An introduction to Standard Operating Procedures
Airsoft is a sport with wide ranging gametypes from Team Deathmatch to Capture the VIP, however many specialist sites provide something much more realistic: milsim – Military Simulation. In milsim, teams frequently wear period/nationality correct uniforms and the missions they are given are similar to ones presented to our armed forces in combat. Therefore, one would assume you would need a military or specialist law enforcement background, but that is actually not the case. In this guide I aim to show players new to airsoft who want to up their game all the way up to those seriously wanting to get into MilSim specifically.
The 4 Man Team
The most basic and effective formation, and as such is used by the British Special Forces when they are on a mission.
It consists of: A Pointman
An Operative (SL)
A Gunner
A Marksman (2IC)
Pointman – The pointman is the guy at the front, he covers the front of the patrol. Typically, he would carry an AEG which reaches out to a considerable range. His job is to lead the way, taking orders from the Commander whom is directly behind him.
HE MUST: Keep a 180 degree arc of fire
Observe the area
Provide covering fire
Look for enemy troops
Operative – The operative is the SL. Typically he carries a weapon of his choice as his main aim is to command the squad. He typically has the most experience in the entire patrol and must be switched on at all times.
HE MUST: Order the patrol
Observe the left flank
Gunner – The gunner is the support man of the squad. Typically he carries an LMG or an AR with plenty of High Caps. His job is to provide suppressive fire if the squad gets bumped whilst moving.
HE MUST: Be ready to provide suppressive fire at once
Have plenty of ammo
When not in contact, cover the right flank
Marksman – The marksman is the 2IC of the squad. Like the Operator, he must be an experienced player, able to make good and swift decisions. His job is to take out far away targets if ordered to do so by the SL. Typically he carries a DMR or a sniper rifle, as well as a sidearm or a backup AEG.
HE MUST: Be ready to provide precision shots at once
Have a suitable backup weapon
When not in contact, cover the rear
Contact Drills – These are the contact drills used by the 4 man patrol.
Mission Considerations: The Role of the Squad Leader
Mission
This is the objective of a particular operation. This is set by the Squad Leader who is the Commanding Officer of the mission.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
In what order will multiple objectives be achieved?
What is the primary goal?
Only that particular commander, planning the mission can decide how to proceed with a mission.
Enemy
The enemy are troops on the opposing side.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
Who are you facing?
What do they look like?
How are they armed and equipped?
How many of them are there?
What is their mode of thinking? In other words, will they fight, flee, or surrender?
Terrain
The area in which you are operating.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
What is the terrain like?
Are there any chokepoints or avenues for ambushes?
What is the weather like?
Troops Available to You
In this area, you should consider the makeup of your team.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
Are they strong minded, and well trained?
Will they follow orders?
Can each make critical decisions in battle?
Do the assaulters trust me?
Have we trained a lot together?
Time
Time is usually a major factor only when a bomb is ticking or a HVT is on the move.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
What is the quickest route to the target?
How should the team get there?
How should the mission be completed? Fast and quick, Slow and methodical?
These are all very important factors, you must consider. Anyone of these questions can decide victory or defeat.
Personal Skills
Camouflage
Camouflage is an essential skill for soldiers and allows them to remain hidden and retain the element of surprise when staging an offensive or an ambush. There are a number of aspects that effect how things are seen:
Shape: Some things can be recognized instantly by their shape, particularly if they contrast with their surroundings. Three easily distinguished shapes which require you to disguise for concealment are:
The clear cut shape of your outline.
The smooth round top of a combat helmet.
The hard line of a helmet brim.
Silhouette: Any object silhouetted against a contrasting background is clearly visible. Smooth flat backgrounds such as water, a field, or worst of all the sky, should be considered dangerous. An object may also be silhouetted if it is against the background of another colour. For concealment,choose an uneven background such as a hedge, bush, trees or broken ground to hide your silhouette.
Texture: If an object has a texture that contrasts with its surroundings it is clearly visible. The surface of the combat helmet and white skin contrast violently with most backgrounds, so there is a need to be disguised to assist in your concealment.
Shadow: In sunlight and in moonlight, an object casts a shadow which gives away its presence. For concealment, try to keep in the shadows if possible. Remember that as the sun and moon moves, so do the shadows.
Spacing: Mother nature doesn't put things out evenly,so remember this. Natural objects are never regularly spaced. Regular spacing means man-made objects ie telegraph poles and fence posts. For concealment avoid regular spacing.
Movement: The eye is attracted to movement, especially sudden movement for concealment, movement has to be slow and cautious. These principles are the same for day and for night time.
