Following on from Pete's training day (successful by all accounts) I was wondering if we could take this forward.
I know we have been talking about training for yonks but we have previously taken a 'supporting role' approach helping out at other groups efforts.
Pete's event was rather poorly subscribed I thought, indeed bookings were slow as well.
I'd propose something a bit more ambitious covering German, British and American drilling - bringing in people that know what they are talking about and can do it well. Not Yith's attempts at drilling! I can sort this through AFRA.
Programme will be a bit more comprehensive - even stuff like throwing grenades (no one can chuck pyro effectively!).
Done on a round robin class style like we have done with Hohenstaufen training before.
Here's the rub. We do it in conjunction with PBI. Joint effort.
Not only will it make running easier it will sit well with Pete's 'move' and resolve rumours of PBI/CiA bust ups.
A bigger, better, more comprehensive training day than has ever gone before...
More thoughts:
Make it a lunchtime to lunchtime weekend. Airsofter's social in the evening.
Trainers attend modules which get signed off on an attendance card which will be something to keep as a momento.
Invite AFRA to make a pitch at some point to encourage chaps to sign up. I think I can get Dalby to allow payment towards the end of this year to cover the whole of next year as well.
Cover correct use of mortars.
Big draw to get new bods to attend - this will be an official CiA event so they will be eligible for CiA membership.
I know Gareth was thinking of using Grange Farm - this would be very suitable as a training establishment. Class room, toilets, kitchen, parade ground, bunkers, camping area.
Fee not a token £15 but a chunkier amount. Covers specialist trainer's expenses, tools/props, tea/coffee, evening meal. Just like any professional work training event would be.
Sounds like a really good idea. I'll happiliy contribute to it, on pretty much any subject. Agree on Grange Farm, it's ideally suited as a training venue and the idea of incorporating a social is brilliant.
My only reservation is Yith. He's not as good as he says he is and his instructional technique is appalling, as is his knowledge. Give him a simple task, which he can't balls up too much and it'll be alright.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Yes, Gadge isn't happy either!
I think we will have to be firm about this - the rule will be those that have something to teach and can do it well will be trainers, others will be organisers and facilitators.
Agreed. I think Gadge is up against a brick wall with Yith, just look at their discussion regarding drill (which Yith considers his "baby") on the PBI forum for further proof, another to add to the long list of fallouts. Nige and Evo are followers, not leaders, so that just leaves Gadge, who's not that much of a leader himself.
I think that we need to make any training relevant to an airsoft environment, so, if we involve reenactors, we need to choose them very carefully.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
Agreed, I wasn't proposing to bring reenactors to learn but to teach modules - such as British/German/American drilling for example - very impressive when done properly.
Incidentally, I don't think rifle drill has much application but parading has. A bit of marching can be fun for airsofters too (though I don't suppose for old soaks ).
I dropped a line to Gadge outlining the idea, asking for immediate thoughts and not to have an argy-bargy with the rest of PBI board >>>>
100 per cent behind you Dave.
Lets do it.
I cant see any of the guys objecting but i'll wait for a nod form you before going ahead.
I'm more than happy to run any of the areas. (i quite enjoy doing cam and concealment)
Great idea!
I also think GF is ideal, i also like the idea of making it a proper event.
Might be an idea to offer 40 places in 4 'classes' American/Brit/SS/Heer/FJ.
The reason i suggest that is that one thing that makes lessons tricky in the past if different armies have different weapons and uniforms and on a very basic level its easier to show a gorup how to camouflage themsleves using the kit given to that nation.
Equally pete found having a mix of Enfields, moisons and k98s trickier to give marksmanship tactics on.
Just an idea, not overly fussed about the groupings.
Oooh, how about an NCO's module? Concentrating on leadership, communication and selflessness!
Well, I can safely say that Gadge wont be running that module.......
My only reservation is Yith. He's not as good as he says he is and his instructional technique is appalling, as is his knowledge. Give him a simple task, which he can't balls up too much and it'll be alright.
Put him down for Combat Catering then. Surely even he cant make a fuck up of peeling spuds. Oh wait a sec, yes, its Yith. I'm sure he could turn it into a drama.
As to the whole idea, I rather like it!
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Put him down for Combat Catering then. Surely even he cant make a feck up of peeling spuds. Oh wait a sec, yes, its Yith. I'm sure he could turn it into a drama.
Well, we used to have a saying in the army that went "it takes your body 24 hours to turn food into shit. It takes the army catering corps 10 minutes!". I'm sure that Yith would be even quicker.
Combat leadership sounds good. Only able to scratch the surface within that timeframe though (my section commanders battle course was 7 weeks!). 100% agree on rifle drill - a total waste of time. We could do some support weapon specific stuff too, like the application of fire, keeping the gun "fed", fire control orders, etc. I'd dearly like to see more and better use made of support weapons at games.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
All good, well up for it. Pete, I need to talk to you about some of this stuff for the day I'm 'organising' on the 27th.
