Rank and Insignia in Airsoft

[Boba Fett]

Since this is always an interesting topic (and usually one with little to no debate since we all agree), I thought I would bring up the discussion of the misuse of US military rank and insignia in the airsoft world.

Personally, I would never use US military insignia simply because it is so widely frowned upon, and those who are in the military find it personally offensive, which I understand. Plus I don't like doing US style loadouts anyways.

So just how much of a problem is this? I myself have never seen an airsofter wearing insignia they didn't earn. What about foreign military rank and insignia?

[keasop]

I usually see younger kids wearing ranks and patches and most of the time when I do see it they are told by people to remove it. I personalty do not wear patches besides my american flag since I am not on a team.

[Jbagel21]

Personally, I could care less what rank you wear, unless you come running up to me yelling "I'm sergeant/captain so-and-so, now do ____!" The issue most of us vets have is people who wear combat patches or badges, or wear things incorrectly. For example, a patch worn on the right shoulder of any U.S. (and most NATO) uniform is a sign of combat participation: as such, if you are not a vet who earned that patch, then out of respect you should either not wear a patch on your right shoulder, or better wear a patch from a milsim event that you have participated in... that's what those are for! If you have not been to a milsim event, then it is good incentive to go, just like a new private in the military who has never deployed.

[keasop]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Boba Fett]

I wear plenty of patches, but no rank. Just nametape, team tape, team patch, blood type, Philippine flag, and Japanese motivational patch.

[Jbagel21]

All of those are fine, its specifically patches or badges designed or used to denote combat participation. To a vet, that's like showing up at a sports bar wearing a Super Bowl ring... can you? Sure, but should you?

[Dragon]

hehehe....

 Well, first off, howdy everyone! ( I've missed everyone and SOGOS! )

I was gonna post something else, but this topic grabbed at my attention a bit.

 I am former military, and the thing about "earned rank" and patches, combat unit patches ect... has never bothered me PERSONALLY.  I kinda find it a bit flattering, as long as someone isn't "posing" as something they aren't, or were not I should say.

 However, it does bother many that are/were in the service, and even some that weren't.  It has become taboo for a multitude of reasons too long to list in our hobby.

 I wear patches... I tend to wear as many as I can cram onto a load out, which is far fewer than I would like to sport given even my max load-out options.
 I love sporting my Delta-9 team patch, even though I've long been away and not really much a part of the team anymore.  I like wearing my custom ACS ( Arkansas Combat Simulation ) patch ( my own venue and group organization) , when I can get away with shameless advertizing lol.

Usually at big events/OPs you will gain a custom patch or two for the Event, such as faction ( team ) patch, Operation patch , ect...

And we all pick up free ones from vendors ... I think I have EliteForce patches, Kastway patches, AirSplat patches, Magpul patches, ... ect,ect,ect.

Then, there is also the patches that don't fit into any category we like ... "Hatorade patches", "Tier One Operator" patches, and many other novelty patches, including standard flag patches, like.. my fav one is my Dragon Head patch.

Name tapes... I have those as well, both my callsign, and team/affiliation tapes.

 I don't wear what I did earn, though I could... mostly... cause to me, they are rather drab and boring compared to how I operate and feel by participating in this hobby.  It's simply , in my own way... airsoft and combat simulation... is just way more "personal" , has it's own rewards and fun, and my patches should reflect that aspect more while participating.

 I did always think... for those that want ranks, and such...

Instead of copying actual military insignia , rank, patches and ribbons.... and wearing em... why not simply design a total Airsoft/MilSim patch/rank system for your team or group?
My point is... not to detract from what the real military did or has done, but simply.... put something out there that shows off your accomplishments inside the realm of the hobby we participate in more?

 Perhaps... if you were a real Delta Force operator, or Green Berret, or Special Forces world class sniper ... then your earned rank may be impressive in many ways.

 But... I have always personally felt that airsoft/MilSim/combat simulation has a distinct line of total separation of the military aspects we tend to "pretend" to play.  They are quite simply... different, and will never even be close to the same thing.

 So, why not "impress" your peers... by "earning" a made up, custom patch/rank thingy designed, and specifically built for our hobby to begin with?

 I would be far more impressed, and intrigued by seeing a .... hmmmm... , a "24 hour Operator" patch/tab on a participants load out, ( assuming it was earned by playing for 24 hours straight ), than I would to see a displaced and often un-earned " Ranger Tab" on the same load out. Even if that tab was actually earned... still, the hobby patch speaks of accomplishments and tells it's own "story" of the participating Operator where it concerns our hobby more.

 That is just me though, lol.  I have an active imagination  and have thought about this issue a bit before.  Thank you for indulging my thoughts.

[det. mcclane]

Personally, it doesn't really bother me all that much, especially if the person wearing it is going for a specific loadout for an event. However, claiming that you are Ranger if you weren't, etc  Now that gets my goat. 
I usually don't wear any sort of insignia unless it's movie related. Most of my loadouts and BDU's are movie inspired, so I usually wear my SG-1 or Battlestar Galactica patches, but I don't go around telling people that I am a Colonel in the Colonial fleet and they should follow my orders. That's the difference for me.

