Operation: - Snow Storm - January 11th 2008

unday January 11th 9:00 am Sharp OPERATION: Snow Storm

SITUATION: Red Star operatives will be exchanging cocaine for dollars with the Russian Mafia near the dormant volcano known as The Punch Bowl. The Russastan government tipped us off and will be allowing us access to this boarder region. We will be coming in hard and fast to capture and kill as many Red Star and Mafia personal as possible.

This will be a two 2 hour game with a 30 minute in field lunch break so come prepared! Study the rules closely, bring water, food, ammo, extra battery and friends to this heavy 3 way fire fight!

All non-member guests come as a Russian mafia (in other words dress as you like.)
$20 first time guests and $10 dollars for consecutive returning guests.Red Star members must be in uniform and with all name tags and patches or be fined $10 out of uniform fee.
Mike Force Members must be in uniform and with all name tags and patches or
be fined $10 out of uniform fee.

Location: IMPORTANT! Do not arrive before 0830 (8:30AM) at the game site!!!!!!! Sign in will be at 0900 (9 AM) be suited up and ready to go! 1. Chrono 2. Rules Test 3. Sign in

The game and sign in will be at: 340 Live Oak Rd Watsonville, Ca 95076 www.mapquest.com

Uniformity: (Download Club Uniform Requirements with pictures)
Guests = Russian Mafia, Dress as you like
American Forces = ACU with required patches
RED STAR = Jungle Tiger Stripes, Russian Tigers Stripe, Multicam BDUs only

Please read and UNDERSTAND the rules before game day. You will be tested before you enter the field. Pleaese bring your signed waiver forms if you are a guest.

Mike Force Tactical Airsoft Games V. 3.0 Live!

i would like to announce that the Mike Force Atactical Airsoft Club sit has been transformed and streamlined for quick access to game information. Please go to the Following link to view the progress:

, www.mikeforceairsoft.org


thanks,

Shrapp

Airsoft Safety

Safety

Airsoft guns should be treated just like real firearms despite the designation they are “model” guns. They have the ability to cause serious facial injuries, therefore should be treated as a dangerous weapon.

Public Safety

Never Bring your Airsoft gun to public areas! This includes parks and schools. People who are not familar with the sport will mistake these for REAL weapons. Law enforcement officers have a stressful enough job without having to try and distinguish Airsofts from the real steel. Always keep your orange flash hider on!

When traveling or moving your AEG or GBB pistol, make sure to carry it in a gun case or bag.

When traveling with your AEG or GBB pistol, Keep the orange flash hider on. If you are pulled over by law enforcement officers, please be up-front and explain the sport in a productive manner. Failure to have the required orange tip on your weapons will lead to confiscation and probable arrest! Remember it is our job to protect the sport and obey the laws required by the state.

If you are running an event, please notify local police and fire officials. Ask to have a law enforcement officer visit your location and get familular with the equipment and location of your events. Post signs that clearly state the intentions of your event. For example “Airsoft Event in Progress Military Uniforms and Replica Guns in use call 555-555-5555 for more information”
Pre record a message with critical contact and information.

Personal Safety

Always establish a safe zone where all guns have magazines out and the safety on. You could go a step farther and have batteries disconnected.

Keep you fingers off the trigger! Sometimes there can be “one in the chamber” and an accidental discharge could cause serious injury.

Always wear your protective goggles. Make sure your eye protection passes the ANSI Z87.1 impact standards. Never wear regular sunglasses or prescription lenses for eye protection. If fogging occurs during play, do not remove your eye protection. Put your red rag on your head and move to a safe zone, wipe your lenses with the appropriate cloth. Paintball goggles with thermal lenses seem to fog less than other types. If you are under the age of 18, wear a full facemask.

Please use common sense when handling these model guns. Do not point these at anyone outside the game area. This includes local wildlife and structures.

Electric Airsoft Guns and Gas Blow Back Pistols

There are many types of airsoft gun out there. I am going to focus on the BASICS of the Electric and Gas Blow Back guns. I will include links to more technical and in-depth information for you technical junkies.

I am going to concentrate on the gear I am currently using because I have the experience to speak about it in depth. When I was researching about what was the best AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) There were no simple answers because everybody has an idea of what they want. I thought an MP5 was really cool looking, so I decided to got to Airsoft Extreme which was close to my work, and give one a try. I hated the way it felt, and quickly realized I needed to open my mind and try a few more. After trying an AK47 and a M15A4, It was clear that the m16 type of AEG was very comfortable to me. So now I had to decide from which manufacturer I would purchase. The two main contenders are Tokyo Marui and Classic Army. The Marui guns had a sound reputation for being quality weapons, Classic Army was shaking a bad reputation from earlier models that were very unpredictable. The biggest difference in the two brands were the materials and price. The TM's were mostly plastic and the logos on the guns were burned off due to copyright laws. The CA's were metal and had upgraded internal parts. They fired at 325FPS (Feet Per Second) right out of the box. The TM's shot around 260FPS and had no upgraded parts internally. The TMs can be upgraded with aftermarket parts for those who want to have metal bodies and upgraded internals. So I decided to purchase the CA M15a4 RIS. ( Rail Interface System ) I had no need to upgrade my gun for some time and it would have all the upgraded internals without having to use 3rd party parts.

