- When choosing something to wear for your next airsoft game remember that thousands of soldiers have died while wearing this uniform
Before I say this I want you all to first know that I have no problem with Airsoft Players, actually I am quite the opposite (especially comparing me to other folks). I think Airsoft enthusiasts have done a lot for the tactical industry, especially from a financial prospective (they buy tons of gear, that drives the prices down for all of us).
Also Airsoft enthusiasts demand for realistic Airsoft guns has created extremely realistic Airsoft guns that can be used as training tools. Many top schools use Airsoft guns for Force-on-Force training (I use them as teaching tools myself).
So I am not Anti-Airsoft by any definition, sure I occasionally poke fun at Airsoft folks but hey – I make fun of everyone.
Now that I have that out of the way let me get on to my point.
If you play Airsoft do not wear any uniforms that are currently used by the Military (UCP ACU’s, MCCUU, ect.) and do not use patches that are currently issued to Military folks (like SF, Ranger, ect.).
Men and women have died in those uniforms and while wearing those patches, it is a disgrace for someone who did not earn them to wear ACU’s with a SF patch on the shoulder while playing a game.
I reconsidered writing this article many times because I was concerned people would misunderstand the purpose of my writing this and just think I am attacking the Airsoft crowd (I am NOT).
The only reason I ended up writing this was because I saw an Airsoft guy on Facebook wearing triple canopied ACU’s (The current issue U.S. Army uniform with Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces Patches) flashing the peace sign.
If you are reading this then seriously dude – who the fuck do you think you are? I honestly hope you get hit by a bus and your body is skull-raped by a Chihuahua.
There are like 1000 different types of uniforms and camo that not only look cool, they are not official issue Military wear. So if you play Airsoft please just use common sense, be respectful and don’t wear that stuff, and for fucks sake don’t wear military patches that you did not earn.
Thanks.
—————————————————————————————
~James G
Founder – Editor in Chief
James G is a Veteran Civilian Contractor who has worked in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for way too long; he has traveled to over 50 countries chasing fortune and glory. He spends his off time in Indonesia and Virginia getting drunk, shooting guns and writing poorly written articles.
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{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said James. I’m an airsoft player in upstate NY and we try to discourage people from wearing military patches/insignia. There are a lot of current and former military personnel that play in this area and they do a good job of policing this kind of stuff.
Andy(Quote This Comment)
James, As a civilian puke, I agree. You dont get a ranger patch unless you earn it or a SF patch above that. My question is how do you feel about morale patches? “Embrace the suck” and the like. Now im not talking about “Truck Monkey” or “Major League Door Kicker” as at least personally, I would feel like an idiot since if have neither kicked in a door or ever been a truck monkey. But there are morale patches out there would seem appropriate for airsoft or as for me, a shooter. Let me know when you get a chance. Thanks.
Matt(Quote This Comment)
Glad to see an Airsoft Guy got the sprit of my article – I am not hating, just asking people to be respectful
Thanks Andy
~James G
James G(Quote This Comment)
James is spot on with this article,
Personally I’m a bit lenient when i see ACUs or MARPAT while playing airsoft.
But when I see a 12 year old with an SF tab or a ST 10 patch that they have no reason for wearing, that’s what really gets me pissed off.
Dave W.(Quote This Comment)
Dude, aren’t you at least gonna post a picture of said douchebag off Facebook?
Papa C(Quote This Comment)
No need for that dude, I don’t want to start some gay-ass Facebook flame war, Plus some Douchebag like that doesn’t deserve the attention.
~James G
James G(Quote This Comment)
I used to do Airsoft before I enlisted in to the Marines and while I still think it’s a cool game and sport as well as an excellent way to do Force on Force tactical training (I learned some by the book CQC stuff that did me well in SOI) but the patches shit did piss me off.
I wore medic patches because I was the team medic/game first responder for real but I didn’t wear the Army Combat Medic Badge because then (as now) I don’t rate it.
I can’t really talk about ACU, I wouldn’t know the issue from the fake but I do get kinda grumpy when I see people wearing Marine Corps issue gear like MARPAT cammies or other military for the same reason, you haven’t earned it, it’s not yours to wear.
If you want MARPAT or my EGA, or a Ranger tab or what not, see your local recruiter, not your local surplus store guy.
Eric(Quote This Comment)
Hey James,
I completely agree with you with regard to rank and insignia, I know a lot of guys are into MILSIM and justify wearing them for “authenticity” but Military personnel had to earn the right to wear them so why should we airsoft players get to pay a couple of bucks to wear them. But I was a little suprised that you take issue with us choosing a paticular camouflage pattern.
About 6 months ago MultiCam was refered to in a derogatory way as “airsoft camo” by a lot of MIL guys due to the fact that such a massive percentage of players wear it and the Army coudn’t, but now that the Army has adopted it and finaly decided on a name for it (after what, 3 attempts?) and called it MCCUU now we’re not allowed to wear it?
I guess that you’re refering more to the uniform than the actual camo and to an extent I agree but we expect the same kind of performance from a camouflage pattern and it ain’t easy to find an effective pattern that isn’t cut in ACU/BDU.
Ironicaly, if we opt for no camo/uniform at all and just go jeans/khaki pants, t-shirt and baseball cap, we get grief from PMC’s. I know it will always be a controversial issue and I hope that I haven’t crossed the line but what we wear isn’t ALL about playing dress-up, there is some validity to the equipment we chose. Although there are a lot of players that have never even considered the fact that their “loadout” may seriously piss off the professionals.
Fear Camo(Quote This Comment)
Dude, you have no idea… If I had a nickle for ever poser I’ve seen in my years of Airsofting I’d have a new car by now. I’ve met fake Rangers, fake SEALs, and fake combat air controllers. I’m part of a game operation out in CA and we busted some cat at our last game with SF patch worn upside-down, and the flag on the wrong arm. Thankfully most of the folks that play at our field stick with moral patches. Even our .mil and LEO players don’t wear any kind of unit insignia or rank markers. Stuff like that is embarrassing and gives the game a bad name. I understand the immersion thing but seriously, some of these guys can take it to a level where its just disrespectful.
Liquidflorian(Quote This Comment)
I’m about half way with you on this one James. Personally I don’t care about the camo pattern used as long as they don’t wear any official patches or insignia. My one exception to the camo pattern issue is with the Marine Corps patters because they have the EGA in the pattern. I’m Army but since the USMC camo has the EGA I think that should be off limits to anyone who hasn’t made it through Boot.
In some cases I might be willing to let it slide. If some kid is wearing his fathers old uniform and is respectful and understands the signifigance of the uniform and those who served (past and present) I’m not going to complain. An adult however is something else as they should know better. The posers and such however should be drug behind a bus till the bones are ground to dust. That’s just my thoughts on the subject.
JFK(Quote This Comment)
We have a team up here that our company sponsors and being an airsoft dealer and a LEO/Mil/PSC Gear Vendor i have a bit different tack on this. and few vendors do what we do.
1. No SF or police insignia or patches shipped to anything but a mil/pd address.
2. unless your a working contractor and we can check this we do not ship ACU or Marpat out of the US
3. any metal Mil/LEO insignia other than rank is not sold to anyone but the service it was designed for. That rule got started after we got asked for 5 SEAL Tridents from an airsoft crew at a show.
Do i lose money on this ..yeah i bet i do. do i lose sleep about it Not on your damn life. My boss has a shadow box in her office with Challenge coins pictures and patches. The guys in those pics and who sent us those coins are the best reason for our policy.
Nick O(Quote This Comment)
I’ve never gotten into the airsoft thing, but I’ve been an avid woods paintballer for over a decade. I’ve never worn insignia that I didn’t earn (I removed the ones from the BDUs I bought at Goodwill). But when I started, woodland camo was standard issue for everyone, so it was cheap & easy to come by and it worked. I don’t understand why anyone would willingly *choose* to wear the current UCP Army pattern, but the MarPat stuff works well enough. Camouflage patterns are just that: a printed cloth to hide you in the bushes (or rocks). I want to separate that from the “posers” who wear full UNIFORM gear. In my opinion, the ACU isn’t an Army uniform until the patches go on. I understand what you are trying to say about respect, but I think the insignia is where the line is, not the pattern or cut of the cloth.