[Jbagel21]

I fully agree. My big thing is when someone assumes the rank they are wearing gives them authority on the field, as if they have earned the right to tell a vet how to fight: I rarely see it happen outside of the bigger milsim events so not a rampant problem to my knowledge. The reason I point out the combat patch is that is the issue the majority of us take offense to, not because they are wearing a patch on their right shoulder (most people just don't realize what it symbolizes), but because you have so many both in and out of the military who use airsoft as a chance to claim combat experience. If you want to wear patches, rank, etc, that is fine... but don't be "that guy"!

That being said, I think Dragon hinted at something that deserves mention: if you are wearing patches, rank, etc. as part of a certain loadout, do your best to wear it right. If you aren't sure how something goes, ask any of us... someone is bound to know. While you are wearing it, carry yourself with the pride and sportmanship representative of the uniform you are wearing, and only the crankiest of stitch counters will have anything to say!

[Dragon]

On the yelling aspects, which by the way.... got lost as I recalled memories of certain events the patches brought up.

 Personally, I dislike it all the way around out on the field in regards towards combat simulation.  Rank or no rank... it gets down right irritating.  Barking orders at you during simple objectives such as rushing an exposed flank.  Then, afterwards getting the attitude that follows.

 Pfffftttt.... I can follow orders , that's no big deal.  I only rush or run though when I want to, or feel like doing it.  Quite often, I've been given that rude "yell" or attitude from a certain few... and it's usually from those that have served, though I don't think these folks ever had any rank of real note. As stated before... most of that goes on in bigger Ops or events. 

 One small local event down here... I got rubbed the wrong way because of a few National Guard guys , though they were not yelling at me persay, just everyone in general on their team. 
 These guys... I am unsure of rank held, but honestly... they were thirsty for combat action, and wanted nothing more to sling BBs, and kinda got rude with anyone in earshot that seemed to hold some reserve ( and tactical brains ), and not follow them in a chaotic berserk rampage.

 I really dislike that.

 I can be aggressive. Ask anyone I've played with or against.  On the same hand... I am also apt to simply slow down even my own pace, and observe all I can on whats going around me.

 It's true, you do and will get yelled at in the real military. Even if you are a 4 star general... the 5 Star one is going to chew your butt and yell at you at some point.

 But... even MilSim is NOTHING like the real deal in it's entire whole.  I think ... many of these yellers and rank jockeys have a very difficult time adjusting to that simple fact. 
Airsoft in all it's forms, is comprised of more civilian minded folks, enjoying a wonderful hobby.  For most it isn't a "job" , it's a pastime. 

 Me personally... I tend to just overlook alot of the rude and displaced stuff... unless it starts running folks off.  It doesn't matter if it's active duty, vet, or just an overly eager player in my eyes.

I'm not going to let a few sour grapes spoil the whole vine.  Thats where I stand, or try my best to at least.

 I can't say however... I've been yelled at much from anyone that had ever held any real rank while engaging inside the scope of our hobby.  MAYBE the IFOK commander TOP at OKI6 did a tad bit...
Well, TOP is a loud guy to begin with, and he's obviously been in charge of troops at some point... you can tell easily. ( Though I have no idea his rank or background.)  TOP would yell more when he was Frustrated or Mad at the dirty tricks pulled on him, ( like when the camera guy shot him for a OKPA assassination attempt for green backs ), but I do not recall him yelling at folks, making it personal.  He didn't attack anyone's character or play style, ( even though  I know he had strong opinions of certain ones here and there), nor was he overly rude.
Top did scream and yell and curse at the CIA Liasons ( in game admins ) quite a bit... hehehe, most the time it over a dirty trick... or simply holding back our hard earned victories, so IFOK wouldn't just over-run OKPA's HQ constantly.
He did get a bit red faced at me once.... I could tell he was upset, but he didn't yell at me.  I was his acting scout at one point in the invasion, and he was trying to call me back to his main force for one reason or another... between me and him, there was radio malfunctions due to the terrain.  I am guessing he wished for me to try and counter or at least put a check on a Sniper or DMR user causing him and his group fits... one or two of our medics went down, and then our comms officer had to go to the CCP due to bleed-out.
Perhaps... even if I had been there... the situation might not have changed, but I could tell TOP was upset at the fact I didn't respond to his orders.  To be honest, he had more faith in my DMR and abilities than I did, and thought I would have changed the outcome of that skirmish.
Instead of yelling at me though, he yelled at everyone else around... which was a bit comical in my eyes, and the game went on as if nothing was amiss.

 Any other time , I've gotten the yelling rude stuff... was simply from overly aggressive types, whom seemed bent on being glory hounds, and trying to rush to fast from one minor objective to another.  I can't even say that these yellers held or had any rank of real worth or experience though.

[Boba Fett]

Mcclane you have an SG-1 loadout?! I used to but I pieced it out since I didn't think I'd ever meet someone else with one! lol

[det. mcclane]

Yup, I'll try to get some pics up sometime this week. I've been kinda putting some new stuff together, will update the picture thread when I get a chance.