Taken from AI mag: Jay Kenton
Airsoft can be all things to all people. For some, it's just running around in the woods on a Sunday firing as many rounds as possible in the general direction of the enemy. For others, it's hardcore MilSim, where the trigger time takes a back seat and completing the mission is the number one priority. For this you need not just the right mindset, but the right kit - so here's our top tips to aid in planning for your MilSim weekend.
COMMS Working as part of a cohesive team means your going to need a decent communications kit, not only for talking intra-team, but for getting hold of HQ as well.At the very least you need a good PMR unit, but if you and your team are serious about MilSim, then you may want to start looking at HF/VHF radios - even if that means a course and listening costs.
RULES OF THE GAMERead any published event rules. Re-read them. Listen to the event briefing. Nothing will ruin the experience of a MilSim event faster than not knowing what's going on - and if you aren't clear on any of the rules, then ask.
NAVIGATION GEARGiven the nature of many MilSim events your likely to be out on a site you've never been to before. This is where the Nav gear comes into it.A map, compass and waterproof map case is the very minimum you should pack, so when your so when your commanding officer radios over a set of co-ordinates, you know exactly where to go, and how to get there. Stick a note pad and pencils in with your Nav gear as well to write down those vital mission notes when your CO briefs you.
DON"T EXPECT A PROPER CAMPSITEThis is MilSim. You want to play soldier for the weekend, then don't expect to turn up and find a clear, level campsite. You may be sleeping on a 15 degree slope, you may be sleeping in a ditch. Pack a tarp, bivi-bag, and a foam mat. Don't bother with the 6-man tent!
EMERGENCY KITDon't just pack guns, sleeping kit and uniform. Give a little thought to what you'll need should anything go wrong. A small first aid kit, whistle and a flashlight are a must.
LEAVE ALL THE USELESS CRAP AT HOMEDO you really need that PEQ, surefire, Eotech and M203 on your rifle? If you don't then just leave it at home. MilSim events tend to be physically demanding., so reduce the weight of your kit wherever you can. Plus it's less kit to break when you fall head over heels down the side of a hill.
FOOD AND DRINKTake water. Lots of water. Double what you think you'll need. If there's one area where you don't want to cut back, then this is it. Don't just think about how much your carrying though, think about how you're going to carry it. Hydration systems are fine and dandy, but can be a bit fragile. Nalgene bottles are considerably heavier, but nothing short of rolling over it with a tank will break them. Bringing bottled water with you is the best plan, but if you have to use local water sources, then you must treat it with Steritabs or one of the many-high grade water filters on the market.
COMMAND STRUCTUREIf you aren't a team player, then don't go to a MilSim event - simple as that! The vast majority of MilSim events will try to mimic the command structure of a real military unit. All it takes for a few players to decide that they want to freelance, and it all comes crashing down. Of course, if the CO on your side turns out to be incompetent, then don't stand for it.Have a word with the organizers, and see if he can be replaced.
PACK YOUR KIT IN A RUCKSACKYes it may be easier to pack your kit in sports bags, but how do you know that you won't have to carry it a considerable distance to your base for the weekend? Trust us, you may think that the 500 dollars you spent on tactical duffel bags makes you look cool, but it ruins the look when you colapse from exhaustion after trying to carry them 2 miles through heavy woodland.
PACK LIGHTLeave the useless stuff behind. Take just what you need. you really don't need to take the two ring stove, the tea urn or the gas powered toaster. Odds are that your CO will keep you busy over the course of a weekend, and if your not out on a mission, or on sentry duty, then you should be either eating, drinking, or sleeping. Why take the stuff that your not going to use?
BATTERIESGet enough of them. Don't expect the organizers to provide charging facilities. What are you - a hard core MilsSimer or one of those skirmish nancy boys? If your a member of a team, then it can be useful to try and standardize battery types, as you just know that at least one person will foget to charge their battery.
WATERPROOFSNever trust weather forecasters. Ever. If they say it's going to be dry and sunny for a few days, then pack the kind of kit that would keep Noah dry in the middle of the great flood. Even if an area is known for having decent weather, then fully expect a micro-climate to develop above the site your playing at which will then hammer rain down on you. Conversely, don't forget to pack the sunscreen either. If you thought that the yoke on your webbing chaffed slightly when worn normally, imagine the pain it's going to cause when your neck is the same color as a well cooked lobster. Put simply, "hope for the best, plan for the worst".
TOOLKITSA small toolkit carried in your webbing is a must have. A larger "team toolkit" back at your camp is also a good plan as well, and is one of those areas that's damn easier if your team has standardized their guns.
LEAVE IT AS YOU FOUND ITThe bane of event operators everywhere is trash. You produced it, you take it home with you. yuo're trying to "play army" for the weekend, then act like they would. In the real world, intel officers can tell an awful lot about the trash left behind in the enemy's camp - in Airsoft, it tells the site owner that they may not want to use their place for Airsoft events again.
SENSE OF HUMORDon't leave home without it.If you can grin when you've been sitting in a muddy ditch for an hour, if you can find the funny side in sentry duty, only to find that the enemy has gone around the back of your camp - then you've got the vital ingredient that all MilSim operators need!