Ryan(Quote This Comment)
As a recently discharged Active Duty Soldier, I have to agree that Uniforms are a touchy thing with me as well. My personal Standpoint is that you better have scrubbed uniforms, or “moral” patches… If I ever caught someone wearing a uniform as I wore it, and without a day in Army service, I’d probably have to resist sending him home to his mother. As for Uniforms like Multicam, I have You wanna play war games, go ahead- but unless you’re wearing a uniform no longer in service, DONT WEAR IT UNLESS YOU HAVE BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN IT!
Stutz(Quote This Comment)
This is a tired argument. Thousands of people have died doing plenty of things. Putting on a set of ACU’s has no bearing on anything. I’ve read plenty of internet bitching about people wearing MARPAT but this takes the cake! We’re not talking about some retard dressing up as a soldier and going to the mall, we’re talking about playing war games. Get over it.
Monty(Quote This Comment)
Gonna go against the grain here.
They are trying to replicate combat the best way they can w/o actually harming one another.
Would not they use officer’s pins (bars and stars) and chevrons to tell who the ranking “officers” are?
The patch’s and insignias would be used to team/squad members from each other.
BTW: I don’t participate in airsoft matches and have never used airsoft.
Speedlace(Quote This Comment)
If you’re part of an AirSoft “unit” then bust out MS Paint and make your own patch. You can get them embroidered for $10ea in small quantities. Small price to pay to show some originality and real team unity.
Wearing an existing unit’s patch is a slap in the face to the people who actually completed SFQC, BUD/S, or even BCT! Getting any military tab is very hard work and not everyone can do it, no matter how badly they want it. If you look up to those guys so much that you want to simulate the flashiest aspect of their jobs, then respect them enough to not pretend to be one of them. Those patches were earned, not bought.
I couldn’t give two shits about what camo you wear though.
Norbert(Quote This Comment)
The rank, Div tab ect is what burns my butt. As has been said we busted ass and put in our time to wear them. I know camo is camo and as it evolves so does the market. Speedlace, the airsoft and paintball sector is a big industry so why not make there own style of rank and insignias. If your part of a team have your own tabs made up or have your sponsor make them. I still have my boony hat with my rank on it but I feel I earned the right to wear it.
Monty, Stand in front of a mirror make a fist and put up the middle finger!
Kris(Quote This Comment)
I got no problem with kids wearing certain set ups. After all there kids. But I don’t like the idea of a grown man wearing the patches and insignia. When I was 15 I wanted to but an EGA (eagle globe & anchor) because I wanted to be a Marine. I was at the store, had it in my hands, But didn’t buy it. Four years later I did get one, but it was handed to me by one of my DI’s at MCRD SD. I earned it at that point. What really pisses the fuck outta me is these punks who will but a Marine dress blue top and turn it into a clubbing outfit.
ZombieHunter(Quote This Comment)
Off topic a bit. But I love the new airsoft craze. I think young airsofters are future gun owners and supporters. A kid who never got into airsoft might never buy a real gun. But now that they have airsoft, when they get older they might decide to buy the real things. We need the younger generations to get into guns. We don’t want people to stop buying them. What I do HATE however. Is some 17 year old airsofter try talking to me like he’s been in the “shit”
ZombieHunter(Quote This Comment)
As an airsofter, I do hate when people actually uses insignias, patches and what not. I’ve seen guys here in Chile having SF insignias on their berets and even some seal tridents pinned on their uniform.. that makes me fucking angry since they don’t even know jack shit about them… they just have those insignias and patches to call themselves this or that. Most of them don’t even read about their history nor they know at least the name of one fallen soldier/sailor/marine/airman to pay respects for.. and still they wear the tab, trident, or insignia. Really pisses me off but you can’t tell ‘em off here (in chile) because they don’t really give a fuck and tell you to piss off.
When I play the only insignia I wear is the one embroidered on a 2nd Riverine Squad ball cap I bought at fleet week from one of the squad members. I don’t try to impersonate them though.
Can’t really agree on the camouflage issue though since I use whatever it suits the environment better… IMO, wearing MARPAT is more of a compliment than a disrespectful act to the Marine’s R&D, as long as no insignias, unit patches or whatever are worn that is.
oh… and all the “HOOAH” “HOO-RAH!” coming from airsofters is also cheesy as shit and completely unnecessary. Funny/shitty/sad/lame/fail thing is that we had a local team here calling themselves US Marines, wearing insignias and all plus multicam camo and saying “HOOAH”. Makes you wanna go “FFFFFFUUUUU-” right?
Juan M(Quote This Comment)
Greetings.
The way I see it, as an ASG player:
-Uniforms are pretty much what you wear in a MilSim game, be it MultiCam, woodland or khaki.
-Unit patches, insignia- this stuff is good when it’s a custom designed patch with the name/logo of your current ASG team/clan.
When it comes to patches of existing formations, it’s pretty much like putting a “Ph.D.” next to your signature when you never got the degree.
-Flags- if you can put these on your car, house, porch, whatever, multiple places, than I see nothing wrong with having a flag on the uniform. Unless it’s a rainbow flag, because those are infinitely more gay than MultiCam.
BengalTiger(Quote This Comment)
I agree with ya for the most part James, I’m a airsofter from Southern California, and we don’t stand for anyone wearing any patches they did not earn. Uniform wise I am more easygoing, Multicam(MCCUU) I am fine with, as many airsofters had it before it was a uniform of our military. ACU and MARPAT are more touchy, but as long as no insignia, unit, EGA, ect on it I am fine with it. The thing I do hate is 15 year olds putting on patches and trying to act badass. Luckily if one of our former Mil guys see’s it he usually just rips it off the kid. If you remember its a game you generally don’t tread on anyone’s toes.
Robert Z(Quote This Comment)
Like many have said, I agree with you for the most part. During gameplay, if they want to wear full camo; I think that’s fine they’re just completely the look and wearing some functional garb. But during non-game time, and they’re walking around with their ACUs on casually… that part I don’t like. It’s battle garb , not casual ‘hey I’m in the Army!’ everyday, around ‘camp’ wear.
As for the insignias, I completely agree. All my patches I get from MSM, instead of an SF tab, I use the ‘Regular Guy’ tab. It’s perfect! Cuz it’s true. A lot of Airsofters are ignorant to many of these things, and come off arrogant and disrespectful when sometimes they just don’t know any better. I’m not defending them, it’s still wrong but it’s not like all of them are out to insult our fighting men and women.
Kevin(Quote This Comment)
Semi on topic but I think it needs clarification. MCCUU stands for Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform… ergo, MCCUU =/= Multicam
cheers
Juan M(Quote This Comment)
MCCUU is MARPAT not multicam …
Nick O(Quote This Comment)
@ Fear Camo
Honestly Airsoft guys wearing ACU’s makes me uncomfortable – I look at the men wearing ACU’s in that picture carrying the body of a fallen American soldier and I think “is that really something someone should wear for games or fun?”
That’s just a personal opinion – take it with a grain of salt
As a contractor I don’t have a problem with Airsoft guys using the “Contractor Look” – being a Civilian Contractor is a job with commercial for-profit employer that I can quit at any time – totally different from someone volunteering in the Armed Forces and earning the right to wear the green suit
Thanks for commenting and keeping it civil (for the most part) guys
~James G
James G(Quote This Comment)
I’m a real green beret and I still do airsoft. I’ve been doing it b4 I got in the military. And when I’m home and enjoying a game of airsoft with friends or at a place where alot of players go to do it I feel bad to see people wearing sf tabs or ranger tabs seeing I know how hard it is to earn them and what it really means to have them. And I just see people playing and acting crazy in them and it makes me mad to see them in it. But I deal with it.
Bad ass(Quote This Comment)
So I know I’m going to get in deep shit for saying this, but here it goes: Airsoft is for tackleberries, and guys who in a lot of cases couldn’t hack it in the real military. I come from a strong military family, and it irritates me when I see guys wearing ACU/Multicam/MARPAT, because the VAST majority of civilians see a ACU/Multicam/MARPAT uniform and assume that said person was in the military, patches or not. I really have a hard time seeing people in the uniform that didn’t earn it, same for patches. To those of you who think you should be allowed to wear the military uniforms, there are plenty of camo patterns out there meant for hunting that will work for you MUCH better than the ACU/Multicam/MARPAT patterns will.
