Impression Ethics MILITARY REPLIES ONLY!!!

[Night_Stocker]

BACKGROUND: I have not served in the military, but I am beginning to compile my first MARSOC impression loadout. As some may know, I am stubbornly against wearing false rank/insignia in airsoft (I didn't earn them, I shouldn't wear them.) I have, therefore, placed myself into a challenge of my own integrity by wearing the same uniforms and (replica) gear that said military personnel do, possibly leading others to believe that I am what I'm not.

TL,DR QUESTION: What are your opinions on non-military personnel doing impressions of certain branches in the military? Is there a line that cannot be crossed? If so, where is the limit?


I only want current/former members of the military replying to this, for obvious reasons.

If you are military personnel, I politely request that you give branch and MOS as a safety against potential liars.

['Skyhawk']

Sounds like you got it right. Don't wear patches that you havent earned or served under. Unless of course it is your grand dad's WWII Flight Jacket.

A lot of "Special Ops" are performed in a sterile uniform. Why not portrey one of them. Maybe a subdued flag patch and that's it.

-Skyhawk
E-2C Hawkeye PC

[Steve]

A lot of "Special Ops" are performed in a sterile uniform. Why not portrey one of them. Maybe a subdued flag patch and that's it.

This.

Generally, if it is something that you have to serve to earn, it's probably better to skip wearing it.

Personally, I'd avoid:
-Rank
-Tabs (Special Forces, Rangers, Sappers, Airbourne)
-Distinctive Headgear (Berets)
"Varsity" Patches (Former Wartime Service shoulder sleeve insignia)
"Lettered" pins (CIB / CMB / CAB)
And anything else that is questionable.

TA-50 / OCIE (the stuff that you get issued before you go sweat your balls off) is no big deal, though. So, like your gloves, armor, replica, helmet, and all the ancillary warfighting gear should be fine.

At least for me, it's never bothered me to see folks running around in ACUs with dozens of pounds of extra crap. I've giggled a little, but it's never pissed me off. But seeing the disgusting fatbody sporting a SF beret, or the kid with the mullet sporting captain's bars, that I'm not so okay with.

Oh, and make at least some attempt to remain within the height / weight and grooming standards for whatever organization you are basing your impression on.

[Osprey]

My dad a former Marine agrees with everybody here as long as you claim your not in the military its fine. He wants to thank Night_Stocker for taking in account of double checking with military personnel about this subject. He also wants to say Semper Fi to any fellow Marines out there.

P.S My dad doesn't have a account so I posted on his behalf.

[gunfighter]

ex army and i dont realy care all we are doing is playing army

[Haloeclipse]

As long as you don't claim to have earned a badge you didn't, I don't care, hell I don't think I care either way. These kids with a hard on for accurate impressions are no different than a kid wearing blue jeans and a camo jacket.

[Invictus_722]

Honestly, I would say just leave everything blank except for name tape. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm damn proud to have made it past the initial weeding out of recruits at basic. That's the whole reason why they yell at you and make you do all the repetitive actions/drills; to weed out who can follow through with results under stress and who can't. You can be as book smart as you want to and follow all regulations, but until you've actually served, don't put it on your "uniform". I had a great experience in the Navy and it's helped me out, I'll be damned if I see kids running around with a full bird on actin a damn fool. I know I'm new here and I don't post much, and that it's milsim, but that's how I feel about people wearing the uniforms/patches/badges/ranks who haven't served; nothing was guaranteed to any of us who served, all those patches were earned. I apologize, stepping down from the soap-box now.

MM3(SS) - USN

[Darius137]

Do whatever you want. Who cares, eh.

I enjoy seeing obese people in special forces gear. I like to pretend that they're national guard SF.

If you're going to do an impression, do it justice and actually "look the part", as Steve said with the grooming and height/weight standards.

I think an impression includes your height/weight and hair. Kids that are 14 and weigh 100 pounds should probably do a light infantry loadout, as they are all skinny as hell. People with a few extra pounds should probably do PMC loadouts, and people who have stupid hair should probably be SWAT.

-Ex Army, Current Army Guard. 11B1P2BF7B2, E5p

[McNair]

Reenacting...

[Night_Stocker]

Thank you everybody for your input! This turned out more successful than I originally thought!
@Darius: I know EXACTLY what you mean! I'll keep myself in shape and well-groomed!
My fears are put to rest! I hope to see you all sometime in the field!

[R.O.B.]

If you ever decide to serve, you’ll find that there are guys who didn’t “earn” their rank and guys who’ve “earned” well above their pay-grade.

Now that that’s out of the way…

There’s very little in this world that gets me riled up, and I can assure you that folks running around shooting each other with bb guns doesn’t amount to a mouse-fart in a ball of cotton to me. However, as I’ve observed game-play, I just don’t see the relevance of displaying ‘rank’. If you’re part of a team, you know who your leaders are and I’d imagine a decent idea of where you fall in the pecking order.

As a Marine, we don’t have all the cool tabs, berets, and sh*t…but we do have the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, our marksmanship badges, our wings, and our combat diver badge. Again, nothing that is required for an effective mil-sim loadout. My opinion, ditch it.

Well, hell, since I’m feeling ‘talkative’…here’s what I think would be pretty cool. How about setting up some events that would allow guys to ‘earn’ some sh*t…some ‘bling’? Get a group together and go skydiving for a day. 5 dives gets you wings. If you’re into the f*cking freezing cold water you guys have up here, get scuba cert’d…there’s your bubble. Okay, maybe that’s a bit much…but you could setup a marksmanship qualification scheme for pistols & rifles. Hell, I’d like see some tabs/patches to let me know who the da’gone Carlos Hathcocks of the PacNW Airsoft world are. With regards to ranking structure, there’s at least one team who has one based on the number of events you’ve attended and other criteria; though, to my knowledge insignia isn’t worn…it’s just known amongst the team.

Alright, enough running my suck…back to chug some more beer in early celebration of the Marine Corps birthday!

To my fellow Devil Dogs…a resounding, highly motivated “Errrrrr”


Semper fi,
-R.O.B.

[Night_Stocker]

If you ever decide to serve...

Off topic: God willing, I'm to be a navy chaplain (first: the seminary.) all you religious types, please pray that I keep His will above mine.

R.O.B: the merit thing sounds like a really great idea, I know Deadrag Radio talked of a national airsoft organization that had a similar system (from the looks of it, the organization went belly-up.)

[MJKramer]

my advice:
1. avoid wearing a service tape unless you are actually playing in that capacity at a specific game
2. the tabs (sf, ranger, ect) sometimes serves a purpose. if you're wearing it because you think you're cool but you dont really get the idea, dont do it. if you're part of a special tasking group at the game (like I have been) then go for it. though sometimes its better to let your play skills speak for you (where I have a marginal room to speak)
3. rank... yeah, dont do it. unless its either character or team related, its not needed for a 15 year old 4 star general to go running around in dirty baggy uniforms that dont match.
4. try to wear it correctly, and if someone resepectfully corrects something (patch placement, alignment, its upside down, ect), let them.

[Catch22]

Aren't there like 20 threads on this subject?

[Night_Stocker]

Aren't there like 20 threads on this subject?

Possible. I forgot to check before I posted (loss of sleep makes for GREAT cognitive benefits )