Author: Blake the Airsoft Warrior

In airsoft you will often encounter field environments.  Fields present a difficult challenge to an airsofter because they lack cover and allow the enemy to observe your every move.  It takes good tactics, skillful movement and use of cover, and thoughtful reaction to survive the field environment.

I often battle in field environments.  I have a like/hate relationship with field combat.  On one hand the excellent observation and ability to react to situations in advance is great.  But, the difficulty of eliminating well positioned enemies can be maddening.  Hopefully this post will give you some assistance and ideas that you can use to be more combat effective in the field.

Good tactics are key.
 Try to locate the strong points and cover in a field environment.  Most of the time the defensive team will have an advantage in the field if they use good tactics.  Position your team so that they can take full advantage of the excellent field of fire that the environment has.  Use the base of fire tactic often.  A single AEG can protect a large area and free up the rest of the team for an outflanking maneuver.  Try to set up your positions so that if one is overrun your other positions can eliminate the enemies that have captured it.

Move and use cover skillfully.
Cover is key in the field.  A ravine, tree, rock, or small hill can provide you with good cover and a strong position.  When moving, plan ahead and have the rest of the team cover you. Move quickly and get to your next position as fast as possible.  The less time you give the enemy to react the better your chances of survival will be.

Think about your reactions.
Plan your moves and how you will counter the enemy if he strikes.  If you used good tactics and good positioning you should be well prepared for an enemy assault or the initiation of your operation to eliminate the enemy.

The key to a successful field operation is to use your skills appropriately and effectively.  Let me know what the hardest part of field operations is for you and what you are doing to improve in that area!

Have you ever fought one on one in airsoft?  Fighting one on one is a very personal style of combat.  It involves your skills and concentration to be an accomplished one on one airsofter.  You may encounter one on one scenarios whether you want to or not.  If you get separated from your team, decide to go hide out and set-up an ambush, or if a planned operation went wrong and you are now on your own, you will find yourself in one on one combat.  How you, and you alone, react will determine if you are eliminated or survive to fight on.

Thinking ahead is key in one on one combat.
Think about what your enemy might do and how you are going to react to that situation.  Improve your position by selecting new cover, or making an aggressive move that compromises the enemy’s position forcing him to react to you.

Make the enemy react to you.
 If you can keep forcing the enemy to do the things you want him to do, you will eventually get him right where you want him, and elimination will follow.  An example would be if you noticed a good position with cover on the enemy’s right flank. On the enemy’s left flank is open field.  If you can get to that position and force him to back out into the open you can make an elimination.

One on one combat requires fast reaction.
 Don’t plan so far ahead that you don’t notice the here and now.  Check your flanks and rear to make sure that another enemy that has come to the aid of his teammate isn’t sneaking up on you.  It may be a good idea to make an tactically incorrect move, such as rushing the enemy, to save time and allow you to join your fellow soldiers. Play it smart and don’t take an unnecessary risk if there is a better route.

Airsofting one on one is a difficult but necessary skill to improve.  Get some buddies and test out some scenarios the next time you airsoft to see what you need to improve on in your one on one combat.  Let me know what is the most difficult part of one on one airsofting for you.

Using cover is one of the basic skills you will have to master to become a better airsofter.  Cover is key to survival in an airsoft battle.  It provides you with protection and allows you to implement strategies effectively when used properly.

When I was in an airsoft battle on a 3 man team, we held a hill top position with a bunker for protection.  As the battle progressed both of my teammates were eliminated.  I had to defend the position by myself against 8 enemies!  In the end I was eliminated, but not before I had taken four of the opposing team with me!  In this post I will explain how to use cover so you too can be the “King of the Hill”.

When using cover, be sure to select a position that is big enough to protect you and your teammates with you.  You don’t want to be trapped or eliminated because there wasn’t enough room for you to maneuver.

Make sure that you can move behind your cover.  A good strategy when you are behind cover is to switch the side of the bunker you are firing from to allow you to engage more enemies and make yourself unpredictable so you don’t get eliminated.  Learn to shoot with your non-dominate hand or “off-hand” to allow you to get maximum protection from your piece of cover. I was able to stay alive as the “King of the Hill” because I frequently switched which side I fired from thereby keeping the enemy force off balance.

Another invaluable tip when you are in cover is to keep your head down!  It may sound obvious but you will be tempted to stick your head over the cover to observe the field and “just have a look”.  Try to only use the sides of your cover to fire and observe the field.  This technique will keep you from, as I call it, “goose-necking” and will allow you to survive longer.

I hope that you take these lessons and apply them to your airsofting skills.  Let me know how they work for you; and I would enjoy hearing about any “King of the Hill” stories you may have.

Airsoft is a great game in itself.  It allows you to hang out with your friends and just have a good time together.  But airsoft is also a great outlet to practice real world skills that you can apply to defend yourself, your family, your friends, and your country.

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine and he thought that if you were going to airsoft you should take it to the next level and incorporate some real world application that you could use outside the battlefield.

Here are some ways that you can take your airsofting beyond the battlefield.