Dan L.(Quote This Comment)
@Dan,
As I read on, it got me thinking. I have been wearing my Vietnam era Tiger Stripe camo pants and shorts for at least 25 years now (not the same ones). I never did it to act like I was a green beret. I did it because BDU’s have always been more comfortable, durable and usable (the extra pockets draw strings etc.) than regular pants, even blue jeans. Now since some branches are going back to the tiger stripe (sandbox color) uniforms, does that make me a poser? Some fashion puke even copied them and called them “cargo pants” and you can now find them in your local target or walmart. Those pants fall apart after one use. I use my bluejeans for work and dont need to be thrashing those while out and about. Finally and we can all probably agree on this. BDU’s are so damn comfortable after a few washes.
Matt(Quote This Comment)
I’ll give you that, BDU’s are very comfortable. I even admit to hiking in a pair of BDU pants once because they work GREAT for hiking. I’ve just got a hard-on against airsoft, and I don’t really know why. Like I said though, when your average, run of the mill, civilian sees a person in uniform they automatically assume that said person was in the military. But, like I said, I’ve got a hard on against airsoft, and to a lesser extent paintball. i probably should get professional help…….
Dan L.(Quote This Comment)
I’m an airsofter. I love it as it’s something a bit more active to do and a lot more interesting to me than baseball or football.
Our team uses UCP camouflage. Do we wear the issue uniforms? No. It’s cheaper to buy rothco shit than buy issue, especially if its going to get ruined in operations. We invented our own SSI and what not. We don’t wear any issue insignia. Personally, I don’t really like ACU/UCP. I wear operator type stuff (mostly because I like to pretend to be James and yell at little kids who show up with clear plastic guns and wearing GI Joe Jammies) because it’s what I like. Though when ATACS stuff is all released, I’m switching to that, and thinking of trying to get the entire team to switch to it.
The only 100% detailed replica uniform I have is for Korean Conflict era reenactments when riding around in our M75. Yes, we have an actual M75 (look it up if you’re curious). We restored it from the ground up and it was our team building project. When it came time to run it, we decided to do a recreation of a Korean era combat scenario. I wear the jacket just as a jacket, but yeah, it took a lot of work to get it right, so I only break it out when it’s called for (ie: reenactments).
Many members of our airsoft team are current military or former military as well, so we respect the whole “don’t wear it unless you earned it thing”. We’re making our own tabs for what we do (if you take some jump classes, you’ll get the Jumper tab, we have a Boy Scout Leader that wears a Scout tab with the scout fleur de lis on it, etc.). In fact, the only replica patch we wear is the the “Brotherhood of Steel” insignia from the game “Fallout” lol. We’ve seen posers who run ranger stuff and act like they’ve spent decades with Airborne and they kind of annoy us, as they make us all look like a bunch of tools. So we try and avoid those types. Most of us respect the military (especially in such a military-centric city that we live in).
We do fundrasing at many events for “Fallen Soldier Causes”. One team is running one right now to help restore a project car that one of their team members, who was active service, was building before he lost his life in A-Stan. Many times we run a “Rememberance Day” (for those not familiar, it’s also Armistice Day, Veterans Day and a few others) game where we take donations and choose a Canadian Armed Forces Legion to donate to as a way to thank and support our veterans.
I think a lot of folks just run around playing army and don’t get educated about it. We try our damnedest to educate everyone about the sacrifices everyone in the military make just to help our community of airsofters get an idea of how different what they are doing is to what guys losing their lives in some desert are. I have friends serving now, and they encourage all the education we’re doing. I just wish more airsoft communities did the same is all…
/end rant
Firewalker(Quote This Comment)
I play paintball and I totally understand on the patches thing but damn the camo pattern really? I just bought a pair of the cheap digital woodland set ups from the local surplus store to run around in. I can understand if people are wearing the marine issue marpat with the EGA but damn chill out on the camo issue. Like a few other people have said multicam was used for a while before the army picked it up so all those guys that had it before are now douches because the army uses it?
No disrespect meant to any of the military guys for this. I have a cousin in Afghanistan and lots of my family are currently serving. Thank you guys for what you do.
Chris(Quote This Comment)
My mistake earlier,MCCUU is NOT multicam.
Robert Z(Quote This Comment)
I’m kind of “half-n-half” on this one. It’s not the uniform that makes a person, it’s the person who makes the uniform. They’re just funny looking clothes, it only means something if you’re part of the organization that wears it for a reason. After I left active duty, I donated most of my uniforms to charity. I’m sure that there are a couple of homeless guys wearing my old uniforms right now. If it helps them stay alive, then more power to them. I also gave a set to each of my boys (they wanted them for, wait for it, playing airsoft). I made them remove my name tapes and rank, mostly for PERSEC. It does kind of irk me when I see some civilian wearing a full set of BDU/ACU/DCU’s or whatever. Mostly I get pissed-off because they’re not wearing it correctly. Must be the old NCO in me!
Buckaroomedic(Quote This Comment)
So here goes:
Comment number 31 and I’ll be the first one to throw this out there:
We do have this little thing called the 1st Amendment and damn if the supreme court hasn’t seen fit to say that the clothing you wear, among other things, falls under freedom of expression and is protected.
Yes, that includes patches and uniforms people didn’t earn.
That is a constitutional right, incidentally, that all of the brave men and women of the armed services you are talking about died to protect.
I would argue that everyone railing against the airsoft players are just as insulting to their work because you have chosen to completely disregard their effort in protecting this constitutional right.
I fully expect this comment to be deleted by the site owners so I’ll throw this out there too:
I can think of few things more insulting to the long history of the men and women who died in the armed services than the great age of the civilian contractor.
The age where a man or women can be trained for a number of years by the very same armed services, chose not to re-up, turn around and be hired by a professional mercenary service at 10-20x the salary and then return to work and take the tax payers money for doing the same job.
Concerned Citizen(Quote This Comment)
With all due respect. I dont think in this day and age of trying to get ahead, we can ping a guy because he left the military and became a contractor. At the end of the day, most of us are all just trying to put food on the table for our families. I got friends who are lifers and I got friends that did 4 and out. If somebody offered you 10-20x the pay you got for basically doing the same thing, wouldnt you take it? Isnt that what we are about? Pulling ourselves up from our bootstraps and doing something with our lives? Again, I mean no disrespect and 1st Amendment is here all of us Americans.
Matt(Quote This Comment)
Finally someone who makes sense. I hope the 9 years I spent serving my country would at least protect the basic freedom of being a poser. You shouldn’t be so he’ll bent on trying to control everyone who believes different than you do. They say Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.
W s(Quote This Comment)
1. No one is saying you are not allowed to, or should not be allowed to wear basically whatever you want. However, you may want to look up the Stolen Valor Act.
2. What in the world do Airsofters have to do with protecting Constitutional rights?
3. Have you served?
4. So you’re saying that after fulfilling their tour of duty honorably, veterans should not be able to utilize the skills the military taught them, and be compensated well for them? You’re all over the board here, and frankly, very insulting.
Papa Chop(Quote This Comment)
A friendly note for the benefit of every bodies health:
“Don’t let the idiots get to you.”
Michael Hawkins(Quote This Comment)
What an interesting mail and set of responses.
It kinda reminds me of a comment by Akio Morita one time head of Sony Japan made when US industry was whining about Japanese companies buying up US industry..”America, if you don’t want Japan to buy it, then don’t sell it…”
I think the same applies here. If the tactical gear industry didn’t sell their products to every swinging dick that walked into a showroom then there wouldn’t be this situation. OpSec and respect for the uniform would be maintained.
I really don’t agree with a comment that airsoft gear purchasers mean lower gear prices. The exact opposite is the case. If you have 30,000 airsoft purchasers all willing to drop $1,500 every year or 100,000 military folks who will drop $500…from a purely financial point of view you’d take the low volume, high value buyer every time…inventory, work in progress, shipping, personnel costs are all lower…and they don’t give a flying fuck about the constraints like the Berry amendment.
