The Airsoft Combat Enthusiasts (ACE) Brigade is a federation of Filipino Airsoft teams based in the UK. Initially comprised of five teams: the Wildcats, Warhawks, Special Airsoft Forces (SAF) based in the Isle of Man, Black Cats, and the Filipino Community Basildon Airsoft Team (FilCombat) in Essex, it has recently added two more teams: Pinoy Ammunition 21 (PA21) and the Worthing Redfox.

While the teams have been existing early on, ACE Brigade was established in late 2006 to provide a unifying umbrella for these Filipino Airsoft teams. One result of ACE Brigade's formation is the The Gathering which gathered all these airsoft teams to play at Combat South in Portsmouth last May 2007. The Gathering promises to be bigger in 2008, as other Filipino teams from other European countries have signified their intention to send delegations.

We have gotten in touch with Sir Leech, one of the spokespersons for ACE Brigade to discuss further this Filipino's contagious disease called Airsoft.

Sir Leech, how long have you been playing airsoft? What is your profession apart from being one of the influential members of ACE Brigade?

Leech: I've been playing airsoft for nearly 3 years now. We started out as a two man team (with Sir Vince357) then and as they say the rest is history.

I'm with the allied health profession. This pays the bills as well as for  the AEGs and kits. But airsoft feeds the soul.

How are the ACE Brigade forums doing these days? We have noticed that you have one of the most organised airsoft team sites in the UK.

Leech: The forums are doing great. I started a proboards based forum to make a place for Pinoy airsofters to hang out, seek help, and plan to meet up for skirmishes. It was okay and it was serving its purpose. It was only when Dryx came into the picture that things really improved a lot (as everyone can see for themselves). We now have 7 teams on the roster. With possible affiliations from our European based counterparts slowly taking shape.

The site also has facilities for live chat if a topic needs to be discussed in real time by more than 2 individuals. The site really is fantastic in fact it gets updated every so often. So any comments or suggestions to the site is always welcome.

Can you tell us more about the objectives and activities of ACE Brigade?

Leech: The main purpose of the Brigade's existence is still the same. A place to hang out, seek help, and plan for skirmishes. The first major endeavor for us was when we organized the first Gathering. Taking what we've learned from that event we are now in the process of having Reloaded: The Second Gathering. There is now talk of actually hosting/organizing competitions or bigger milsim type events but nothing's set on stone just yet.

You had The Gathering last May and intend this to be an annual event, how is the planning going on for next year's event?

Leech: The theme for next year's event is Reloaded:The Second Gathering. It will still be a friendly, getting to know the players, meet with old friends type of event. We have the date finalized. The site is still under negotiation. So just watch the space in the Brigade website.

How do you think Filipinos, especially the ACE Brigade teams are doing in the UK Airsoft scene?

Leech: I believe we've been welcomed with open arms in the airsoft scene. In fact I think that because of our jolly, friendly, and sometimes cheeky nature we have actually warmed up to our indigenous counterparts.

Are the ACE Brigade member teams just restricted to Filipinos?

Leech: The Brigade was initially intended for Pinoy airsofters. Since at that time there was not much of us I thought it would be nice to be able to meet more experienced Pinoy players who can show newbies the ropes.

Although the Brigade is still predominantly made up of Pinoy teams and members it is not in any way restricted to Filipinos. During skirmishes we always give out invites to our local counterparts to visit the site and sign up if they like to. In fact we've set out an advisory that all discussions and posts be written in English [rather than Filipino]. This is all to help show our solidarity and solidfy our integration into the UK airsoft scene.

Are you in close contact with the airsoft community in the Philippines?

Leech: As an airsofter I was born and raised here. I have never skirmished in  the motherland. However I do have contact with a friend or two who are  regular skirmishers back home. I also keep a close watch on what's happenning back home through different team forums, federation sites, as well as print (AirsoftXtreme) and broadcast media. 

Any differences on how airsoft is played in the UK and in the Philippines?

Leech: As I said i've never skirmished in the mother land so my reply would be more academic than from experience. From what i have heard and read there is a unique flavor to the way Pinoys skirmish back home. One of these would be playing on a free fps site. Can you imagine that? Playing without restrictions to your AEG's velocity....that's scary stuff. As they say this really separates the men from the boys.

To end this interview, what's in your personal airsoft armoury?

Leech: I tend to keep my airsoft armoury as simple as possible. I have a stock CA M4 as my primary which I kitted up with a PEQ battery and red dot scope and I have a stock KSC Glock 19 as secondary. I also have a TM G3 that I swapped with Bullet Proof Mike for my DE M50 sniper rifle. That's it.