To be affective at camouflage, you must ensure you cover all the above issues.
BDU's are a great start, for snipers, an all in one sniper suit like those used in the cold war are good so are ghille suits, just try not to go overkill or you could unintentially give away your posision.
REMEMBER TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
Individual Contact Drills
The basic drill is:
The basic drill is designed to provide a soldier with simple steps to follow under the stress of combat. The essential goal of the basic drill is to move the soldier into cover, remove him from the last position where he was likely to be seen by the enemy, and keep him positively engaged by identifying and shooting any targets in range until his commander makes an appraisal and issues instructions.
Depending on the mission and objectives, as well as the above drill you may be expected to take more or alternative steps in a contact, but if there are any these will be briefed to you by the SL before you go on patrol.
So, to recap. We now know how a 4 man squad works, how each man has his own responsibility and arc of fire. We know how a SL takes factors in to consideration when he is commanding the squad in combat zone. We know the basics of camouflage and the basic contact drill used by soldiers. Now, I will finish with a few testimonials from some team members and friends followed by links to more indepth and specific guides.
Thank You for reading!
Stay Frosty,
Panther
Testimonials
“Being a point man is a big deal. You have the trust of your squad, and you need to do the right job, or the consequences will be severe. You must be alert and you’ve got to be a good tactician. In a way I elected myself to be a point man for my team through my instincts. I have a long range patrol rifle, a damn good shot and i know how to react when the sh*t hits the fan. “ - Ginge
“I often get asked by many people how I got so good at airsoft, I usually reply with something like blood, sweat and hard work” - Nitro
“There is nothing better than the smell of victory in the air” - Matyr
Useful Links and Other Guides:
If you brand new to airsoft, check this out: http://www.airsoft-f...ide-to-airsoft/
Anyone interested in the marksman/sniper side of airsoft should check out jaybritish on youtube, he has extensive videos on sniper training, tactics and SOP's.
http://www.airsoftso...sic-info-24466/
http://www.airsoftso...shooting-56547/
http://www.airsoftso...lie-tips-56494/
http://www.airsoftso...ychology-56460/
Airsoft is a sport with wide ranging gametypes from Team Deathmatch to Capture the VIP, however many specialist sites provide something much more realistic: milsim – Military Simulation. In milsim, teams frequently wear period/nationality correct uniforms and the missions they are given are similar to ones presented to our armed forces in combat. Therefore, one would assume you would need a military or specialist law enforcement background, but that is actually not the case. In this guide I aim to show players new to airsoft who want to up their game all the way up to those seriously wanting to get into MilSim specifically.
The 4 Man Team
The most basic and effective formation, and as such is used by the British Special Forces when they are on a mission.
It consists of: A Pointman
An Operative (SL)
A Gunner
A Marksman (2IC)
Pointman – The pointman is the guy at the front, he covers the front of the patrol. Typically, he would carry an AEG which reaches out to a considerable range. His job is to lead the way, taking orders from the Commander whom is directly behind him.
HE MUST: Keep a 180 degree arc of fire
Observe the area
Provide covering fire
Look for enemy troops
Operative – The operative is the SL. Typically he carries a weapon of his choice as his main aim is to command the squad. He typically has the most experience in the entire patrol and must be switched on at all times.
HE MUST: Order the patrol
Observe the left flank
Gunner – The gunner is the support man of the squad. Typically he carries an LMG or an AR with plenty of High Caps. His job is to provide suppressive fire if the squad gets bumped whilst moving.
HE MUST: Be ready to provide suppressive fire at once
Have plenty of ammo
When not in contact, cover the right flank
Marksman – The marksman is the 2IC of the squad. Like the Operator, he must be an experienced player, able to make good and swift decisions. His job is to take out far away targets if ordered to do so by the SL. Typically he carries a DMR or a sniper rifle, as well as a sidearm or a backup AEG.
HE MUST: Be ready to provide precision shots at once
Have a suitable backup weapon
When not in contact, cover the rear
Contact Drills – These are the contact drills used by the 4 man patrol.
Mission Considerations: The Role of the Squad Leader
Mission
This is the objective of a particular operation. This is set by the Squad Leader who is the Commanding Officer of the mission.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
In what order will multiple objectives be achieved?
What is the primary goal?
Only that particular commander, planning the mission can decide how to proceed with a mission.
Enemy
The enemy are troops on the opposing side.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
Who are you facing?
What do they look like?
How are they armed and equipped?
How many of them are there?