We were recently asked to start offering our products to the airsoft industry. It could have probably increased profit by up to 50%, but we politely declined and will continue to do so. We’re not acting in altruistic, holier than thou way, we’re in a serious business with serious repercussions if something goes tits-up.
We set up our stall our way, others prefer to do it differently. If we sleep better at night because of this I don’t know. What I do know is that we are providing products that our users value and we’re not screwing the last cent out of them in the process.
Pitch.
Stevie(Quote This Comment)
so does use or wearing of any military camo offend you or just original military camo uniforms? cause i just saw a air bed for a pickup that was made in MARPAT(http://soldiersystems.net/2010/08/05/airbedz-from-pittman-outdoors/) i have a good friend who is former Marine Recon (we play paintball together) and i asked him if my knock-off MARPAT bdu pants i wear for paintball offended him? – he looked at me and said “what the F@$% are you talking about?
Butler(Quote This Comment)
I would think it’s the “uniform” that causes offense to some.
We’re not talking camoflage patterns. We’re talking about the whole ensemble. I’ve seen UCP on everything, same with almost every other ‘flage pattern. It wouldn’t make sense to get pissed about UCP being used by airsofters if I can get UCP condoms. If it’s such a sacred ‘flage pattern, then why can I fuck a prostitute with it?
I think it has to do shirts with IR FoE tabs on the shoulders, carrying NSN numbers etc. Wearing a ranger tab, combat badges, etc. Essentially, it’s about wearing stuff you didn’t earn or disrespecting those that did earn it by not seeing their side of the coin about being offended.
In Canada, we don’t see too much CADPAT anything outside of the military. This is because the military has a HUGE tight grip on CADPAT and doesn’t release it to too many folks. If it was such a problem, the US would have done this as well…
Firewalker(Quote This Comment)
What???
Don’t see much Cadpat outside the military?
Most airsoft players i know have Cadpat bdu’s, vest, pack etc…
Some of them even issue. It’s the 1st pattern they usually buy (with od).
And let me tell you; i know a lot of players (been playing for 6 years)
Spell(Quote This Comment)
Opinions and excuses are like assholes….everybody has one and they all stink.
Dan L.(Quote This Comment)
Well said by all.
Paddy O’Shea(Quote This Comment)
they fulfilled their contract and did their part how would getting a job that they can use the skills they learned be an insult to the military? are veterans not allowed to use the skills they were taught to make money?
and contractors are not mercenaries just so you know.
ScotiaShooter(Quote This Comment)
You are sadly mistaken about wearing military awards. It is a crime to wear any military award that you did not earn. I’m at work so I can’t look up the actual law, but it is there. I’d argue that wearing a full military uniform is also against the law, but I don’t have time to find all the laws on this. Free speech has limits. Just like yelling fire in a movie theater.
It’s fine if you want to go play in the woods, but don’t you dare pretend to be a Marine, if you have never earned it. Men go through months of boot camp to earn the title, and the uniform. Men have died wearing the uniform. Do you think you have any right to wear it? MARPAT was developed specifically to identify Marines. So yes, by wearing MARPAT you are falsely representing who you are. If I was in charge I would prosecute anyone who wears a uniform they did not earn. Do you dress up as a cop and pretend to pull people over? Or dress up like a fireman and pretend to put out fires?
As a Marine, I take this personally. I’d also apply the same argument to any military brach. While we tease each other, I’d side with someone in the military any day of the week before some airsoft queer.
Will Wheeler(Quote This Comment)
I’m reluctantly playing the Devils advocate here and I’m aware that what I am about to say will at the very least irritate some people but I think it’s still a valid point… how does any military surplus reach a military surplus store? I’m guessing that a lot of it comes from the military sector. I know guys that have bought uniforms from surplus stores with name tapes, rank and insignia still attatched and that’s just the second hand market, not to mention all of the stores and websites selling authentic kit.
Or to put it another way, if airsofter are the drug addicts, the who are the dealers and are they any less accountable. from the soldier that sells his kit or the company that has licenced the pattern/design, to the military that licenced that pattern/designs out to commercial companies.
As I have said in my earlier comment, I agree most of what James said but if the finger must be pointed we have to consider which direction to point it, I don’t think the subject is black and white, of course we all make the choice about what we wear but if it is determined that we shouldn’t have that choice then why give us one? Have tighter controls on who authentic kit gets sold to.
r1p_cord(Quote This Comment)
I think if someone wants to dress up like their favorite super hero…let him. Now if someone wants to “impersonate” a hero…squash them.
Hawaiianbob(Quote This Comment)
If you didn’t earn it and you are wearing it you’re a wanna be pussy. Enough said…
LT P(Quote This Comment)
Hey ratard… We have this little thing called The Stolen Valor Act which makes it illegal for you to impersonate a soldier. Even in Hollywood if you watch closely they purposely make mistakes on current uniforms just so they won’t be breaking the law.
Now fuck face go watch Tropic Thunder. Then take a step back and literally fuck your own face! Then realize you are no better than the guy who pretends not to have hands. Anyone who wears it and didn’t earn it is a poser, if they are over 18 they are a pussy because they have the means to earn it and haven’t…
LT P(Quote This Comment)
Please 86 the name calling
~James G
James G(Quote This Comment)
Good debate. I am an airsofter in NC, and play on a team which includes LE, active duty Army, retired Army & Marines, and a few regular joes such as myself. I definitely agree with the whole patch/insignia issue… I like the comparison to putting PHD after your name when you never went to grad school. But camo patterns? Airsoft is designed to be a military simulation game. That tends to work a whole lot better when you can wear camouflage. Events are often organized with themes, some of which are historical but many of which try to emulate modern day warfare. It just wouldn’t be the same without the ability to wear camo of all patterns, depending on the game scenario.
Last weekend my team participated in a charity airsoft event to support Operation Homefront, which provides services to injured military and their family in NC. My hard earned dollars joined those of many other regular joes to raise money for this organization.
I can definitely see where it is disrespectful to claim a rank/etc that you didn’t earn. I just find it difficult to make the same connection with wearing a camo pattern, whether it is currently in use or not. Would you take the same issue with a private individual owning the civ version of an issued weapon?
cholt45(Quote This Comment)
It really is all about attitude. Some 15 yo wears his dad’s BDUs? Joe Schmoe puts a morale patch on a man-purse-gearbag? I don’t think either one is trying to pretend to be anything he’s not.
I think the real problem is that airsoft can pretty much amount to people pretending to kill each other. War/combat becomes a game. That very act is probably a little touchy to anyone who has served in a war zone, seen friends die, etc. It can look like a complete mockery, especially when some airsoft DBs take it too far and too seriously.
Intention isn’t always as easy to see as a patch though.
Camo is camo is camo. Leave the insignia alone if ya didn’t earn it.
Also, it’s much more fun to be the “bad guys” anyway. Dress like a guerilla and be on your way.
SqueeDAB(Quote This Comment)
Not that it will change anyone’s opinions about the underlying issue, but regarding the Stolen Valor Act, which keeps being mentioned:
[On July 17, 2010, a] federal judge in Denver ruled that the Stolen Valor Act is “facially unconstitutional” because it violates free speech, and dismissed the criminal case against Rick Strandlof, a man who lied about being an Iraq war veteran.
U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn issued his decision Friday and rejected the prosecution’s argument that lying about having military medals dilutes their meaning and significance.
“This wholly unsubstantiated assertion is, frankly, shocking and, indeed, unintentionally insulting to the profound sacrifices of military personnel the Stolen Valor Act purports to honor,” Blackburn wrote. “To suggest that the battlefield heroism of our servicemen and women is motivated in any way, let alone in a compelling way, by considerations of whether a medal may be awarded simply defies my comprehension.”
The Stolen Valor Act prohibits people from falsely claiming they have been awarded military decorations and medals. The act, signed into law in 2006, carries a punishment ranging from fines to six months in prison.
We’ll see what happens with that case and the Act, but I think there’s not much doubt legally that the Act won’t stand.
Personally, as a veteran, it doesn’t strike me as disrespectful that people want to dress up and pretend to be service members. As they say: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” These guys want to be/wish they were the heroes/cool guys/barrel-chested, steely-eyed, fighters for freedom they consider service members to be. I don’t fault them for that, as long as it’s respectful. Is it okay on Halloween for guys to dress-up as cops, firefighters or military, or is that disrespectful, too? (It’s always okay for the ladies, in my book.) How old is too old for hero worship? 18, i.e. the age they could serve? Obviously, opinions vary, but I don’t see uniforms as symbols, and I don’t consider merely wearing a uniform as denigrating what the uniforms symbolize.
