Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

[CKinnerley]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

I'm not seeing the 'supporting the forces' argument, if you want to do that, give some money to the British Legion or H4H. Even better, do what I'm about to start doing and volunteer some of your time to help out SSAFA, the Army Benevolent Fund/RAFBF/Navy and Marine equivalents, whatever. All of those things will actually make a positive impact of the lives of serving and ex-forces personnel.

Putting on ranks and patches you've no entitlement to for an airsoft game will not help an Afghanistan veteran who's lost both legs and is struggling with basic day-to-day living, or another bloke who's suffering with severe PTSD, the list goes on. Again, I'm know that H4H or similar charities will sell bits of clothing or patches that you can wear/sew on your kit, stuff that might actually help to a small extent and when people see you wearing said items, it them might spur them on to do their little bit for a forces charity too.

In fact, perfect opportunity to bring up a personal favourite product:

http://www.hotshotscalendar.com/

My 2012 calendar literally just arrived in the post room, and they get better and better year on year, and half the profits go to H4H, now that to me is an absolute no-brainer win-win situation. Get one.

[blytm]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

I whole heartedly back CK and Black on this one. I'm not military so wearing a patch isnt an option in my head as I dont deserve to wear it. IMO unless a family member has passed and your wearing it out of respect OR its being worn for a charity event which the funds go towards H4H or you have been in the forces then you should wear them. Anything less I think is disrespectful to a point. The supporting the troops line is a morally selfish and no more than an excuse if your not wearing it for the aforementioned events etc.

I've seen a few wearing Nazi kit with insignia the full 9 yards which personally I think is pretty disrespectful to just about everyone who's ever served and the famlies that lost someone. Seeing this is Airsoft and not a re-anactment society theres no need to wear any sort of patch.

But yeah theres no need to wear them if your just a joe bloggs.

[Snowdrop]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

CK, ohhh that looks good, thing is though now it is a pick between the magpul calander and the hotshots one, though I'm not sure if you can get the magpul one in the UK. I have asked magpul, but I asked last year and they never replied. However, I got the Hotshots one a couple of years ago and it was very nice!

Whilst going off at a slight tangent, though still relevant, I definately agree, wearing an ISAF patch or what ever doesn't show support as you say. Wearing a H4H or afghan heroes wristband does, because it means you have physically paid some cash into a pot to help the boys and girls out. I put into numerous ones relevant to me - RAFA, RAFBF, SSAFA and this year i ended up putting loads into the RBL (partly because my 2 year old daughter kept losing her poppy and wanting mine - metal one next year for her!) but it is all good stuff, and when i am some doddery 70 year old, I may need their help!
On this note, and as I have said before, you hear that in the States, alot of fields run charity games for military causes - take the Lion Claws series, they have 6 charities they support on their website relating to the wounded and veterans, yet I can't say that I have heard of too many games that have said they are donating to H4H or what ever.
As for the Nazi stuff, yes it isn't re-enactment, but alot of guys do the VC/NVA loadouts, and they weren't exactly nice people either, or would a Bosnian merc loadout be any different? Slightly different I know, but similar type of argument

[hoggy21]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

I cant add anything more to this thread now... The only fact i had left to bring up was about the supporting the forces bit.

So far, out of my own pocket, i have probably put about £120 towards H4H. The British Legion get about £10 off me a year for poppies and bag packing events. I raised £410 for H4H doing a charity run. I wear my H4H wrist band, i wear my Undentable trust band, my British Legion band. Only one a day mind, as its the new dress rules.

Showing spport can be done in many ways. I think the best way is to donate some cash and get a band or pin badge. If you want to support your local regiment, or one you feel strongly about, find their trust website, and donate a couple of quid to them. Support them by giving a couple of quid to the charity or trust, and not to the army surplus store down the road. The charities will use this to support not only injured soldiers, but the families of soldiers whilst deployed. Everybody is quick to comment on how hard a job it is out there, but i can tell you, my ex bless her went through more shit than i probably did on the 6 month tours i did. At least i could just crack on and get on with it. She worried for 6 months. Its not just the soldiers who are effected, and by giving a couple of quid you can give their kids a nice day out, a family tea day, or help pay for some essential items to be sent out to the guys away.

I would look upon somebody wearing a band or pin badge with far more respect than somebody who was wearing a set of para wings or a commando flash on their arm. I reckon a lot of soldiers and ex soldiers would probably feel the same way. It may be difficult for civvies to understand what we get so pissy about, but if you came and saw it from the side we do it from, you would be exactly the same!

Quick edit: If some people want to donate cash, there are other charities except H4H. Blesma, RBL, CombatStress...
Another 5 or 6 years and i reckon that the major mental health problems are going to begin to emerge. Just because H4H is the most recognised, its only been going for 4 years! Just something to consider...

[Snowdrop]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

Hoggy, with you there about the PTSD issue and support for that. Thinking back to the Falklands, more lads topped themselves after that, than actually died down there, but you never hear about that. We have been in Iraq and Afghan for over 10 years now, with guys having done 3, 4 or 5 tours out there. Come 2015 when we start pulling out and the redundancies have hit and guys are away fromthe support of the military, I reckon there are going to be so many people going wibble it won't be funny.
Yes, we all do our little trip to Camp bloodhound and get TRiM'd, but it is all a slow burn issue.

