An Open Letter to Jericho Airsoft.

An Open Letter to Jericho Airsoft

By no surprise to some I've decided to write an open letter to Jericho Airsoft while compiling sources for my other article on hearing safety in an Airsoft environment. Now, I don't pretend to represent the Airsoft community, I represent my team and I represent the people who I know agree with me. I try to be the voice for others, even if it is an unpopular one. And right now, I'm writing this open letter to Jericho Airsoft because of what they've stirred up recently. 

So, here it goes.

Jericho, 

I'm writing this letter to explain something very simple to you. You don't know me, you'll never get my business nor will I ever really be able to tell people to go to your field. All this for one, well two simple reasons. Firstly, I live in Canada, far beyond the Wall. I can't easily go to your field, no matter how much I want (or don't) want to. Secondly, you're crusading against something you don't understand, alienating a growing community and while trying to be the "Bigger man" have simply (Not literally, figuratively of course.) turned yourself into the Donald Trump of Airsoft. 

Yup, this ass-clown.

I dislike ignorance, and what I dislike even more than that is blind ignorance. Several times on both of your Instagram photos about banning Speedsoft you've been asked by a myriad of people: 

"What is Speedsoft?" 

And your reply? Well, nothing short of horribly short sighted. You straight up ignored my questions several times; to others you responded with Trump-esque comments like:

"yes, of course I know what a speedsofter is. It's a wart on the arse of airsoft."

Seriously? That's a non-answer. You've clearly shown you don't know what Speedsoft is, and shown you have an exceptional lack of knowledge with the sport of Airsoft in general. So, it's time to bring you to school on the subject.

Airsoft, at its core; like Paintball is A sport where you play in competition with other players; aiming to get them "Out". Nothing more, nothing less. Military simulation is a division in that sport, something that SOME people like doing, but not everyone. It is not the sport, nor is it the defining characteristic of the sport. 

You should know this, you've operated a field for how many years? A lot more ex-paintballers are coming into Airsoft now, driven by it's cheaper pricing and ease of recreation as a sport. Everything is cheaper in Airsoft, right down to the pricing of the parts. I'm an ex-paintballer, part of the reason I love it is because it's affordable. More than that though is the need to have more technically proficient gear. 

When I say "Technically Proficient" I mean exactly what it sounds like. Guns that are DSG'd for CQB, rifles that are modified and made so that their trigger pull is sensitive for certain environments. Rifles that are designed for range and accuracy, and even rifles that are HPA driven like PolarStar, Tippmann's and SMPs. These are endemic to both Speedsoft and Milsim, not just Speedsofters. 

Here's the kicker. You're crusading against Speedsoft, but have told absolutely no one what your crusade entails. From what I can tell you're crusading against High ROF, overshooting and general rule breaking. I'll be the first and hopefully last one to say this.

THAT ISN'T ENDEMIC TO SPEEDSOFT!!!

But, of course you're not going to listen. Simply because you don't know what Speedsoft is. So, I'll explain gently:

Speedsoft is a mentality, it's a way of playing that doesn't require you to have a ridiculously high ROF. It's a way of tactically assessing situations and reacting based on the "Risk vs. Reward" outcome. Speedsoft comes in all shapes and sizes, from big guys like me who run the M249 to small lanky kids running G&G CM16's. 

Speedsoft is NOT the rifle you play. It is not PolarStar, SMP or Tippmann. It is not overshooting, it is not breaking the rules. That is called Bad Sportsmanship. I'll give you a recent example:

Our team was at a 12 hour MILSIM Op. We were tasked with forcing our way into a building, taking out the OPFOR and taking control. We ran into an equal force, and they cheated. They didn't call their hits; tried to call ours and overshot us when we screamed out. They had the audacity to threaten us and try to call the game theirs, all when their team was losing. The kicker? They weren't Speedsofters. They played like shit, they stuck themselves out of cover and flailed about screaming at us to call non-existent hits. They were, by all definition the kind of guys you strive to cater too. 

Our team? We're a mix of both Milsim oriented and Speedsoft oriented players. We've got two fireteams. One that ambushes, plays high-risk and one that finds their way in, embeds and takes care of the support functions. We've got a spear and a shield. This is what Speedsofters represent on the field. The spear. 

A good team, regardless if pick-up or otherwise will always have people that can move fast, fearlessly and be aggressive when they're on the field. People who remember, hey it's a game and I won't actually die. I can afford to get a 5 for 1 deal. Guys who won't be afraid to walk the line and spray at people with a M249 while being mobile. A good team will divide themselves by their talents and weaknesses. A good team will adapt, overcome and destroy the other teams that play similar. 