However, people who haven’t served, who dress as service members and cop attitude because they have gotten lost in their own little fantasy are pathetic and probably in need of a beat down.
Non-service members who wear uniforms to protest one thing or the other, and are intentionally trying to get attention and/or rile people up, and should be ignored. It’s their right to do that in this country; it’s my right to not give them the satisfaction of infuriating me.
Striker 2(Quote This Comment)
Correction to last sentence of third to last paragraph: “Obviously, opinions vary, but I see uniforms as symbols…”
Striker 2(Quote This Comment)
As a follow-up on the legal status of the Stolen Valor Act:
October 11, 2010
Associated Press
DENVER — The Justice Department is battling to save a federal law that makes it illegal to lie about being a war hero, appealing two court rulings that the statute is an unconstitutional muzzle on free speech.
The fight could be carried all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it would face an uncertain fate, legal analysts said.
“This is a Supreme Court that is friendly to parties asserting speech rights and skeptical about restrictions on those rights,” said Kannon Shanmugam, a former Justice Department official.
Striker 2(Quote This Comment)
As an Airsofter I believe we should be able to wear whatever camouflage pattern we want. I do, however, agree with the wearing of insignia, patches, and medals that people have not earned – they’re doing something criminal in my eyes.
What about WWII reenactors? They wear camouflage and insignia that they have not fought, sweat, and bled for.
In my opinion if you hate on an individual just because he is wearing a particular set of camo and he ‘hasn’t earned it’ then you may as well stab someone for wearing the colour red in your blue neighbourhood.
Reuben(Quote This Comment)
For me this comes down to one thing only: respect. Any one who is willing to out their ass in the line of fire to preserve my freedoms deserves heaps of it. End of story.
Jason(Quote This Comment)
Agreed; the disagreements here seem to center on what is (or is not) “disrespectful.”
Some (including the author of the commentary) are of the opinion that any wearing of current issue uniforms by non-service members (current or prior) is disrespectful on its face, as is the wearing of unearned rank or qualification patches.
Some (including myself) disagree that this is unambiguously disrespectful, and allow for the possibility that current issue uniforms (or any uniforms) can be worn by non-service members/veterans in a non-offensive manner. I don’t think the author’s opinion is unreasonable; I just disagree with it.
Whether or not the examples and arguments I (and others) suggested are convincing to the people who reasonably disagree remains to be seen. At the end of it all, though the best the author and his supporters can do is try to convince the rest of us, because I’m pretty sure playing dress-up (assuming you’re not impersonating an official) will never be illegal in this country.
Striker 2(Quote This Comment)
Edit: That should be ‘put their ass…’. Stupid auto correct.
Jason(Quote This Comment)
Saying you shouldn’t wear ACUs or MARPAT is taking it a bit too far. That stuff is for sale to the general public.
But for rank and unit patches/tabs, I couldn’t agree more. Some people take that shit waaay too far. I say that as a big airsoft fan myself.
jcrf(Quote This Comment)
Skull-raped by a Chihuahua. Hahahahahahahahahaha.
Tahoma(Quote This Comment)
I have to agree. I dont know if I agree with the ACU/MARPAT/MC/current issue, but as far as the patches, I 100% agree. I dont recall where I heard this from, could have been from from a few places, but the patches are a big deal. I enjoy collecting a select few, like SR-71 patches, or RoadRunners International patches, as my favorite plane is the SR-71. As for unit patches, SF patches, your spot on. I do own a “Fighting 84″ Jolly Roger patch which is on an old LBE setup of mine, I dont wear it often, and its use is in no relation to its original designation. It has a different meaning to me, but for those who have served in that air squadron (VF-84) I can 100% understand their offerings of chihuahuas and swift kicks.
Justin W(Quote This Comment)
I AGREE, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY SOLDIER, “NUT UP” AND GRIP A SKILL CRAFT, “SIGN THE LINE” AND DRESS RIGHT DRESS, HOOAH!
DIRTY , NASTY , FILTHY LEGS!
SWIKIL(Quote This Comment)
I’m an reformed airsofter and civilian. I haven’t played a game in over a year but my airsoft guns have been and continue to be serious training tools for me. “Real gun people” shouldn’t ignore them because they can be great tools, think cheaper than a .22 that you can shoot in your garage and use for FOF. One example is the Japanese team of Steel Challenge shooters that practice almost exclusively with airsoft, including 2005 champ Tatsuya Sakai.
When I played airsoft, I used the “milsim” games for fun (better for people than sitting at the computer playing FPS games), tested my gear, practiced weapon manipulations under artificial stress, and hung out with friends (including former service individuals). For those reasons, I think it is fun, even useful.
Wearing patches and even EGA MARPAT I think is wrong unless the wearer earned it. I might have a little leeway for a somebody who wants to honor their currently serving or recent past service (especially if posthumous) with some kind of basic patch like their unit designation (anything under SOCOM being highly suspect though!). My bunch of guys had our own team patches made up and always thought it was the way to go. At least that way we were being make-believe posers and not posers of some real world putting it on the line for real.
Airsoft since the time I first got into and the reason I’m pretty much out of it is because it is now more about the tacticool-guy fashion show and it has more “kiddies” (which doesn’t always relate to chronological age). Both of these have driven the “reality” level in dress up a notch to reenactor level for the “milsim” games. Used to be it was more about the game than the gear details. And honestly back then the average age of airsofters was older since the entry level guns were much more expensive, I think that is a factor too since a lot of kids don’t fully understand the implications of patches. I once saw a Vietnam vet ask a 15 year old Boy Scout when he got his CIB and then told him where he got his. The vet was calm and matter-a-fact about it and I think was ultimately more effective shaming the kid into taking it off on his own than ripping it off his chest. Now, I think he had the right to rip it off too and that is still pretty effective. But a lot of the kids need that guidance too.
I tend to agree that camo is camo unless it has with specific emblems like EGA MARPAT. Think how ubiquitous Woodland BDUs were when they were issue and still are today. Most people don’t equate that to a service member instantly so there is not as much confusion on the poser scale. At the same time, I don’t think hunting camo is a good choice for airsofters just because hunting camo tends to be specific for fall seasons and static positions. I never wore a current U.S. issue pattern airsofting, but I did of some foreign countries though. LOL, does that make me less or more patriotic?
I work at a school with a MJROTC. They have Dress Blues and EGA MARPAT. Granted they are only suppose to wear them when in official capacity, but technically none of them have earned it in some of yours’ books. A lot of those kids work their butts off and then go on to serve and one even die. But they still aren’t 100% “bonafide” and some will never be because they will be rejected from service for things beyond their control.
Yes I somewhat agree with the poster about they along with the COD people being the next generation of gun owners. But some of them I wouldn’t really want them in that group yet! Airsoft does develop a mentality with airsoft guns that needs to be adjusted to real firearms. If you are truly about bringing them into the fold, we as a firearms community need to mentor them so that they can be safe and productive members.
On the same thread of thought of as James’ article, at what point is it ok for Reenactors to wear uniforms with emblems? They too are ultimately just playing soldier. While not my thing, I do think they have a serious angle of trying to honor those veterans and relive their history. On the face of it, I would say current conflicts are out, which I think is where some airsofters should draw the line but don’t.
AK Matt(Quote This Comment)
Im confused, is the general consensus that wearing camo in general is not cool because you didnt earn it? That just sounds a little over the top to me.
As for EGA-MARPAT I can understand that as the EGA is part of the pattern, being a civilian I would agree that if you didnt earn your EGA you have no right to wear one.
As for ACU, MARPAT, Multi, Desert, etc… I dont think it matters, and IMHO arguing that wearing current issue patterns is in some way disrespectful, is over the top. As for ACE/EGA patterns, I read you loud and clear.
Justin W(Quote This Comment)
I’m from Canada and i play airsoft.
I with everybody about the insigna, rank and patches. The airsoft players shouldn’t wear them.
