Features

WebSighting: Section 8 Of Slovenia

Gungho Cowboy

A very impressive airsoft team, the Slovenia-based Section 8 is a mil-sim oriented Airsoft group that has a very well-defined organisational rules and specialisation. They're actually patterned after the US Armys Special Forces and try to train along the lines of these units. Everything they do is with clear written rules, typical of any well-knit unit oriented towards military simulation. With their website explaining what they do and how they play in airsoft skirmishes, this is one tough team to take on at any airsoft event.

Let the site contents speak more about the team:

Section 8 - Purpose and mission

To assemble, equip and train 18 serious airsoft skirmishers according to our unit organization, Within time and financial limits at hand. One of our main goals is excellent atmosphere and team spirit in our team.­

Insignia

The insignia shows the character of the Section 8 and it's members. We try to give 110% at everything we do. We are proud of our successes, we learn from our failures and we try not to repeat past mistakes.



Insignia show a spartan Hopplite helmet, inscription above the helmet reads ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (Molon Labe) ­The insignia has a shape of a shield, in the bottom, the shield sports a stylized Corinthian cross, showing our national heritage.

Why a Spartan helmet?

When Persians attacked ancient Greece, the Greeks assembled an alliance under the leadership of Athens. An important part of this defense alliance were the Spartans, hence the Spartan helmet in the insignia. 300 Spartans and a small group of Thebans was assigned to defend a strategical pass at Thermopylae. When 600.000 Persian soldiers advanced to Thermopylae, they bragged to the defender, that their bow arrows are so many, they will block the sun.The Spartan reply was laconic: "Good, we shall fight in the shade then!"

Why the inscription Molon Labe?

When the Persian king Xerxes offered the Spartan king Leonidas, to surrender, to lay down their arms and go home, Leonidas answered: "Molon Labe" which roughly translates: Come and take them! Before the final battle, king Leonidas ordered his men: " Eat a large breakfast! We shall dine in Hades!"

All 300 Spartans and a few remaining Thebans have died after 3 days of fierce combat (due to treason), the Greek alliance has, due to their heroic 3 day fight of the Persians, managed to organize an armada, which was able to defeat and oust the Persians from Europe.

Why Section 8?

Section 8 members, have quite some mileage under their belts, many of whom gathered the millage in the Slovenian oldest and at certain point larges Mil-Sim club. The name (Section 8) on one hand shows our small numbers, of which we are proud of and on the other hand it shows our informal character of the team. The meaning of the name: In the past, personell in the US armed forces were dismissed from service in case of mental and/or personality disorders under the section eight of military code.

The nature of approach to training and mission is take serious and still we try to make it as fun as possible. Section 8 is comprised of two fire teams. Functions within each team are strictly designated and all members must be fully capable to handle all replicas and gear in our inventory.

Basic mandatory gear

Each new member of the team gets a booklet with full list of instructions which elaborate what is allowed within the team and what isn't.

Basic mandatory gear list:

  •    Woodland Raid BDU/Boonie hat
  •    OD Baseball cap with insignia
  •    OD Hoodie with insignia
  •    Two black T-Shirts with insignia
  •    AEG replica with metal casing, Armalite series, Tokyo Marui compatible magazines.
  •    Proud Lightweight Plate Carrier.


Adequate hand protection (Nomex aviator gloves), adequate feet protection (military grade black leather boots), adequate eye protection (ANSI/DIN certified shooting glasses)


Gear and equipment is purchased step by step, within the prescribed time frame. All gear and equipment that is not mandatory or allowed is prohibited.

The Team 

Section 8  is an airsoft Mil-Sim team comprised of 18 warriors and is emulating the special forces of the US Army's A-Teams as well as their support units, the B-Teams. The A-Team is the core unit of the special forces, after which we have taken the structure and in large portion also the operational procedures. SFOD-A, (Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha aka ODA), unofficially named "the swiss knife" of Special Forces, because of the wide spectrum of missions they are able to carry out, since they are trained in:

  • DA - (Direct Action) Force-on-Force combat, a direct confrontation with the enemy, where small unit tactics, fire and maneuver, use of marksmanship and superior firepower come to play.
  • SR - (Special Reconnaissance) Behind enemy lines reconnaissance, where use of tactics, navigation, concealment and evasion are the top traits while trying to avoid contact with the enemy.
  • FID - (Foreign Internal Defense) Training and advisory as instructors to foreign allied forces. In training centers, as instructors and as advisers in the fields or attached to combat units.
  • UW - (Unconventional Warfare) Guerrilla warfare, using and employing the same kind of hit and run tactics as the enemy, usually called conflicts of intensity lower than war. Using guerrilla tactics, being able to to fight the indigenous enemy, behind enemy lines, autonomously, without additional forces support.
  • CT – (Counterterrorism) In addition to the knowledge of urban warfare (FIBUA/MOUT) expert knowledge of direct close in firearms combat in close quarters (CQB) is honed.