As more paintballers come into Airsoft you'll see how we play and think we're "Speedsofters" when in fact, we're just displaying years of practice in environments where we had to be close because we didn't have the range airsoft does. You'll see us running, bunkering and making decisions based on that split second. Why? Because it's how we play and think. You'll see us running stock class rifles, without any upgrades. Why? Well, the ROF on an Airsoft rifle with an 11.1 is much faster atypically than the fastest speedball marker, and most of us are used to playing semi anyways. 

Jericho, you're so quick to make a decision on how Speedsofters are a blight on Airsoft, when you fail to realize that we're not the minority you think we are. There's a lot of us that have this mentality, a lot of us play that Milsim game. We play objectives, we hold them and fight until the bitter end. Our skill level is beyond average to the common player when in a CQ environment and the way we perceive things differs from the average player, simply because we're not afraid of getting "Out."

Because...It's a game, and you can't ignore that. 

You want to crusade against something? Fine, I won't stop you. For the love of all that is good though stop crusading against a whole entire community that emphasizes skill over equipment. Stop crusading against a community that has people who are very involved in the Milsim environment as a whole. Crusade against the rule breakers, whether they be based in Milsim or Speedsoft. Crusade against the assholes who seek to make our sport dishonest. 

And the kicker? 

Our side won that OP. My team held one critical side for well over 7 hours in that 12 hour OP. We pushed them into their own spawn throughout this six hours, to the point where Game control had to call in a Juggernaut for them. And why did this happen? It didn't happen because we all ran full tilt into them at the start of the game, it didn't happen because we cheated or played unfairly. We didn't use better rifles. No, we used a mix of good teamwork and very talented players on both the Speedsoft and Airsoft side to get the job done. We had our teams operate the way they needed too in order to get the objectives.

You ban Speedsofters and you lose teams that have the ability to foster and grow that individual talent into amazing players that provide great experiences on the field. You ban Speedsofters and you effectively stand for splitting the sport in two, for dividing what shouldn't be divided.

I will never turn down a Speedsofter or a Milsim player from my team. I'll never turn down someone who isn't good, because that person always has the potential to become good with the right team. I've personally brought in many people who've come in fresh to both Paintball and Airsoft and I've seen them grow and become better players who dominate over the competition because of the way we've taught them to play. 

So finally, as an open letter to every Airsofter out there, and especially to Jericho.

Whether you play a GBBR, a Pistol, a P* or a regular stock rifle. You've got the ability to decide how you want to play. You can be a Speedsofter, a Milsim player or even a Comms officer in the back 40. 

Whether you come from Paintball or are starting new in Airsoft, you define who you are as a player by your actions on the field. You should never be defined by anything less than how you play and how sportsmanlike you are. 

Whether you see it as a game or a simulation you've always got room to grow and improve and shouldn't be banned because of how you want to play. 

Sincerely, 

CO-3 Juice

Covert Ops Airsoft 

"Hey, he didn't call his hit!"

"Hey, he didn't call his hit!"

If there's anything that a team leader doesn't want to hear, it's this. Unfortunately, in the game of Airsoft it's pretty common. Airsoft works on an honour based system, unlike paintball we don't have marks that determine whether or not we're out. A hit is a hit, and a non-hit...Well, it's a non-hit. Different fields have different rules, sometimes gun hits count, other times they don't. 

Last weekend a bunch of our Covert Ops guys were out at a local field playing when we were approached by Game Control and told three of our guys, specifically two from my Fire Team were being accused of not calling their hits. As a Fire-Team leader I take this pretty personally, as I am good friends with everyone on my Fire-Team and in this case have played with them both for a long time. I know the way they play, I know that they know what is and isn't acceptable. 

Rewinding for a second here, we need to look at the nature of Airsoft. It's broader community and why hit calling is so important. Calling your hits and recognizing when you're out is a major part of our sport. Surpassing athleticism, your oper8r-ness and ego all at once. If you're playing with someone who doesn't call their hits, you're essentially playing with an 80's action movie hero...You know, the one that NEVER dies?

It ruins the sport and sours the community as a whole. Even just one person cheating can be the catalyst that sours the game, airsoft and the local community as a whole. It can drive people away from your field and cause division in the community. As such, cheating of any form should never be tolerated by anyone. 

