TOD: WINTER GEAR ESSENTIALS

WINTER GEAR ESSENTIALS...

USE THEM RIGHT!

DURING THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BILL HAS BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT KIT WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR A LONGER DURATION GAME IN WINTER CONDITIONS, AND NOW HE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THIS CAN ALL BE PUT TOGETHER AND USED. WITH A BREAKDOWN OF HOW EVERYTHING WORKS TOGETHER, HE NOW MAKES USE OF HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO SHOW HOW YOU CAN USE IT EFFECTIVELY TO KEEP YOU AT FULL SPEED AND “IN THE GAME”.

As a keen bushcrafter, mountaineer, and part-time adventurer I’ve been lucky enough to experience the “big outdoors” in many of its myriad forms around this wonderful world of ours, and to this day nothing gives me greater pleasure than simply “being out there” with a pack on my back and a big open horizon in front of me. I’ve been lucky enough to work in the backwoods and mountains, to run leadership courses in rain forests, and to spend an entire month in British Columbia, Canada in the winter just doing my own thing, and all of these experiences (and more!) have instilled the personal mantra of “any fool can be uncomfortable”.

Without going into the specifics of full-on outdoor living skills (OLS) as they’re not applicable to this particular article I will return to that mantra again and again, as being “comfortable”, a relative term I grant you, is all important when it comes to enjoying an airsoft event or game of a longer duration, and of course what I want to do is illustrate how some of those skills can be pertinent to your enjoyment of a longer duration game in more challenging winter conditions!

When I’ve travelled overseas for airsoft events over the years, I’ve played on some pretty awesome urban sites, usually former military training areas, but on many occasions I’ve been lucky enough to play in

mountains, forests and valleys that are very different to my home environment, enjoying both the game itself and the spectacular surroundings.

Life was relatively simple as we travelled to the AO by vehicle and worked out of a fixed position; this usually meant fixed tents, cots, and basic amenities, so essentially all I had to do was throw down my sleeping bag and gear… good to go.

What I did have to contend with on my different airsoft adventures though, was different climatic conditions that have ranged from beltingly hot days in Florida to sub-zero nights in the Alps! I always research the climatic and weather conditions before I travel though, and try to be prepared for all eventualities.

And this, in a nutshell, is what being able to fully and effectively participate in a longer duration airsoft game is all about, and it’s an absolute joy to me that all those skills amassed in a “previous life” can now come to the fore as part of my “airsoft toolbox”. I actually relish the thought of being out for longer, all year round, and the combination of those outdoor living skills, thorough preparedness, and the thrill of dodging BBs all comes together in one big, happy package for me!

I believe that we’ve all heard the phrase “all the gear, no idea” and this is really, really true when it comes to “overnighters” when playing airsoft, and most especially during the winter! Yes, you can look at the list of “equipment ingredients” that are often provided in articles such as ours in this regular “Tactical Outdoor Development” column, but you also need to know how to use everything, and most importantly when. In many cases for longer (and here I mean multi-day) games you’ll be part of a larger unit, with unit command and (hopefully) unit cohesiveness. You’ll have at the very least a Squad or Team Leader (TL), who in turn will have a higher echelon to report to and take orders from, and a good TL will take much of the stress out of the situation, letting you get on with “business”.

SCENARIO TIME!

The easiest way for me to explain kit usage is to return to a format I’ve used before, and put it into a scenario. Let’s imagine you are part of a “BLUFOR” team that’s been inserted into an AO during the winter with the task of fixing and engaging with an enemy force, effectively a “Search, Fix, and Destroy” mission. The scenario calls for you to be in the field for two full days with one “operational” night in the field. You are part of a light infantry unit that’s tailor made to cover ground fast and take the fight to the enemy.

