Yith, I love it, only python could do something like that. 
nice one Yith
"Will you stop talking about the war!!"
"What, you started it!"
"We did NOT start it!"
"Yes you did, you invaded Poland..."
Was it Arnhem game where that was nearly evident 
Great stuff
As long as the person in command is a good compotent leader then il follow there orders someone like Gadge for example over some of the total noobs I have seen at my local site I can come up with plans but I cant bark orders like someone else said leaders can do both.
Oh yes, no problem.
Whoever I am told will be telling me what to do I will do as they tell me. Don't give a jot if it's clever or not, assault the bridge of doom? right away sergeant. And they can yell at me like an angry Sgt Major, as long as they understand that I may answer them like a sardonic Yorkshire private... Or cry.
Its all very well being mouthy/charismatic but some idea of small unit tactics, fire control and ground appreciation does help.
If you cant work out a good quick battle plan with sound approaches to the target making best use of dead ground, defilades and cover and issue snap orders then you're just leading people to the regen point.
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
very true, how many open days has the guy with the most expensive loadout taken charge simply coz he is deputy head of department in his office? then led us all into an ambush within 20 seconds
Always makes me think of Gareth from "The Office"
it also helps if the people you are leading know what they are doing. this is made easier by the members of PBI due to the fact that they are very very good .
And by members of CiA because we've written the scenario! 
one day at phoenix ( i had been airsofting for about 6 months) i was placed with a squad, told "so and so is in charge,he has an M249" i asked " has he ever played before?" reply, " no but his brother is in the airforce" enough quilifications for me to go and swap arm band .
one day at phoenix ( i had been airsofting for about 6 months) i was placed with a squad, told "so and so is in charge,he has an M249" i asked " has he ever played before?" reply, " no but his brother is in the airforce" enough quilifications for me to go and swap arm band .
That's pure fried gold, you couldn't make that shit up mate!
"I think we are in rats' alley - Where the dead men lost their bones."
one day at phoenix ( i had been airsofting for about 6 months) i was placed with a squad, told "so and so is in charge,he has an M249" i asked " has he ever played before?" reply, " no but his brother is in the airforce" enough quilifications for me to go and swap arm band .
That's pure fried gold, you couldn't make that shit up mate!
Too true, but having said that, there are times when even having the basic knowledge isnt enough if it's only theoretical.
I've found that to my cost myself with myself being the primary culprit 
, pratical experience will trump theoretical each time.
As to my opinion on squad heirachy. If you do the costume, you do the kit but you dont play the part your missing a huge part of the game but then, i'm a larper as well and consider the "roleplay" involved in things like airsoft to be half of the fun, so i may be a bit biased, if truth be told 
i would rather earn my airsoft rank than just sew it on. at pocket i played american airborne and was awarded the bronze star, that means a whole world more to me than just buying one from SOF. same with any rank i get, ( i was given command of a section at autumn mist) i will earn it. when guys you play along side see you, and know you can do the job, they tend to be ok with you playing a rank.
There is a a lot of truth in all posts above but, lets face it, a team of competent people working tactically to achieve an objective is not hard to lead for someone who is intelligent, irrespective of their training!
This is airsoft after all. I think it is more important, especially for ww2 games, to immerse in the experience and try and think and act as the role demands.
I have met many army types who couldn't organise a "insert suitably colourful euphamism"!
All I need from a leader in an airsoft game is:
1. Good communication
2. An ability to use information and understand the assets and obstacles and objectives
3. Half an idea about tactical movement and organisation
4. Clarity about the plan, both A and B
A non military type could get that from a book in my opinion but practice with his team is paramount. The set moves and working quickly and without discussion with your team mates comes from practise. Thats why the army, etc. spend most of their time practicing so they are ready when they need to do it for real.
I have to point out I have had the opportunity to play under Gadges command and it all worked reasonably well - but a different bunch of people could have cocked it up however competent the leader!
Peter Rabbit - Tank Killer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawk914/2159973655/
I think, as Sacleyback says, the PBI people worked well, but what would I know. My only airsoft experience has been with the PBI. I never had any problem with Yith or Scaleyback being in command, and being under their command made the game really enjoyable - more so then if I had just wandered around with a gun (I think).
I am not military trained in anything at all and that I was able to feel part of this little 'unit', and not feel guilty for being 'crap', is a testament to how well they acted as leaders and I think this ability (and playing style) is more important in a leader than being 'tactically proficient' (to chose a somewhat cumbersome phrase).
There are things you learn over time (like when Yith puts his hand on his head he means 'come to me so I don't have to come to you', no idea then, but now I know) and when people do play together they will learn both how to follow and lead.
PBI works well in my opinion because it does have some hierarchy and I think the members are more then happy to play with it. When Yith told Scaleyback to take X chaps and secure the bridge on our right there was no 'Why not me? Stoopid Scaleyback!' from anyone. We did it and were more than happy to (and kicked arse 
). I like the idea that, from the roster that was put up, there are 'senior' people in PBI who will be giving a degree of orders in the game. It comforts me that if I am confused I can turn to that Gadge, Yith, Pete, Ramsey or Scaley and they will have things calmly under control - as they do - and if it all goes to hell in a handcart I will enjoy my part just as much as when we kick the aforementioned arses.
I suppose that if I had been playing for a couple of years and someone just joined who was an ex commando or some such and was in command based on that I might feel a little miffed but I would still enjoy my role.
Sorry for the rather long 'stream of thought' I do have a tendency to do that.
It's all about the immersion for me. Everything else is secondary.
same here.