That being said, the emphasis also has to be placed on prevention from other aspects as well. Safeguards should be implemented both within the teams and fields to prevent cheating of this manner. It should also be drilled into the heads of the accusers that just because you THINK you're hitting someone doesn't mean you are. Airsoft rifles are not real rifles, they in fact do not shoot 110% straight. I'll explain...

I previously mentioned my guys were accused of cheating. What GC nor the accuser understood is that I was there with them the whole time. The fire we were taking on our position was ineffective at best. The BB's coming at us were from quite a way's away and we could physically see them. Our profiles were low and bunkered very well that it made their target openings quite sketchy. I managed to advance a good one hundred feet or so before running into effective fire and calling myself out. 

Is it possible my guys didn't call a hit? Sure, I'll accept that. Only because the BB's had lost the majority of their power by the time they reached them, so I can see one maybe bouncing off a pouch unnoticed. I however cannot see them blatantly taking hits and not calling it. Especially since I was in the same position as them not five minutes prior. 

Even still, I sat the next game out and watched them carefully and saw they were playing fairly. It's important to keep in mind we play a game, it's not serious and no one is dying. It's important to remember that even though you think you're getting hits, you may not be. BB's are 6mm plastic balls that can veer in any direction. If you think that you can track that 6mm BB over a hundred plus yards, be my guest. I'll only trust those who play with upgraded DMR's and bolt actions designed for long range engagement. 

"But Juice, how do I approach cheating then?"

Firstly, check yourself. Are you the one accusing? Are you frustrated? If so, calm down first. I've seen people call others out of anger and frustration, hell I've done it before too. Think about whether or not you can see those hits being made. If not, how do you know they're cheating? If you're thirty feet from them and hitting them and they're flailing; it's obvious. If they're a hundred yards out and your rounds are trailing, there's room for doubt. When it doubt, shut your meat hole and keep playing. Re-position yourself and keep firing. If you're playing with a DMR or Sniper Rifle and you're running certifications and can see that BB impacting, by all means call it. 

First, inform Game Control. Don't approach the player screaming and yelling at them, because all that serves to do is piss the other person off and give them an excuse to yell at you back. Game Control should be pro-active on the approach and address the issue immediately. 

"I'm Game Control, how do I approach this issue?"

Simply put, GC shouldn't be playing. GC's entire role in the game is to be able to ref the players and call plays. Quite often a lot of GC's will play while running games, if this is being done then you should at the very least have referee's on the field. 

As a GC your first job is to investigate the issue quietly. Watch the accused offender from afar and see if they're cheating. If you don't see cheating use a sidearm to test fire off their plate carrier. If they don't see you and call that hit, it's likely they're not cheating. Or if they did, it was an accident. 

If you see cheating, pull that player from the field. Give them a warning and make them wait until the next game. If they give you attitude, eject them. The sport of Airsoft has no places for cheaters or people with big heads. Do everyone a favour and make sure don't play on that field again. 

"I'm a team leader, how can I approach the issue of cheating?" 

Proactively of course...Every team should hold themselves to a high standard where cheating is not-acceptable and is grounds for dismissal. This is the only way to get some players to understand that cheating isn't the right way to play. As a Team Leader you should request that you be informed when someone on your team is accused. Take it upon yourself to watch them, make sure they know you're now eyes on. 

Keep an un-biased view, but at the same time support your guys against the accuser if you feel that the call wasn't right. Anytime someone accuses your players of cheating, they're accusing your whole team by proximity. 

"I got accused of cheating, how do I handle it?"

Don't get pissed, just accept it. Were you cheating? No, then don't worry about it. If you were though, keep a good attitude and try to understand that being Mr. 80's Action Movie Hero is only making people hate your guts more. Fix it and come back a good sport. Don't ruin our sport.

FINAL WORDS

Remember guys, Airsoft is a sport for the community. Not just you and your buddies. Keep your wits about you and be conscious of things around you. If you see someone on your team cheating, call GC on it. Pay attention to any sounds or tugs on your kit, it may be a BB hitting your back dump pouch from a hundred yards away, or it could be nothing. 

Keep your minimum engagement distances in mind, understand how far you can effectively shoot by having spotters and testing it out. Remember that just because you think you're hitting something doesn't mean you always are. Last, but not least. Have fun! There's no point to airsoft if you're not having fun. Play the game honourably and remember you represent your team and your sport respectively. Make sure to do a good job while doing so.