The Equipment

The equipment used for airsoft in most cases is actual military issued gear. In some cases it’s very difficult to purchase some high priority tactical vests because of the need for them overseas. The vests are tailored for specific weapon configurations. For example: If you like AK47s then your vest will need to hold the magazines for this specific weapon. If you like M16 type of weapons then your load out be tailored for this particular AEG.

I am going to cover Weapons In a different section so I can go into more detail. These are carried on the Second and First layers Depending.

*Many Clubs lists will ask for more equipment on certain "Layers" or "Lines". This list covers an average day operation split into two 3 hour missions during daylight hours.*

First Layer or first line ~Uniform and pockets~

Lets start with BDUs(Battle Dress Uniforms) There are many manufacturers of BDU's I have found that the PROPPER brand seems to be the most comfortable. TRUE SPEC is a close second. These are available in many camo patterns. Woodland, 3 color Desert, 6 Color Desert, Urban, and Tiger Stripe are the most popular. You can get European styles and colors from surplus stores on the World Wide Web. You can get these for different climates and in RIP STOP, which will prevent tears longer than 1 inch from spreading. Boonie hats or Patrol Caps should be worn with BDUs. a military belt should be used to secure your BDU pants in place.

BDU.com

T-Shirt Black Under Armor or Cotton shirt is the ideal choice.

Goggles This is one of the most important items you can purchase for yourself. Please remember you only have 2 eyes and their safety is paramount. Paintball goggles from JT or Scott are an excellent choice. They are a bit bulky, however they have less of a chance fogging when you sweat and offer the best protection. Military ballistic goggles would be the second choice. These offer great protection as well, but in some cases I have noticed they tend Fog during play due to the fact that they usually are closer to you face and have smaller profiles so that helmets can be worn with them. You can purchase de-fogging solutions, but they do not seem to be as effective as you would hope. DO NOT wear sunglasses or any other non-ballistic eye cover! If you just can't be seen without your shades, WILEY-X makes ballistic sunglasses that are popular and offer good protection. they do tend to fog. Make sure your goggles seal around your eyes to avoid ricochet injuries. Bolle T800, ESS, WILEY-X, JT, and Scott offer the best protection. Make sure you check out your fields requirements before spending your hard earned cash. Some insurance companies require that you wear Paintball Goggles with or without the facemask.

Elbow and Knee pads: Optional but nice to have in certain environments! These are available in many colors and camo patterns.

Watch and Compass: It is good to have a quality watch that can be read even in the dark. Some clubs require navigation during missions so compasses are ideal!

Boots : The best boot are Military Spec boots. Altama, Wellco, and Danner are the most popular. These companies make different style boots for different environments. Jungle boots are the most popular due to their aggressive tread pattern. Infantry combat Boots are gaining ground due to the fact they have a tennis shoe like sole that is very easy to run in and the collar is around 8" tall instead of the standard 10" tall boot. Sierra soles are a linear jagged pattern that work great for climbing slick surfaces. Most boots require at least 40hrs of "break-in" time. ~ TIP ~ Re-lace your boots with Paracord. You can take the string from inside the paracord to tie objects together in an emergency!

Altama.com
Wellco Enterprises
Danner Boots

Socks: For the love of Pete! DO NOT wear regular cotton socks! invest in some high quality wool or military issue socks that will keep you feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They will also wisk away moisture from your feet helping to prevent blisters. You can wera nylon booties under your socks to help prevent blisters!

Gloves Military gloves with Nomex are a good idea, however not required.

Shemagh or Bandana These come in many Camo patterns and colors. these have many puposes; The first is provide protection, second to provide cover, and third to help regulate your temperature.

Balaclava These cover your entire head except your eyes. Mostly used in colder climates.

Second layer or Second Line ~ Load Bearing Equipment and Web Belt ~

Tactical Vest or Load Bearing Equipment: When buying your equipment make sure you invest in practical quality gear. The last thing you need when running around in the woods or desert is for your equipment to fall out of your vest or LBE because it isn't fuctional. You will be crawling and running through mud and brush, so make sure your gear fits well! People make the mistake of buying gear for the way it looks instead of the way in functions. Do Not fall into this mentality. Your Vest or LBE should fit snug to your body, all the pockets and holders should fasten tightly. The most common vests are made by Blackhawk Industries , Eagle Industries and , S.O. Tech. I would suggest reading reviews of the vest or LBE you choose before purchasing. Remember stealth is key! you don't want to sound like you are dragging cans behind you when you need to run. Your gear should hold your equipment tight to prevent rattling. Your Vest or LBE should hold at the least the following items: 8 standard magazines for AEG, extra battery, BB loader, radio, and small bag of BBs.