For the Current bdu’s; I’m not to sure what to think. Some peoples
chose theses patterns for ”reenactment” purposes and also because are really great at concealment. Some of them because they think the branch of military they choose to ”pose” as; is the best (in their minds)
(I did have a Marpat but it didn’t had the EGA stitch on it. Wouldn’t have bought it if it had)
As for me and my team; we wear different Russian patterns as we usually play op-for; and even on theses bdu’s we don’t wear any insigna as respect for the Russian soldiers.
I have a question; do you guy’s (military and ex military) thinks it’s inadmissible for players from other country to wear current issues US bdu’s or it’s ok?
(sorry for any spelling mistake; English is my 2nd language)
S.Pelletier
Spell(Quote This Comment)
I play airsoft and I am starting to collect military gears. But i know exactly not to wear any real military insignia or the copy because it will disrespect those who really earn it. It is just simple, I am not facing the bullet so I don’t deserve acting like one..thanks and respect to all military man who defend their country bravely
arthur(Quote This Comment)
I’m an airsofter from Indonesia who also liked the military gears / miltary Things..
I agree not to wear any military patches / military insignia that you not earn. because to get the military patches and military insignia, they (REAL OPS) need a very big struggle..
we can just likes the military Things, because we really likes this, NOT TO SHOW that you are a REAL OPS.. !!!
there are some people (geardo’s) out there who feel uncomfortable with the attitude of “military gears freak” that are too detailed to things Military gears it self, commenting on others as if “they” really know should a REAL OPS,,, isn’t “they” only a devotee in the “military gears freak”??? then why do “they” seemed to feel most like a real ops know???
full respect from me as airsofter, to you the REAL OPS who entered the ranks of the army, to defend your country ..
Peace Out …
ZACK ZEE **(Quote This Comment)
my cousin was in the rangers, and i would like to wear regular shirt (s) that have the word raner on them, to support him and some of his friends i met. but above that i don’t want people to think i was a ranger or i am trying to be a poser. please all of the former military guys let me know your honest thoughts. i appreciate what you have, and continue to do for our country, THANK YOU!!!
wallers(Quote This Comment)
I really appreciate it here too Sir,, Thanks !
ZACK ZEE **(Quote This Comment)
I was just wondering if you all asked some of these people if they are impersonating. I’m sure like 99% of them are, but there are probably a few that were military wearing this stuff. Don’t play Airsoft but the military definitely issues some nice clothes and I still wear my jacket. I just cut the rank since they no longer apply outside of military. I still have name plate and AF on the chest. I know and respect fellow military members that have died wearing this stuff and I agree that taking earned patches isn’t really cool. I saw something wear some dude wore a purple heart piece and said he wore it out of respect for the ones who earned it and that it was freedom of speech. He should know that they earned to wear that purple heart and that he can respect them in different ways.
AF-ATC-JT(Quote This Comment)
I frequent an airsoft joint here in the land of the rising sun. I’m not allowed (not that it stops me mind you) to carry or fire a REAL weapon in this silly island, so I keep my muscle memory up on a number of airsoft ranges. I wear jeans and a button down, regular joe college clothes cause thats what i wear around normally. Anyway, last time I was at the ‘diet-range’ I saw another asian shooter wearing a battle t. You know, the knock off spandex chester, BDU armed, velcro endowed short our REAL folks wear downrange. Guy had a devgru patch (he didn’t know what the fuck it was, I had to explain it to him) a Naval Special Warfare Insignia (aka the Budweiser that US Navy SEALs take 18 months and a shit load of hell to actually earn) and another patch that said “Bad Mother Fucker. Guy couldnt even cycle his airsoft weapon properly and actually ‘swept’ me a few times, which caused the following conversation.
Me: Hey dipshit, you speak english?
Dipshit: Yes, I’m from…
Me. You must be from a place where peopel give a shit where youre from.
DS: Blank look
Me: You point that piece of plastic at me again I’m gonna make fun of your heritage.
DS: (Ensures his muzzle is in the opposite direction of the angry tattooed foreigner)
Me: You earn those devgru and Tridents your sporting there tough guy?
DS: Confused look
Me: Last time I checked foreign nationals werent authorized to wear them patches. You gotta earn those and by the way you’re actin, you havent earned your first period yet. You meet a SEAL with that shit on, he’ll rip your arm off and show it to your girlfriend…AFTER he bangs her. Consider yourself warned.
So, moral of the story…yeah, sure, be an airsoft guy and wear your cute stuff. But be warned, you look like a douchebag.
BrownMajik(Quote This Comment)
why is it illegal for me to wear a us navy ships hat with scrambled eggs i was never in the navy i just visited the ships museum its the uss yorktown in charleston sc but i guess every one is a damned cop now days
Chris Berger(Quote This Comment)
As current active duty I completely understand this argument. But I also think cussing out and demeaning a foreign national who knows nothing of what our traditions are of wearing pins(awards/quals/badges/tabs/patches) or our uniforms is fucking retarded, especially if its the Japanese.
First off, it’s like kids wearing a fake police badge when playing cops and robbers (if they even do that anymore) or when I was a little kid playing “war” with my brother and his friends in my uncles old ass woodlands from when he was in the army.
They wear it because it looks cool, but most importantly they have no fucking clue what half the shit means or even requires to be worn, you fucking said it yourself. Are you gonna cuss out the next 8 year old you see pretending to be a cop when hes playing with his friends? Hopefully not, but seeing as how you did it to the Japanese guy, you probably will.
Now don’t confuse me with someone who thinks joe schmoe airsofter can get away with wearing a triple canopy or something. But every time I’ve ever seen that at my local gunstore/tactical shops back stateside, or even here in Japan, I’ve been polite enough not to freak people out and they generally are more understanding because of it.
And lastly, that conversation makes you sound like complete fucking douche bag (whether or not it actually happened)
Mike Charlie(Quote This Comment)
Nice, Interesting discussion.
I and my family are strong supporters of our (U.S.A.) troops. God bless you all. And thank you for all your sacrifices.
I purchased all my gear in ACU pattern this year. Just for Oklahoma D-Day.
Purchased from Valken Paintball. From thier V-Tac line of Tactical Paintball Clothing.
Purpose built for Paintball, and Airsoft. I chose them for thier practicality. And they are designed to hold all the gear I will play this “Military Simulation” with.
In this “Simulation” thousands of players will be dressed in all periods of historical and current Camo, and Gear.
My 21 year old son has been deployed for six months now. Grew up and learned to respect our Countries Military and its Soldiers by playing paintball since he was ten.
I have the deepest respect for our Soldiers. (Of Course) And I agree 100% with not wearing current military insignia, and or any unit insignia.
However, In our countries most bloody war. (with ourselves) The North and the South killed millions of our own brothers and sisters. And yet, Re-enactments of many of those battles continue to this day. A very good educational tool for our children.
The simulations I take part in, Are also re-enactments. I do not agree with a pattern being disrespectful.
Only the person wearing it.
Thanks for reading.
M. Graywolf(Quote This Comment)
All this seriousness aside, if I was playing airsoft or paintball, I would totally rock the ‘Spaceshuttle doorgunner’ morale patch or something similar.
http://www.collectspace.com/review/shuttledoorgunnerpatch01.jpg
Sideburns(Quote This Comment)
Do they have the 100K HALO tab too? i lost mine in the fire, after the crash,when we were practicing touch and goes in the Sahara….but that’s classified
Low Speed High Drag(Quote This Comment)
Hey Im In the NJROTC and i actually like that fact that its possible to wear ACU’s and MARPAT’s. HOWEVER, i dont like when you dont know what you’re wearing Ive earned about 3 to 5 ribbons in the JROTC and i think i should be able to wear them. But everyone that likes to wear an ACU or MARPAT shouldnt be blamed or glared at. some of us we arent a******* or douche bags we are respectable Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp. Cadets and we will stand by what we fight for ……but hey thats just some of us……
Cross(Quote This Comment)
I have a airsoft acu bdu with a little black square patch on my left side is that disrespect.
cameron(Quote This Comment)
Is it not in the constitution that people have the right to do what they want and wear within reason? Also these people who wear these patches usually wear them not because they are cool, but because these people aspire to be like the marines etc. which obviously inspire them. So By replicating them like this, are they not paying respect to them by praising them as a force to be reckoned with? So much that if they wanted to be the best in THEIR opinion they would chose to be trained as whichever patch they are wearing.