First up you’re going to need that “gear hauler”, a pack that’s big enough to carry everything you need for the entire game; for me the Tasmanian Tiger RAID pack. You’ve established with “higher higher” that you will get a water replen during the course of the game, but other than that you’re on your own, so your pack needs to accommodate: • Tent/Bivvy • Kip Mat • Sleeping Bag • Stove (…and don’t forget the gas/fuel!) • Utensils/Mug/Mess Tins • Water bottle • Food • More food; you need to bomb up on calories in the cold! • Map and Compass • Sunscreen (believe me, this is still important in the winter!) • Multi-tool/Penknife • Head Torch • First-Aid kit • Main Compartment and Accessories Dry Bag • Fleece/Midlayer Shirt or Jacket • Waterproof Jacket and Trousers • Insulated Jacket • Gloves, Watch Cap/Beanie, and Thermal Gloves • Spare Combat Trousers • Spare Baselayers and Socks • Wash Kit

Now some of the kit like a multi-tool and map/ compass may well be carried on your person or in your fighting order, but the fact is it all needs to be neatly stowed and logically accessible when you need it. With all of this on board we’ll get back to our scenario…

You’ve successfully infil’d to your AO and now you have the long patrol to your overnight “laager”, or “Laying Up Position” (LUP). This patrol will be tactical so you can’t be hauling carrier bags full of pot noodles and mars bars or bin liners containing your fleece-lined two person sleeping bag! Everything needs to be in your pack or bergen, keeping your hands free for the all-important task of actually carrying your rifle or carbine. If you come into contact whilst patrolling in you’ll need to swiftly respond and return fire before you think of ditching any gear!

Once you’ve made it most of the way to your

overnight LUP it’s likely that your TL will get you into some form of all-round defence whilst they go to recce the site itself. Done well your TL will then lead you tactically into that position indicating your defensive points and arcs of fire to be covered, all of this in total silence. Once the entire patrol is inside the LUP area a good TL will have everyone take up a defensive perimeter for a while before you start to get your shelters up and food on the go.

SETTING UP

You’re effectively behind enemy lines, in the winter! Night, and therefore the temperature, will be falling in a couple of hours, and of course everyone needs to be “stood to” for dusk, a favourite attack time for any enemy forces as the light starts to fade and “grey out”. Everything is quiet though so it’s time to get set up for the night ahead.

The fact is after being “stood to” to ensure the perimeter and surrounding area is safe and (relatively) quiet, your core temperature will have fallen considerably, and now is a prime example of where the “buddy system” comes into play; whilst your “buddy” is providing cover you can get to work! First up is getting a brew on both for you and your mate to get some much needed warmth into you both; you know how each other pack so you know where to find his mug. Get that brew on to provide a hot drink or better still a mug of soup for the both of you.

Whilst that water is boiling you can start to get your basha/tent up; half the basha/tent kit will be amongst your mate’s gear, so it really is vitally important that you pack your gear together. If you decide on a tent rather than a simple basha (recommended in the winter!) look for a model like the Snugpak Scorpion 3 I mentioned I’ve mentioned before that you can pitch single-handed. Once the tent is up, quickly get into your warmer, insulated gear and of course if you have wet garments or socks change those for dry ones!

Once the tent is up and you’ve sorted yourself out the water should be boiling, so take your mucker a brew. Relieve them from the defensive perimeter role and take over while they go and sort out their own clothing/gear, and warm up. They can then lay out kip mats and sleeping bags and get some hot food on the go while you keep watch.

Basically from this point on you’re good to go for the night, and once again your TL should be advising you as to the perimeter defence rotation throughout the hours of darkness until at dawn everyone stands to again; in larger units the likelihood is that both you and your mate can get some shuteye, but in smaller units it’s worth considering carrying “group gear” even in winter to alleviate overall loading of your packs. Breaking down your LUP is simply the reverse of the night before, with everything back in your packs neatly in readiness to move out at the time your TL indicates, and of course after a good hot breakfast!

A couple of tips: • Always keep your rifle/carbine with easy reach; never be more than an arms-length from it • If you ditch your fighting order whilst putting up your tent the same applies • Only ever unpack what you need at that moment, and once used return it to its rightful place • Always keep your pack/bergen ready to go in case you get “bumped” and have to retreat from your LUP; you can always return to get any kit later when the area is secure

This is by no means a “bible” to follow blindly, just a few suggestions that should make you more effective in the field and allow you to fully enjoy the game or event based on my own experiences! It’s a system that’s worked for me all over the world in outdoor adventures, and one that I’ve transferred to airsoft by adding in some basic tactical doctrine.

At the end of the day though practising this outside an airsoft game can be huge fun, a chance to be with your mates in perhaps a stunning environment that also lets you learn the skills you need in a quieter way, and lets you get your kit and admin nailed before you need it when the BBs could be flying!

My thanks go to Bjorn and the crew for the images used here… one day I WILL get to go and play alongside him in the snow! AA