The Airsoft Bible

Finally! It is done. The first book in the series is available. The Airsoft Bible: Book of Comm. Now the hard work begins!

The creation of The Airsoft Bible has been interesting to say the least. It started out last year at the 2010 Airsoft Con. A friend asked me to do a class on small unit tactics. This is a topic that I really enjoy and can usually talk for hours on the subject. The classes went well and I had a good time but it got me thinking.

As a former Marine veteran, an infantry squad leader and a great deal of experience in small unit tactics it occured to me I might have a unique opportunity. When I was a young Marine I usuall spent my Friday nights and weekends in the barracks, reading manuals, war stories and the like. While most Marines were out getting drunk or laid, there I was reading. It is what I enjoyed. In about twenty years that hasn't really changed much. My profession has changed from gung-ho Marine to computer geek, but I still like to throw on the gear, grab the rifle and hunt people in a simulated hostile kind of way.

So, at the Airsoft Con I got to thinking. It would be pretty cool to have some Airsoft Tactics manuals. There are a lot of good people that play airsoft but not that many really know the finer details of military tactics and techniques. MilSim seem like little more than Open Plays except with more restrictions, more interesting objectives. People are more familiar with "Call of Duty" or "Modern Warfare" tactics than real world operations.

A lot of people spend a lot of time and effort identifying what weapons and gear their favorite warrior carries, but rarely do I see any attemps to simulate the way their favorite warrior engages in battle, except in a superficial way. This is not to say people don't know, or don't try, it is just that not nearly enough people understand. It is hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkeys.

The Military has thousands of years of experience in perfecting the art of war. Everything they do has a reason and is usually built around doctrine, lessons learned and weapon design. Soviet infantry tactics are very different than US Infantry tactics. US Army infantry squads are organized and fight very differently than US Marine infantry squads. Mechanized squads are different than light infantry squads. Understanding the differences can be crucial on the battle field.

Additionally one thing I've noticed in the transition from real world to Airsoft and Paintball is some of the basics are slightly different. US Military units (and foreign militaries as well) are starting to issue their troops body armor. When I was a young Marine we were issued body armor but it only stopped shrapnel, not bullets. This has led to a fundamental change in individual tactics that is very different between combat sports and real combat. In combat sports ANY hit is considered 'fatal', in real world combat not so much. In the real world warriors are trained to face their enemy, presenting their body armor to the enemy fire rather than to make themself a small target. This is because most body armor is vulnerable on the sides like the armpits and a warrior with his body squared to the enemy has more of his body protected from enemy fire than if he was sideways trying to make himself a small target.

In Airsoft and Paintball, regardless of chest rig, you are NOT bullet proof. Any hit is considered a killing one, even one to the hand or plate carrier, which in the real world would be a bruise instead of a kill.

From what I've seen nobody has tried to mesh real world combat techniques with Airsoft combat techniques in a cohesive and workable way. Squads usually operate as smaller mobs within a big one at most games, some have better communication and tactics, but rarely is special emphasis placed on SAW gunners or grenadiers.

This is what the Airsoft Bible is about. It is an attempt to collect and present tactical advice, tips and techniques for Airsoft and Paintballers based on real military tactics and techniques. I have also created a website www.warriortactics.net where people can go and write their own articles for Airsoft, Paintball and Real World combat techniques, tactics and tips.

I am publishing to the Amazon Kindle platform for now to generate interest and feedback. I am not perfect and I am always interested in learning how things can be different or hearing about different experiences. Being locked into unchangeable doctrine is the quickest route to extinction and defeat that I know of.