In my 20 years of military experience, I often get asked, “do military tactics work in airsoft?” Having observed that many tactics and skills from real combat situations don’t work as well on the airsoft field. They don’t necessarily translate to success. Airsoft can be an enjoyable pastime. It mimics certain aspects of military operations. However, there are fundamental differences. These differences make many military tactics ineffective. They can even be counterproductive in this recreational setting.
The Fundamental Differences
Lack of Real Consequences
In actual combat, the threat of injury or death demands caution. This creates a level of precision that doesn’t exist in airsoft. Players often exhibit far more aggressive and risky behaviour than would be prudent in a real firefight. This cavalier attitude often surprises military veterans when they first start airsoft. Opponents often charge headlong into situations that would be suicidal in genuine combat. This also applies to team tactics, as commanders will often make much more wreckless battle plans, compared to real combat.
A seasoned combat veteran will take a cautious approach. They try to preserve the lives of their team and work a team. They also aim to psychologically dominate the opposition. An airsoft veteran will negate the loss of manpower, and more often than not players will split up. They focus on aggressive dominance in the battlefield to overwhelm the opposition.
Unrealistic Engagement Distances
Airsoft engagements typically occur at much closer ranges than real military encounters. The limited effective range of airsoft weapons means that many long-range tactics and fire support concepts become irrelevant. What works at 400 metres in combat may be utterly useless at 30 metres in an airsoft match.
Different Weapon Characteristics
Airsoft replicas, while visually similar to real firearms, have vastly different ballistic properties. The lack of strong recoil changes the shooting experience. Limited range and larger ammunition capacity also contribute. Furthermore, the visible projectile flight path creates a completely different shooting dynamic. Techniques like recoil control and long-range marksmanship don’t apply in the same way as having a velocity limit (0.98 joules in Japan), means pretty much all airsoft guns are equal if within the legal limits. The only difference may be the accuracy, effective range and rate of fire.
Tactics That Don’t Translate Well
Suppressive Fire
In real combat, suppressive fire is a crucial tactic. It helps pin down the enemy. This allows for squad members to manoeuvre or to achieve vital objectives. In airsoft, players often ignore incoming fire, hide behind a bush or make bold moves like running out of cover. They return fire, which negates much of the psychological impact of suppression. In addition, enemies may run out of cover. Something that rarely happens in real combat.
Cover and Concealment
While using cover remains important in airsoft, the nature of the projectiles affects its effectiveness. This can lead to frustration for those used to relying on certain types of cover in combat situations. I remember a game I attended in full equipment before I retired. I was kicked out from the field for digging a small hole to use as a makeshift trench. It was not stated that I could not do this. Later, I discovered that fields have rules like do not move or alter anything in the field. It was a useful tactic. I sat in the hole with an LMG on the floor. I covered it with bent branches to create a dome. Then, I covered it with foliage to look like a bush. I took down 15 of the other team members without being spotted.
In airsoft, you can hide behind a bush and be fairly safe as a BB likely won’t penetrate. This added cover means there is more opportunity to engage.
Flanking
When on the battlefield, military platoons/regiments/squads will often split into two or three smaller squads to flank enemies. This is often done at longer engagement distances for anything up to 800 metres on foot. The further the distance, the easier to flank. The enemy can struggle to see the teams split. This is possible if you have adequate cover and distance from their line of sight. In airsoft, this tactic does not work well. Most fields are significantly smaller. Additionally, games have a time limit. Cautious movement from cover to cover to reach another position can take time, which is limited in an airsoft game.
Leave No Witnesses
When engaged in a firefight on an operation, it was crucial to ensure the enemy could not contact anyone else. They could not call for backup. They also could not reveal the situation. Destroying radio equipment, using an EMP or scrambling radio frequencies, or ensuring there are no survivors was an important aspect. However, in airsoft, when a player is hit, they can walk back to their spawn. They can tell everyone where the other team is. Players can also share what the other team is doing and all the information. This makes tactics much more difficult to make them work.
Room Clearing Techniques
Standard military room clearing procedures often prove too slow and methodical for the fast-paced nature of airsoft CQB. People cannot effectively carry a fibre optic camera or mirror to check the room first. Trying to be stealthy or even shooting through thin walls also proves difficult to make it work in airsoft. The lack of lethal consequences means defenders are more likely to aggressively engage entrants, making cautious entry techniques less effective.
Adapting to Airsoft Realities
To succeed in airsoft, even experienced military personnel must adapt their approach:
- Embrace a more aggressive playstyle
- Focus on speed and mobility over cautious advancement
- Utilise terrain and cover differently, accounting for BB flight characteristics
- Develop new communication methods suited to the chaotic nature of airsoft engagements
Conclusion
Military experience can provide a solid foundation for airsoft play. However, it’s crucial to recognise the significant differences between real combat and this recreational activity. Success in airsoft often requires unlearning certain ingrained tactics. Players need to develop new strategies that are better suited to the unique dynamics of the game. I have transitioned from the battlefield to the airsoft field. It’s a humbling experience to adapt one’s skills to this new environment, but ultimately rewarding. Approach airsoft with an open mind. Be willing to learn new techniques. Do not rely solely on military training.
