Thanks.

Posted by: Nicholas weaver at November 16, 2006 9:44 AM

Nick, I must say, in all the time I've read this site, and seen all the wild and sundry comments that people (some anonymous commenters, some people with actual articles) have made...

this is absolutely the most kick-ass idea I've ever seen on this site. If you want to simulate crazy jihadists, you couldn't do much better than some redneck paintball guy who wants to test his mettle against real soldiers.

Posted by: Brian at November 15, 2006 6:57 PM

I've always thought that paintball PLAYERS wolud also make a great opposing force for urban combat training.

Why?

Watch people playing paintball. They know its a game, so they take MANY risks, are hyper agressive, a tendency to use spray & pray alot ("one case, one kill"), unless it is a formal tournament team there isn't very good team maneuver, etc etc etc.

This is a very different doctrine than you get with normal military, but I have a feeling its suprisingly close to the "AK-47" doctrine of guerilla groups, especially non-casualty-averse guerilla groups.

Take 5 paintball players for every troop being trained (heck, you could probably get volunteers on the weekend if the military would pay for paint, paintballs are EXPENSIVE when you are shooting 200 round hoppers. I know I would if I colud use my own paintball guns. :) ), and you could have "Black Hawk Down" scenarios all day, against less trained (often far less trained and disciplined) but much more agressive and numerous groups.

Actually, getting NOVICE players would be ideal: they are cheap, agressive, give them cheap rentals, and let them go at it.

Posted by: Nicholas Weaver at November 15, 2006 1:46 PM