S
We could do some support weapon specific stuff too, like the application of fire, keeping the gun "fed", fire control orders, etc. I'd dearly like to see more and better use made of support weapons at games.
Glad you mentioned that actually. One thing I'd like to look into is support weapons and resupply of ammo. Take a German section of example, they used to carry shitloads of ammo just for the MG. It would be nice if we could figure a way of putting resupply into games. You know the kind of thing - forces pinned down, running out of ammo, a couple of victims, er, troops are chosen from amongst the ranks and tasked to return to point X to pick up ammo supplies. Adds a new dynamic into the game to start with...
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Well, I think a PBI collaboration is out of the window now. I certainly don't feel it would be a go-er, even if ways forward were looked for.
Still, there is no reason that we can't go ahead on our own. Hell, Gadge can do a module if he likes - I'm not throwing teddies. But PBI doesn't get on the billing.
Now, how about a location?
My suggestion is Ashdown Camp which is open to hiring.
Cost is £150 for ten people which is absolute peanuts!!
http://www.freewebs.com/ashdowncamp/
http://www.freewebs.com/ashdowncamp/trainingweekendspyro.htm
We are unique in that we are the only MVT area to now have four genuine restored WW2 Nissen Huts, one complete with piano and pot bellied stove, so if its chilly out you can still have a cosy night in. The Nissen Huts form part of Ashdown Camp which comprises:
• No. 1 Nissen Hut with British memorabilia
• No. 2 Nissen Hut, U.S. Army Hospital
• No. 3 Nissen Hut, Motor Pool & German Quarters
• No. 4 Nissen Hut, for re-enactors/displays
• ARP Wardens portable armoured 'Consol' shelter*
• Anderson air raid shelter
• Barb-wire entanglement
• Guard hut
• Radio shack
• Railway freight box/cars x2*(currently being being restored)
• Replica German pillbox
• Searchlights 90cm x2
• Sentry posts with barriers
• Stanton Air raid shelter
• ‘The Cooler’ an ex-British Waterways Diglis Locks WW2 guard shelter
• Wellington Bobmber wing sections
• All overlooked by the purposeful looking watch tower
+ Lots of other atmospheric memorabilia
By the way - too little time to sort anything for this year, what with preparing for Boryszyn, but slated for 2010 March or April.
Looks like a really good venue, with something for everyone. I think that once details go up for it, PBI might want their toys back from the floor!
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
It is an awesome site. Imagine being kicked out of your bunk in the hut for a 7am parade. Oh, you don't have to imagine.
Hehe, I'm joking but it would be a great authentic venue...
AFRA have held pyro training there, many reenactment groups use it and it is also used for events too - 16th SS went there earlier this year.
I like the way that they've got different "themed" huts for different nationalities. I think it would be great to have reveille in the morning and watch 3 different uniformed rabbles piling out of the doors to get on parade! It can also be touted as an ideal way for new players to come along and see what CiA WW2 airsofting is all about.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
That said, I still think we should aim to include PBI as much, and as publicly, as possible.
If there's going to be some sort of falling out, it needs to be seen that it's them creating the problems (which it is), not us aggressively maneuvering against them.
For the record, I forsee a PBI/Gunman joint venture rearing it's head in 2010.
S
For the record, I forsee a PBI/Gunman joint venture rearing it's head in 2010.
Oh God! No! Mind you, Gadge was always banging on about what a nice bloke Josh is really. If it does happen, I bet that awful manning moron slimes his way in as well.
I don't see the point in any public falling out either. Once PBI realise that they're being childish, it should all calm down. They need to realise that the CiA site is still the hub of WW2 airsoft and the main recruiting base for everyones' groups and events.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
The thing is we don't need the PBI brand as endorsement as Gadge seems to think.
We can use the expertise of players who may very well be members of PBI (just as they might be members of 16th SS or Army Group South for example).
That is to say, it will be a CiA event regardless of who may be contributing. Gadge isn't just PBI he is a WW2 airsofter and a CiA card member and and ex-CiA board member.
It doesn't have to publicly exclude PBI in any way shape or form except that it won't be their event. So, no fall out, no animosity. Indeed, if we so chose, we can invite Gadge or Yith as modular instructors and it would then be their choice whether to contribute...
Agreed, but it would be silly to put ourselves in a position where the PERCEPTION was that we'd muscled PBI out of an event date and had excluded them.
I have no issue with them not being on board, but I'd like people to see that it's the choice of PBI not to be involved as a participating group; rather than us not including them.
We've already got a reputation amongst groups like Dog Company and some of the other southerners for thinking we rule the roost. However far fetched that is, and however much we don't really give a shit, by pissing off people (whether it's that we actually are, or whether it's their damaged egos misinterpreting things) we'll start to lose the player-base.
S