These types of missions are complemented with humanitarian missions which are of no importance to us. The type of missions we do use on regular basis are patrolling, cooperation with regular and irregular forces, personelll rescue, VIP snatching and VIP elimination.

A-Team is comprised of twelve highly trained operators, each member is a fully trained SF operator but has a specialty skill which clearly reflects in the unit structure. The unit structure has been modified for airsoft purposes, we retained the MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) structure:

  • MOS: 18A, Detachment Commander, Fire Team 1 leader.
  • MOS: 180A, Executive Officer, Fire Team 2 leader
  • MOS: 18Z, Operations NCO, Fire Team 1
  • MOS: 18F, Operations & Intelligence NCO, Fire Team 2
  • MOS: 18B, Weapons NCO, Fire Team 1
  • MOS: 18B, Assistant Weapons NCO, Fire Team 2
  • MOS: 18C, Engineer NCO, Fire Team 1
  • MOS: 18C, Assistant Engineer NCO, Fire Team 2
  • MOS: 18D, Medical NCO, Fire Team 1
  • MOS: 18D, Assistant Medical NCO, Fire Team 2
  • MOS: 18E, Communications NCO, Fire Team 1
  • MOS: 18E, Assistant Communications NCO, Fire Team 2

All section 8 operators that perform specialized tasks have armament adapted to their needs as well as other gear and equipment that is required for mission completion.

Section 8 has, as their role model, the US Army SF their own B-Team or Operational Detatchment Bravo (SFOD-B aka ODB) who's primary role is dedicated support in the following fields:

  • Planing and execution of SF operation within larger external groups.
  • Preparation and training od ODA before specific missions.
  • Infiltration and field preparation before ODA arrival.
  • Execution of operartions before ODA arrival without external support or guidance.
  • Preparation, organisation and training of local units for SF operations.
  • Advisory roles and training of other forces.

Since ODB is a part of Section 8, same rules regarding everything apply as for the ODA within S8. ODB emulates the oposition (RedFor) by using adversaries tactics and MO. ODB operators command guest units on a regular basis in skirmishes as well as in training skirmishes. By exchanging roles in the unit, the CrossTraining programme is in effect. ODA members rotate on a regular basis to the ODB, by commanding the guest units and emulating the oposition (RedFor) additional skills, knowledge and tactics are gained. ODB has no regular structure but is in general comprised of 6 operators, who have rotated to ODB from ODA so the structure and armament and firepower change on a regular basis.

The Gear

The basic idea of Section 8 is a team, trained, motivated, where members see the Mil-Sim aspect of airsofting as their primary goal. Appropriate gear, equipment and armament is naturally considered equally important. The strict rules regarding mandatory and allowed gear are enforced to ensure proper uniformity, uniformed visual appearance, compatibility in combat situations and raising the Mil-Sim aspect to a higher standard. The rules are set much more restricting, which makes the obtaining of proper gear easier. All of the gear, equipment and armament is airsoft tested and works. The basic rule applies, that any equipment that is not listed, not allowed is prohibited.

The complete list of gear is constantly changing and is being updated on regular basis. All changes are posted after initial testing has proven the particular gear to be acceptable for airsoft use in practical sense as well as in financial sense. While optional/allowed gear does not have a time frame within which it has to be obtained, the mandatory gear on the other hand has a strict but fairly long time frame within which the mandatory gear has got to be obtained. The time frame which is set for mandatory gear is set-up in a manner, where it does not pose to heavy of financial burden on the team member.

Armament

Armament within Section 8/Reserve8 is directly conditioned with the mission objectives which are placed upon the unit. At the same time size and operator compatibility and uniformed visual appearance are also key factors in determining the armament within the Section 8. Armament is primarily divided into main groups, which we will look at later on. Allowed armament is all the armament found in the list. Denote "MANDATORY" at each category indicates, that every member must posses such a weapon. Denote "OPTIONAL" indicates that the choice to use and obtain such a weapon are left to team members discretion.

  • PRIMARY ARMAMENT - Assault Rifles (MANDATORY)
  • PRIMARY ARMAMENT - Squad Advanced Marksman Rifles (OPTIONAL)
  • PRIMARY ARMAMENT - Squad Automatic Weapons (OPTIONAL)
  • SECONDARY ARMAMENT - Pistol (OPTIONAL)


Armament Classes

Section 8 has the following formation armament, comprised of:


  • Minimum 6x Rifleman (Armed with M15A4/2 Assault Rifle)
  • Maximum 2x Machine Gunner (armed with M249 SAW)*
  • Maximum 2x Squad Advanced Marksman (Armed with M15A4 SAM-R)*
  • Minimum 2x Grenadier (Armed with M15A4 Assault Rifle +M203 Grenade Launcher)



*SAW and SAM operators are, due to the firepower of their primary armament obligated to employ the minimum engagement distance of 15 meters. And therefore must use secondary armament, the pistol.


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