitive environment on top of helping girl gamers hone their skills to become the best they can be at the game of their choice, or even multiple games.

It’s also about helping girl gamers to come out of their shells. When I first started playing MW2, I mostly used my mic only when I played with friends. Many times over you’ll hear, “The PMS clan gave me the confidence to actually use my mic, I would never even plug it in before!” or something very similar to that and it’s true! In an environment mostly dominated by male gamers, it’s tough for some females to even contemplate talking over their mic without the ridicule that follows. Being surrounded by other women gives them a place to stand-up and practice their skills with other like-minded individuals when they venture out online to prove their mettle against their fellow gamers (male and female).

This clan has changed my life in many ways and that’s why I wanted it to be my first blog. It’s not just the community or the friendships that can be made through it; it’s the family that is always there for you no matter what. The training and learning experiences alone are incredible and on a daily basis I advance my leadership skills and work on teamwork. The support of my “family” is what helped push me to applying for the Cadette program and through this I’ve had the opportunity to get to know some truly amazing people- on top of having a job that I’ll never forget. Thanks to groups like the PMS clan, these opportunities are available for all girl gamers- and it’s also fun to be able to kick butt with a group of fellow female players everyday!