I can see where it would be more sensitive in places like America where troops are abroad (For no reason whatsoever other than Americas financial benefit and revenge) but is it really necessary in places like Ireland (Where I live) to ban the usage of a patch to indicate a FAKE rank? It upsets a few Vets ok. But what about the people Vets upset. Uhhh. like let me think.
VIETNAM – Pointless war against “Communism” – Napalm – death by being engulfed in fire.
Operation Iraqi “Freedom” – Oil, nothing less. Maybe a little bit (Unjustifiable) more.
Afghanistan – Over 9/11 wasn’t even Afghanistan’s Taliban’s fault. Btw revenge for 9/11 has been made 50 times over in enemy DEATHS. Not casualties. War against terrorism my ASS.
Invasion of Panama – rest of the world was against this – maybe a sign?
Persian Gulf war – OIL.
Korean war – Made two countries out of one. – Communism
That’s just my OPINION which I am allowed have. You are also allowed to agree, or disagree with it. There is no need to be rude though. I am not being rude to anybody in particular.
Dan(Quote This Comment)
Here is one last point I forgot. It is from someone else. Who I cannot remember.
“Remember, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
It’s not like the same kid walks around town in a ranger uniform with the patch and tells people he’s in the military.”
He wraps it up perfectly.
Dan(Quote This Comment)
So its considered being a poser when I wear my dead brother’s uniform to airsoft? I’m a poser for wearing something to remember and honor him by?
Tim(Quote This Comment)
Tim. You are completely right.
Dan(Quote This Comment)
Wait so your saying im a poser? Or i should be allowed too?
Tim(Quote This Comment)
I am saying that you should be allowed to. This thing about not wearing patches is absurd. It’s a piece of cloth which usually means nothing to airsofters besides for the look. Except for your case where it signifies your brothers honor, something that should be remembered and cherished through yourself.
Also did you read my previous posts cause I’m saying why we should be able to wear them.
Daniel(Quote This Comment)
Thanks Dan. I also have a “tribute” uniform for all the friends and family that are in the service. I have an ACU uniform with 302nd Transportation Company Patch (neighboor (SGT) was assigned to that comp), an AFSOC patch (AFJROTC instructor (Maj) gave me it after i told him i wanna be Spec Ops, as he was a PJ Pilot), and i have Lt. Colonel rank on it (best friend’s mom is (Lt. Col) in AF) so i dnt anything wrong with that.
Also stated earlier – “Rip it off their uniform”
I’d love to see someone rip off my brother’s patches from his uniform he gave me, i’ll have his squad over A.S.A.P.
Tim(Quote This Comment)
It’s funny cause I’m Irish and we have practically no army. Support you military with patches. Personally I think too much money is spent on military in America and I disagree with invading Iraq and “Helping” Afghanistan. I do however support the military for their protection and Braveness.
Also yeah, I know that in the military squads that have trained together are literally like brothers to each other. So I would like to see someone ignorant enough to try and rip off the patches.
Dan(Quote This Comment)
Yea i dont agree with us being in Afghanistan or Iraq, but hell we have people everywhere. I come from a military family. Great grandfather, Grandfather, 2 uncles, 3 of 5 brothers were/are Army. Dad and 1 brother were/are Air Force, I am going to the Marines and (hopefully) become a SEAL. My 10 yr old brother hasnt decided yet but he knows to go into the military.
Tim(Quote This Comment)
Well if airsoft/paintball guys wearing ACU’s chap you buttcheeks this will really trip your trigger, the United States Army gave the Oklahoma Department of Corrections god knows how many THOUSANDS of pairs of ACU’s and to complete the outfit the tan roughout boots to match the shirts still had IR squares attached and my officers bring me the odd insignia every day mostly rank squares and U.S. ARMY tapes and all this goes to you guessed it CHILD MOLESTERs, murders, Drug Dealers, Gangsters! Heck we have work crews go out to work on base and when they(INMATEs) return they have Oakley sunglasses, issued gloves, 100mph tape, spools of 550 cord, the odd flightsuit, ETC. so I don’t see a 15 year old kid wearing a set of cammies wrong in any way (in this current environment selling insignia of any kind should be a federal offense). Just my 2 cents. Stay Safe!!
Josh Lee(Quote This Comment)
Almost forgot this when there sent from location to location they put there property in USGI Duffel Bags!! They powers to be decided to dye the ACU’s navy blue like the Guards Utilities but it washes out after 3 or 4 washes. Thought you out there would love to hear about that. Us silly Guards were told to get bent and pound sand!!!
Josh Lee(Quote This Comment)
+it does’nt matter what uniform, we all fight for the last time i checked. ok we have military brothers and sisters who died and earned the patches medals and rank insignia. these airsoft guys may never know what a combat situation will ever be like. this is as close to combat they will ever get. my brother plays airsoft and he respects all of what we do for our families and country. we gotta understand that maybe in some way this is a tribute from them to us. my brother wears his patches and rank isignia proudly because of me i am a 10yr spec op vet. i respect you guys and i hope you respect me. its not the uniform that makes us, we make the uniform always remember that ladies and gentlemen.
spec ops 101(Quote This Comment)
Okay, after reading most of the comments, I just have a few questions for you guys, i have an NON-ISSUE ACU but with no patches, ranks etc. will you guys be offended if i wear this with a helmet, and some boots? Please dont give me shit. I’m going to ROTC as soon as i get out of highshool. My grandfather served in the navy and the army. so i know and have the deepest respect for those who served. please be a nice guy about it.
Wolf(Quote This Comment)
so, you guys will have a problem if I wear my Non-Issue ACU with nothing on it?
Carnel(Quote This Comment)
I understand that it is disrespectful to wear an insignia or rana you didnt earn.But the camo pattern issue in my opinion is unnecessary.ACU is not only the US Army´s camo but of many other armies in the world. All my repect to those that have served in the armed forces.
Ethan(Quote This Comment)
I wanted to Join the MILITARY , but was too late – I went past the Age Requirement… I TRIED ALL THE BRANCHES .. I do Own a Set of ACU’s — I have Family Serving Currently in Afghanistan & I would Never wear any Patches on mine. I do feel as if I am Honoring them if I were to wear it Outside — it will bring More Awareness to the men & Women Fighting .. I am very PROUD of Our Soldiers & I would have Loved to have served.. My Uncle was in the Marines WW1 – WW2 – Korea – Vietnam (6 tours) — my Family has served Many Years in the Military
GENE(Quote This Comment)
Playing airsoft is fun you get to play war hangout with friends instead of wearing a headset and looking at a tv sucking down the pop and chips. But I wear the marine marphat camo pants when I play.. I don’t see anything bad about that at all it’s just the woodland marphat breaks up your image when your laying down.. I just see it as a better camo. Oh and wearing an airborn ranger shirt? I have one plus a 3rd infantry and a marine scout sniper shirt family members were all in those besides airborn, can I still wear it… Like honestly I feel so damn trapped when I try to support the military because everybody glares at you holy shit disgrace your spitting in the airborn rangers face for wearing it. Honestly makes me not want to be in the military when I can’t even support it before I sign my damn name on the line.
Austin(Quote This Comment)
How is this article still going? Its Airsoft. If your into the MilSim, who gives a shit what these guys think. “Fuck you I dont appreciate it when people play historical characters in movies and plays. Its disrespectful.” Do you have any idea how idiotic that sounds? If your going around rocking military patches and shit acting like you earned em, fuck you, you didnt earn those. If its halloween, airsoft, or some kind of costume fetish sexcapade, who gives a flying fuck. Dont be an ass hole, and keep it on the stage, or in the dressing room, and your good. If its your father uncles brothers dogs jacket, so what, they earned it and it looks fucking cool. So obnoxious. If your acting like MilSim is some kind of stolen valor shit, you my friend need to get a life.
JDubya(Quote This Comment)
Tony(Quote This Comment)
On the stage , or in the dressing room. End of story.
JDubya(Quote This Comment)
I can not see why it would be “insulting” that I would spend 22 years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman retire and less than a month after Iam out go to Afghanistan as a private military contractor for 18 months starting out making 2X what I made before I got out.
