Real-Life Navy SEAL and Astronaut Chris Cassidy Joins Call of Duty

Every May, Activision marks Military Appreciation Month with a Call of Duty bundle tied to the Call of Duty Endowment, the nonprofit that helps veterans find employment. This year's entry is arguably the most impressive yet: the Navigator: Tracer Pack, built around retired Captain Chris Cassidy, a former US Navy SEAL and NASA astronaut who actually helped create the DLC.

The man behind the operator skin

Cassidy's resume reads like fiction. In the weeks immediately after 9/11, he led a nine-day operation through the Zhawar Kili cave complex in Afghanistan searching for Osama bin Laden, earning the Bronze Star for that effort. He then pivoted careers entirely, becoming a NASA astronaut who completed six spacewalks and spent 182 days in space.

That dual identity, special operations soldier and space explorer, threads through the entire Navigator pack. The bundle includes two operator skins: "Argonaut" and "Astronaut", which lean into both sides of Cassidy's career. Two weapon blueprints, "Cratered Crescent" and "Gibbous Guardian", round out the core combat loadout, while cosmetics like the "Handshake in the Void" weapon sticker and "Space Walk" calling card keep the space theme running throughout.

Here's the full contents list:

• "Argonaut" Operator Skin
• "Astronaut" Operator Skin
• "Cratered Crescent" Weapon Blueprint
• "Gibbous Guardian" Weapon Blueprint
• "Astro Trident" Weapon Charm
• "Deep Sea" Spray
• "Handshake in the Void" Weapon Sticker
• "Space Walk" Calling Card
• "Spacial Sonar" Emblem
• "Astrofrog Constellation" Loading Screen
• 1 Hour Double Level XP Token
• 1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token

Where the money actually goes

100% of net proceeds from the Navigator pack go directly to the Call of Duty Endowment. Pricing has not been officially confirmed, but previous Military Appreciation Month bundles sold in the $20 to $25 range, so expect something similar when it drops in Black Ops 7 and Warzone.

Activision has also partnered with Lyft this month on a separate donation campaign. Lyft users can round up their fare to donate to the Call of Duty Endowment directly through the app. The company also sponsored the British Army vs. Royal Navy rugby match this past weekend, the fifth consecutive year it has done so.

Navigator Challenge event adds a free rewards track

Buying the bundle is not the only way to engage with the Military Appreciation Month content. Activision has confirmed the Navigator Challenge event, running May 8 through May 21 in both Black Ops 7 and Warzone. Complete the challenges and you unlock:

• "Orbital" Emblem
• "Ready to Launch" Calling Card
• "Navigator" Loading Screen
• "Launched" Weapon Charm
• "Mission Accomplished" Emote
• 1 Battle Pass Tier Skip
• "Liftoff" Weapon Camo
• "Katana" New Melee Weapon

The specific challenge requirements have not been revealed yet, but the Katana melee weapon at the end of that rewards chain is the headline prize. A new melee weapon unlockable through a free event is a solid pull for players who skipped the paid bundle.

For context on where Call of Duty is heading beyond this event, Activision has already signaled major shifts in how it structures annual releases, with reports pointing to Modern Warfare 4 as the next entry from Infinity Ward. The Navigator Challenge wraps up May 21, so that is your window to grab everything on the free track before Black Ops 7 moves on to whatever comes next.