[Black Templar]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

Hoggy,

Could not have put it better, spot on and hurrah. I shall see if I can find my maroon lid and raise it to you sir. Just will not wear it ever for softing.

[dieselmonkey]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

I don't do any modern loadouts beyond late 80's brit, but I do airlanding South Staffords, complete with maroon beret and insignia, and don't have a problem with it. It's a now-defunct regiment anyway, and the guy i go airsofting with is ex-Staffords, and he's perfectly happy with it all.

People tend to assume that maroon beret=para, but that's not always the case, Most Staffords in ww2 were Gliderborne, and so didn't earn para wings, hence I don't wear any, which is the usual point of contention with the stroppier ex-forces types.

Having said that, I wouldn't wear any current insignia, or make myself look like/ act like i'm currently serving.

[hoggy21]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

Yes, we all do our little trip to Camp bloodhound and get TRiM'd, but it is all a slow burn issue.

That place is a joke if im honest. Then again, 2008 was the last time i had TRiM. Might of improved a lot since then.
My experience of it was sat in Happy Valley, topping up my tan, water skiing, then getting absolutely shabbad in the bar.

[No1_sonuk]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

People tend to assume that maroon beret=para, but that's not always the case, Most Staffords in ww2 were Gliderborne, and so didn't earn para wings, hence I don't wear any, which is the usual point of contention with the stroppier ex-forces types.

When I was putting my Staffs loadout together I looked this up (partly influenced by the part in "A Bridge Too Far" where Urquhart mentions he'd not jumped). During WW2, all British airborne units wore them - parachute qualification wasn't a requirement.

[dieselmonkey]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

When I was putting my Staffs loadout together I looked this up (partly influenced by the part in "A Bridge Too Far" where Urquhart mentions he'd not jumped). During WW2, all British airborne units wore them - parachute qualification wasn't a requirement.

Yes, our reenactment group portrays airlanding South Staffords, so it's something we have to explain to the public a lot at events.

[cannon_fodder]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

Been thinking about this for a while....
The more I think of this the more I think that the wearing of ANY current flash, badge, cap, rank slides etc is a bit sad IF you don't actuality belong to that unit or have that rank. Its like someone wearing pilots wings on their jacket and not being a pilot.
Why would a civilian want to wear an ISAF flash or Sargent slides to a standard walk-on day?
I worry about guys who feel the need to wear modern "impressions" with all the trimmings to an airsoft event. Seems a bit Walter Mitty.


I can't see a big problem for serious HISTORICAL mil-sim or re-enactments but my nam-soft load-out is deliberately generic. Because I don't do the whole serious re-enactment thing my impression stops at the "US ARMY" flash with no unit or rank.

For a standard walk on day modern loadouts are fine IF they don't include current flashes. There are thousands of non-military flashes available. My kids wear Union flags, dragons, jolly rodgers , smileys etc...perfect for airsoft
All the teams at my local wear their own design computer sewn patches and/or sweatshirts/teeshirts. Available online for not a lot of money they can look as military as you want without treading on toes.
If you want to show your support for our armed forces then purchase a British legion or H4H flash and wear that.

[CKinnerley]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

CK, ohhh that looks good, thing is though now it is a pick between the magpul calander and the hotshots one, though I'm not sure if you can get the magpul one in the UK. I have asked magpul, but I asked last year and they never replied. However, I got the Hotshots one a couple of years ago and it was very nice!

This year they're actually both the same thing, Magpul provided some of the weapons etc, the shoot was done in America and Edgar Bros did the organising. Which is bad on the one hand because I bought both calendars for 2011 and am enjoying them thoroughly, but on the plus side at least you don't have to worry about trying to buy 2.

[Snowdrop]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

This year they're actually both the same thing, Magpul provided some of the weapons etc, the shoot was done in America and Edgar Bros did the organising. Which is bad on the one hand because I bought both calendars for 2011 and am enjoying them thoroughly, but on the plus side at least you don't have to worry about trying to buy 2.

Enjoying them thoroughly ehhh!! Special laminated one is it!
But plus side, if they are the same, billy bonus.

Hoggy, I haven't been involved with TRiM since 09 as well but I think they push it alot now as part of PDT. When I went to bloodhound I was so knackered, had been up since 6 the day before, didn't get the kite out of bas till gone midnight, then it was just none stop. Think I managed about 4 cans with the boys before I crashed.

[S3V3R]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

then they would wear their local regiment or corps

All the blokes I know wear local regiment or regiments that they're family serve in.
After you're comment of SAS badges ect. I understand that people wearing SF badges may be taking the p*ss a little bit.

I personally don't wear insignias because I've met so many servicemen and ex-servicemen that use it as an excuse to start an arguement/ fight.
I have two mates who serve in the Royal Commandos. I got given one of their old insignias as a present when they got issued new uniform. I wore it to one game and a group of blokes at my local site took offense to it and made my day really misserable because they didnt like the fact I wasnt a serviceman.
Also, none of my kit is "real military" kit... so i dont see the need

[Slava]

Re: Wearing British Army insignia in airsoft?

I wore it to one game and a group of blokes at my local site took offense to it and made my day really misserable because they didnt like the fact I wasnt a serviceman.

I can completely understand the servicemen/ex-servicemen that don't approve of people wearing specialist insignia...but when they go out of their way to make a persons day miserable, I think that's quite low. An honourable serviceman would politely ask the person to take the insignia off....not look to cause an argument/fight...