Its called supply and demand…after cost analysis has been done its still cheaper to have a “hired gun” do the work than a guy still in the military. So what if a guy serves his country honorably for 4 years and gets out!?!?!? They did their time and thats all you can ask. On top of that as long as hes “down with some premeditated violence” and he gets a gig as a contractor good for him.
In regards to the 1st Amendment…Ive got to much other shit to worry about to deal with inconsequentials like what patch a guys has on and if he rates it; karma’s a bitch and he will pay. I do not advocate for “fashion police”, as long as what ever is being communicated under the 1st Amendment isnt being forced on me than go right ahead unless you advocate burning the flag….I can go on about what I would do to someone who does that in my presence.
Anyway, thats my take.
See you on the other side!
B
CharmedLife(Quote This Comment)
I do air soft and I agree with the whole not wearing patches that you haven’t earned argument 100%. However large events, which is what I mostly attend, have uniform requirements that mean you MUST wear differing camo in order to distinguish your teammates from an enemy, while there are some that have different colored armbands these are few and far between. So long as it was legally obtained from a store and not military issue I dont see the problem with wearing camo. As far as patches are concerned I would only wear my name and possibly a privately designed team patch. Anything else in airsoft is tacky in my opinion.
Redhair(Quote This Comment)
First, all soldiers who serve their country and protect their liberty are HEROES. Period.
However, there are a few who wear the soldier’s uniform because they’re wannabe, misfits as they are in or out of service.
That’s said!
The donning of any insignia/uniform do not make the person “earned tittle”. Whoever may be mistaken because of the “look” is no smarter or better than the “faker” (the person who pass himself off as “real”). They do not see beyond their own vanity.
So let it be. Leave the “faker” alone, because you “know” a “faker” is not “real”, and let him/her self-indulge in vanity. “Faker” is only a shadow, then why you do worry about a shadow?
Now, when the “faker” attempts to “act” tough and mean, then it’s an issue. Because this behavior brings misconceptions about real heroes.
Otherwise, as someone had eloquently said in an earlier post. Real heroes should be proud when someone imitates their likeliness. Real heroes do not have to worry about “fakeness”.
the frog(Quote This Comment)
I’m an Airsofter, and former military service member having served with the AF Reserves as a Tsgt in a Security Police Squadron (SPS), during Desert Storm/Shield in the 1990′s.
Having said that, our team wears the old “Vietnam Tiger Stripe” uniform for our game plays. Since these are not generally seen by the public, and the last time they were worn was during the Vietnam War, I see no reason not to wear parts of them for running errands, or going to classes at my local Community College with a tank top, or some shirt. Generally many people don’t even know the history behind this, only that it was last seen being worn by John Wayne in the “Green Berets”….
Now, I do wear a rank insignia, and its the rank of a Captain, since I’m the Executive Officer for our team; BUT…. I use the insignia that is from the television series “Battlestar Galactica” on my uniform. Our team decided to wear the rank that you can find on Ebay, and the team seems to like that even though its military, it is NOT found anywhere; but on television….
Cameron(Quote This Comment)
Hello, I’m currently 16 (nearly 17, and will be signing my reserve papers for Basic during my summer). I wear ACU, no patches at all, but yes, I do wear it. I airsoft in it, but I respect the uniform, whether or not it’s current. I’m not even going to lie, I’ve worn it in public, no patches, and I never say I am in the Army. If someone seriously has a problem with it, that’s fine, they can tell me. My father is a disabled veteren that served for 7 years in the Special Forces, I find it respectful to him, and no, I don’t wear his uniform. Every male in my family has served in some branch of the military, and I’m going to carry that tradition on. As a matter of fact, even though Act of Valor is a SEAL movie, I might wear it there, regardless if you think it’s annoying. I wrestle, do Jiu’Jitsu, and kick box.. I’m not a pussy teen ager that thinks he’s a bad ass wearing it. Maybe you should find out the background even of the person’s family before you go accusing some of posing. If someone accused me, I’d politely laugh in their face and explain to them I’m honoring my father. Fuck you, nicely, if you have a problem with it.
Tallis(Quote This Comment)
I have no problem with people wearing shit when playing airsoft or paintball its just a game, people wanna be soldiers military personal should feel proud that people want to be soldiers. I support the wearing of unit patches and ranks. Only on the field though. Never ever, should a civilian be walking around with ACU or multicam and have ranks and patches on. Yeah a little kid is ok but teens that look like they are in just make it even worse. It’s fun to pretend to be sarge on the field. Shit didn’t we all run around with plastic helmets and plastic guns and go pweh pweh? I know I did. Impersonate is to act, walking around cub foods with full ACU decked out with patches and hell maybe even having your cover on indoors, lol is just wrong. But airsoft is fine stop calling are kids queer maybe not getting bitched at by a soldier won’t turn them into assholes who hate our soldiers. I know I hated the military when some redneck soldier yelled at me for having a ACU backpack on while I was walking to work. Yeah he actually drove by me three to four times then pulle over and held up traffic to yell at me and say I was disgracing him. Shit if that’s all soldiers do is pull over and yell at 17 yearolds maybe our country is shit. Oh the military disquafied me for having braces and told me to come back. So yeah. Don’t think I’m going to join anymore since I can’t wear a backpack to work.
Name(Quote This Comment)
A soldiers twirl
By, Hagberg.
The soft thump of his boots hitting the ground
Thump, thump, thump
A sudden stomp as he halts at attention.
He Raises his right heel pushes against his toes as he twirls left
Another thump as he assumes his pose.
Thump, thump, thump.
As he marks forward.
Halts and another yet another dull thump
He Raises his right foot slowly, carefully, puts it behind his left heel.
Perfect! again he marks his sweet spot.
A smooth sound erupts and then a small clap as his heels touch. Perfect 180 degrees, The click of every soldier standing around him at the same moment is satisfying.
Parade is said but as he uwas taught he waited for the execution. REST said the first SGT. Another dull thump, but this time even louder as all the brothers standing around him, all snapped to formation.
Single, as one.
Unknown(Quote This Comment)
The only problem with this kind of thing(well the camo thing, the patches i totally agree) is that most of the camo on websites and in stores are used by the military. I think wearing acu JUST for an airsoft game is fine as long as there are no ranger, sf, (etc.) or rank patches. I think anyone who wears it out of the game is a tool. There is someone i know who might have passed the marine test to get in, and thinks he can wear all this shit to school everyday. someone else put a huge ass marine sticker on his sport helmet and a backpack and i told him thats dumb but he told me his grandpa who was in the marines in ww2 told him to do it and bought the backpack….Does anyone think that is ok? I wasnt sure….my dad did the same thing to me with 82nd airborne stuff
Shawn(Quote This Comment)
Anyone (male/female) who never entered the military and served in the Army, Navy/Marines & Air Force, and can prove it by their DD-214 or received an Honorable Discharged showing that they served in another service, whether it was Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, Retired, or whatever ‘SHOULD NOT” be wearing said rank or insignia.
However, I do feel that if you are on an Airsoft team, and you want to wear your former rank, or the Unit Insignia of your old unit, then that should be the only time you should be allowed to wear the rank/insignia. Plus, not too many people are going to wear their rank/insignia every day. Many of us are content to leave them stored in a box and remember the good times; but there are times when we want to show what we’ve accomplished to the so-called “NOOBS”, who go and buy rank insignia and wear it because they think it looks cool…..
Cameron(Quote This Comment)
a lot of your views on this website are well thought out, but this one I have to say was not. a lot of the “kids” who dress up like a delta force operator, or a ST6 shooter, wear it; because they respect the real thing, or maybe they cannot get into the force, but they want to wear the same gear, and act in the roll of a delta operator, BUT there is no excuse for some pimple faced 15 year old running around with his newly found deep (post pube) voice and act like he’s in the real thing. even worse when they start commenting on forum pages calling themselves “a navy seal”
Hunter(Quote This Comment)
Totally agree with you. But what do you think about actually people who have been in the military who use their old uniforms for airsoft? My brother is ex-army and was a combat medic attached to the 101st airborne and he sometimes comes out and plays with us in full uniform, kevlar helmet and everything.
Isaac(Quote This Comment)