Practice Home Defense
Whether you’re clearing a building full of enemies or ducking behind cover for a few seconds on your way to storm the enemy, use that time to think of how the situation could apply to your home.  How would you or do you react?  Where would you hide?  How could you stay alive?  Read up on how to clear rooms, operate pistols, and increase your shooting and close quarters skills.  If you are old enough, take a home defense or concealed carry course.

Practice Homeland Defense
You may have thought about joining the military or airsoft may have piqued your interest in the armed forces.  Take the time to read up on historical battles or current military events.  Honor your veterans and thank them for their service.  In battle, remember who you represent and be respectful even if it is “just a game”.  In battle try to work on skills that are important to military operations. Being more fit, having better teamwork in operations, and increasing your skills in shooting and tactics are great places to start.

Practice People Skills
Even if you don’t join the military or a police force you can still take away something from airsoft, namely,  how you work with other people.  Try to be friendly and a team player.  Get to know other players and their interests outside of airsoft.  Work on your communication skills.  Invite others to play at an airsoft facility, train in your house or backyard, or just get together and hang out.

I encourage you to take your game to the next level by applying your skills, learned or practiced in airsoft, to the real world.  On a final note, don’t ever let your game become so “real” or “next level” that you and the others around you are not having any fun.  Airsoft is still just a game and you have to treat it as such and have fun with it.

In an upcoming post I will share with you how I used airsoft tactics to bag my first turkey! Stay tuned!

The outflanking tactic is a basic yet effective tactic used in battles throughout history.  One of the best parts of the outflanking tactics is its versatility and simplicity.  It is easy to adapt to most situations and doesn’t usually take a lot of planning.

The first step to outflanking is to establish a base of fire that will keep down the enemy’s heads and keep them from eliminating your outflanking team or from expecting and preparing for the maneuver.

After establishing your base of fire, plan your outflanking team’s advance and decide where you will engage the enemy.  What cover is available?  How can you conceal the maneuver?  Will you wait to engage the enemy until you get completely behind him and attack from the rear?  Should you attack from both of the enemy’s flanks?  These are all good questions to ask yourself before you start the outflanking maneuver; and how you answer them will depend upon the terrain, number of soldiers in your team and the enemy’s,  and what the tactical situation is.

Complete the maneuver as planned using stealth and teamwork.  Do your best to coordinate your attack with your base of fire element and the rest of your team.

Winter is one of the best times to airsoft.  The cold weather allows you to battle longer without getting overheated, and you don’t have to worry about snakes, pesky mosquitoes, or flies.  But winter also presents a set of new challenges.

Safety is number one in all airsoft battles and winter battles are no exception.  Be sure to hydrate yourself and remind your buddies to do the same.  Although you may not feel thirsty you are still burning a lot of water and you need to replenish it.  Hot chocolate or soup in a thermos can be a great way to warm up and hydrate in between rounds. Dress in layers and take warm up breaks inside or around the campfire when possible to keep everyone at the top of their game.

Tactics change in winter.  A great defensive position or hide out in the summer can become completely useless in the winter because of lack of foliage.  If possible, scout out the field before the battle to determine how it has changed since summer and how you can adapt.  Be flexible and find new hide outs and cover that will allow you to take advantage of your enemy’s new lack of protection.

Maintenance of your airsoft guns is very important when battling in the winter.  Dry your gun after every battle to prevent damage.  Buying an extra battery may be a good choice if you plan on fighting in extended battles because the cold will zap your battery’s charge faster.

Winter is one of my favorite seasons to go airsofting.  It allows me to train and stay active so I have an edge in the spring.  Don’t let the cold keep you out of the field.  Remember to stay safe and adaptable and have fun!  Let me know what your favorite part of a winter battle is.

The base of fire tactic is one of the most useful tactics in airsoft.  It involves using part of your team as a “base” that provides covering fire for operations and a fall back point for the rest of the team. It can be used with your other tactics to enhance their effectiveness or it can be use by itself as an effective defense.

I used the base of fire in a recent battle.  My team needed to route the enemy from a very strong position. We decide to position our base of fire man behind cover while the rest of the team made a full out attack on the enemy’s flank.  On the command he laid down a wall of BBs on the enemy position.  He kept their heads down long enough for us to cross open field and overrun the enemy.

Here is how the base of fire tactic works-

1.  Find a defensible point for your team member(s) to position in so they can provide a base of fire.  It needs to have clear firing lanes that allow your team to engage the enemy or cover your team during the operation.

2.  In the chosen location, position a machine gun or other effective weapon that will be able to engage the enemy and keep them pinned to their position during the operation.  If the enemy’s head is down they won’t be able to effectively stop the rest of you team from engaging them or over running their position.

3.  Have the base of fire team provide covering or suppressive fire for the duration of the operation.  After the enemy has stopped their attack or your team has completed the mission, have the base of fire team move up and find another position to set up in.

Using the base of fire tactic will allow you to enhance your tactic and combat effectiveness.  Try implementing it in your next battle!  Let me know how it went.