S.O. Tech Delta Rifleman's Vest

Hydration Systems are vital. It doesn't matter if you think you are going to be "ok" without water for 1 hour. You need 1 liter per hour to stay properly hydrated during normal airsoft operations. Most players use either 1 or 2-quart canteen systems attached to a web belt. For longer missions Camelbak makes great systems for military and civilian uses. Choose one that will fit your needs. These are available in many popular camo patterns and colors.

Survival Kit These are nice to have just in case you get lost! usually the fields are clearly marked and if you do get lost its for a very short time. Include a whistle so you can be found. ~Tip~ cary waterproof matches and Cotton balls covered with Vaseline™. These will light in the rain!

First Aid Kit You can get scratched and poked with brush or other objects. Pocket kits should be adequate.

Chemical Light Sticks and Small Flashlight Nice to have when the need arrives.

Pocket Knife Can be handy to cut rope with.

Third Layer ~ Outer layer or Third Line ~

Rucksacks usually hold 3 days of essentials. There are many styles and sizes. They should hold food and clothing for 3 days.
550 Cord 100ft used for climbing and securing object
Ponch Brown, Olive Drab, or Camo. This will keep you and your gear dry.
E-tool Military shovel. Good for clearing areas for camp.
Extra BDU's Boots and Socks Nice to have clean clothes after a rough day.
Plastc BagKeep your smelly muddy gear isolated
3 MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) High calorie food for energy. usually can be eaten with water added

Learning More about the sport of Airsoft

After being exposed to Airsoft on the History Channel, I decided to learn more about the sport. Typing in the word "Airsoft" in Google brought up hundreds of sites from all over the globe. "Wow" I thought to myself, "How come I have never heard about this when there is so much information?" I decided to narrow the search to "California Airsoft" in the search engine. This helped. There was a company call Airsoft Extreme based in San Jose which is only about 25 miles from where my wife and I live. www.airsoftextreme.com seemed to be the most popular site for my search. I decided to check out the website. I have to say the website wasn't the greatest but it was fuctional and somewhat informative. The most shocking aspect of this sport seems to be the price! All of the Equipment was in the Hundreds of Dollars for just the starter packages. I decided to learn more about the eqipment and the sport in general before going back to that site.

This sport has a huge following, mostly from countries such as Japan, China, England, and the Philippines. Most players seem to be in thier early 30's or late 20's. i started learing about which kind of airsoft guns were quality producs and which were not. two manufacturers stood above the rest. Tokyo Mauri, Classic Army, Top, and ICS. By far the most common was the first in the list, Tokyo Mauri. They seemed to have a lead on the rest in quality and diversity.

Informational websites such as: Arnies Airsoft, Renegade Recon, and Airsoft Retreat have reviews, retailers, and in-depth information that will help you in your search for knowledge of the sport.

In the beginning...

I was watching the idiot box one Tuesday evening with my loving wife. This was not unusual considering we watch a steady stream of programs after I return from the workday. The channel of choice tonight was the History Channel - "Tactical to Practical" with Hunter Ellis. The program was covering the military and no military uses of light aircraft from the airplanes early days until modern day flight. Loving airplanes I decided to watch the program while my wife read. The thirty minutes went by quickly covering many light airplanes and scout balloons. The second half of the show was going to cover military training devices which peaked my interest. The show covered "True Action Markers" which are 1:1 replica weapons that shoot 6mmm paintballs, Paintball guns, TADS training units and finally Airsoft Rifles. I never liked Paintball due to the fact everyone just lobs as many balls of paint at each other until nobody is left standing or a flag has been captured. Not to mention the BMX style uniforms with the florescent colors...how cheesy. TADS united are military training laser devices attached to real functioning weapons. These are strictly for military training. The closest thing to this was “Laser Tag” which was a more futuristic approach using lasers and sensing vests in a confined area. Then the “Airsoft” information played on the TV. Set in the San Francisco Bay Area, a group called “BAASH” (Bay Area Airsoft Hobbyists ) showed the tools of the trade...real military equipment and tactics using 1:1 replicas of modern military weapons, from sniper rifles to Squad Automatic Weapons (SAWs). They were either spring, gas or electric depending on the particular weapon. These AEGs shoot 6mm plastic biodegradable bbs at about 400FPS (feet per second) with 1/6th of the velocity that paintball guns shoot.(less pain!) I thought “how cool is that!” wouldn't be great to “play army” again as an adult!? I quickly wrote down the name of the website that had been mentioned during the show. http://www.baash.org/baash.html