What is their mode of thinking? In other words, will they fight, flee, or surrender?
Terrain
The area in which you are operating.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
What is the terrain like?
Are there any chokepoints or avenues for ambushes?
What is the weather like?
Troops Available to You
In this area, you should consider the makeup of your team.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
Are they strong minded, and well trained?
Will they follow orders?
Can each make critical decisions in battle?
Do the assaulters trust me?
Have we trained a lot together?
Time
Time is usually a major factor only when a bomb is ticking or a HVT is on the move.
WHAT THE SL WILL CONSIDER:
What is the quickest route to the target?
How should the team get there?
How should the mission be completed? Fast and quick, Slow and methodical?
These are all very important factors, you must consider. Anyone of these questions can decide victory or defeat.
Personal Skills
Camouflage
Camouflage is an essential skill for soldiers and allows them to remain hidden and retain the element of surprise when staging an offensive or an ambush. There are a number of aspects that effect how things are seen:
Shape: Some things can be recognized instantly by their shape, particularly if they contrast with their surroundings. Three easily distinguished shapes which require you to disguise for concealment are:
The clear cut shape of your outline.
The smooth round top of a combat helmet.
The hard line of a helmet brim.
Silhouette: Any object silhouetted against a contrasting background is clearly visible. Smooth flat backgrounds such as water, a field, or worst of all the sky, should be considered dangerous. An object may also be silhouetted if it is against the background of another colour. For concealment,choose an uneven background such as a hedge, bush, trees or broken ground to hide your silhouette.
Texture: If an object has a texture that contrasts with its surroundings it is clearly visible. The surface of the combat helmet and white skin contrast violently with most backgrounds, so there is a need to be disguised to assist in your concealment.
Shadow: In sunlight and in moonlight, an object casts a shadow which gives away its presence. For concealment, try to keep in the shadows if possible. Remember that as the sun and moon moves, so do the shadows.
Spacing: Mother nature doesn't put things out evenly,so remember this. Natural objects are never regularly spaced. Regular spacing means man-made objects ie telegraph poles and fence posts. For concealment avoid regular spacing.
Movement: The eye is attracted to movement, especially sudden movement for concealment, movement has to be slow and cautious. These principles are the same for day and for night time.
To be affective at camouflage, you must ensure you cover all the above issues.
BDU's are a great start, for snipers, an all in one sniper suit like those used in the cold war are good so are ghille suits, just try not to go overkill or you could unintentially give away your posision.
REMEMBER TO BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
Individual Contact Drills
The basic drill is:
- Double tap
- Run two or three steps
- Drop to the ground or into cover
- Crawl a few yards (or move under concealment/cover)
- Observe
- Shoot (identified targets of opportunity within effective range)
- Move
- Observe
- Shoot
- Repeat until issued orders.
The basic drill is designed to provide a soldier with simple steps to follow under the stress of combat. The essential goal of the basic drill is to move the soldier into cover, remove him from the last position where he was likely to be seen by the enemy, and keep him positively engaged by identifying and shooting any targets in range until his commander makes an appraisal and issues instructions.
Depending on the mission and objectives, as well as the above drill you may be expected to take more or alternative steps in a contact, but if there are any these will be briefed to you by the SL before you go on patrol.
So, to recap. We now know how a 4 man squad works, how each man has his own responsibility and arc of fire. We know how a SL takes factors in to consideration when he is commanding the squad in combat zone. We know the basics of camouflage and the basic contact drill used by soldiers. Now, I will finish with a few testimonials from some team members and friends followed by links to more indepth and specific guides.
Thank You for reading!
Stay Frosty,
Panther
Testimonials
“Being a point man is a big deal. You have the trust of your squad, and you need to do the right job, or the consequences will be severe. You must be alert and you’ve got to be a good tactician. In a way I elected myself to be a point man for my team through my instincts. I have a long range patrol rifle, a damn good shot and i know how to react when the sh*t hits the fan. “ - Ginge
“I often get asked by many people how I got so good at airsoft, I usually reply with something like blood, sweat and hard work” - Nitro
“There is nothing better than the smell of victory in the air” - Matyr
Useful Links and Other Guides:
If you brand new to airsoft, check this out: http://www.airsoft-f...ide-to-airsoft/
Anyone interested in the marksman/sniper side of airsoft should check out jaybritish on youtube, he has extensive videos on sniper training, tactics and SOP's.
http://www.airsoftso...sic-info-24466/
http://www.airsoftso...shooting-56547/
http://www.airsoftso...lie-tips-56494/
http://www.airsoftso...ychology-56460/
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