Each person in the airsoft community has a story. Some have particularly outstanding ones filled with bravery, valor, courage, and inspiration. I follow a certain Javier Franco, callsign Darkhorse, online. He’s better known as the man behind One Grunt’s Opinion (OGO). I first came across him by his article about what Milsim was to him on Popular Airsoft. Several articles later, I found out he was a military man who was injured in action.

The common thing Darkhorse and I had was that we were injured individuals who still strived to do something good and make a difference. I know he had good intentions with OGO so I seeked out this grunt.

To be honest, I had a very different perception of this man before I interviewed him. By the way he usually wrote, and from what pictures I saw, I built up a character profile in my head that resembled a bear of a former warrior. Behind this exterior however, there was this sincere man who strove to teach and preach to make the hobby more than just a game.

I introduce to you Mr. Javier “Darkhorse” Franco of One Grunt’s Opinion:

Fox Actual: Tell me something about yourself, Javier. Where are you from? What’s your background?

Darkhorse: My name is Javier Franco, callsign Darkhorse, but most guys just use my first name or last name. I was born in Brooklyn, NY, but I grew up in Maryland. I actually just got back from Washington State where I lived for two years because my wife was stationed there with the army.

She, my wife, joined after I left the Army. I served in B co. 1-115th INF and B co. 1-175th INF. Both are part of the 29th Infantry Division.While in Iraq, my company served under 2-70th Armor, 1st Armored Division. I served from 2003-2009 up until my enlistment ended.

What inspired you to be in the military back then?

I always wanted to serve my country and like many kids, played G.I. Joe in the neighborhood. So at some point, I decided to do it for real. When the events of 9/11 happened, that all just got thrown into high gear. I followed the events after 9/11 carefully and knew it was time for me to do my part. So I joined the Maryland Army National Guard as an infantryman knowing that I’d have to head overseas.

Javier in the military.

I read that you were injured while on duty. Do tell us more about this.

I had several injuries from deploying in Iraq from 2005-2006. I’m rated for PTSD, but I don’t think that it’s actually that bad. Most guys have it way worse than I do, so you can say that  I’m a lucky guy.

I have a herniated disc in my lower back and a partially torn right quad. I hurt my lower back in a night raid on a suspected insurgent training camp/ base of operations.

Since it was a night raid, we were all wearing night vision and we decided rather than going through the gates, we would just climb the wall and hopefully wouldn’t be noticed.

Since I couldn’t see very well, even with the nods, I went over the wall thinking it was the same height as it was on my side. Well to my surprise the wall was actually higher on the opposite side.

So a 6-foot wall on my side was 9 feet on the other. I took a hard hit coming down the wall and with a radio on my back, I did not have a good landing.

Even though it sucked and hurt like hell, I carried on with the mission. I definitely felt it later on and it had me hurting the rest of my tour.

I hurt my right quad by simply falling off the top of a Humvee in action. Nothing crazy there except that I didn’t know that I’d actually torn the muscle partially until I got home. It did hurt a lot now that I think about it, but even when you get hurt, you feel bad about leaving your unit, so you suck it up and carry on.

My injuries started to come back to bite me once I was home. They flagged me from promotion and sent me home when I was preparing to deploy again a year later. I also got into the Veterans Assistance (VA) system that everyone knows can suck. They just give you pills and tell you to do nothing.

That doesn’t do wonders when you’re supposed to stay in shape. So for the last two years, I spent them in an Honor Guard unit rendering final honors at funerals for veterans. When my contract came to an end in 2009, I just got out.

The most I could do in the infantry was be a paper pusher and that’s just not how I’m built. My choices were limited. It was either I get into a  support unit or get out.

I got out.

To be honest, there’s a lot of regret about that choice I made. Once you leave, it’s like a part of you is missing.

Since I now have a good handle on my pain, I’m getting back in shape. That way I can decide if I want to go back.

Why did you take up airsoft?

I kinda just fell into Airsoft. I played paintball for years like most players. I got to know a few airsofters and next thing you know, I was buying an AEG. 

My first guns were a KWA SR7 and a KWA 1911. I actually jumped straight into MilSim too, with my first real airsoft game being a Lion Claws Op. Kinda crazy way to go, but I wanted to go hard and fast.

Tell me about One Grunt’s Opinion. Why did you choose the name?

I’m originally one of the co-founders of TWIA (This Week in Airsoft). I left that earlier this year because of disagreements with my partner. However, guys kept telling me that I shouldn’t get out of media altogether. So, One Grunt’s Opinion was born.

It’s just me, one grunt and my opinion. I say grunt since that’s another way to refer to infantryman and opinion because I didn’t want guys thinking my ideas are the only correct ones. I’m just offering an opinion and guys don’t have to take it as gospel.

So the name should tell you the most important things about me: I’m a former grunt and I’m offering my opinion.

What do you hope to achieve with One Grunt’s Opinion?

With One Grunt’s Opinion, I hope to keep bringing a unique and honest perspective to airsoft. Not enough media guys seem like players or really think deeply about the sport. Everyone just wants to do reviews and talk tech to get free stuff or do game play videos to get fans.

The other side of what I’m doing is my true passion, which is advocating for airsoft as a viable tool to help PTSD. I know it helps me, and I know it helps others.

Why isn’t the VA looking at it as a real treatment tool?

There are organizations playing with the idea, but no real strong VA backing. That’s what’s really needed and I want to raise awareness about it. Hopefully get someone important to listen. If OGO gets more popular, then my ability to reach people that needs help expands.

That’s what I want. Not fans. I want guys committed to the cause and ready to be doers.

What does airsoft do for you?

Airsoft helps me with my PTSD. It lets me keep those military skills sharp and if only for a while gives me a taste of what I sadly had to leave behind when I left the Army. It’s a place I am familiar with and I get the sense of brotherhood that I once missed back in the military.

Airsoft just does it for me. I love talking to guys and sharing knowledge, passing on what I know and helping guys find their way is very rewarding. Much more than any reputation you’ll ever build up.

Javier rallying his troops before an OP.

To young airsofters aspiring to be in the military, what can you say to them?

To young guys looking to join, well airsoft and the real military do have similarities, but there are also big differences that you have to be ready for.

There are no respawns, the operations last longer with more misery, and you can’t lonewolf it.

You shouldn’t join just because you love airsoft and the look. You have to be ready to commit to something greater and devote yourself to it every day for as long as you’re in.

Set the aspirations of the grandeur to be an operator aside from the get-go. Those guys that are portrayed in the movies make up less than one percent of the military. It’s only a small community that does so. Military life ain’t like airsoft or Call of Duty or Act of Valor.

All the combat infantrymen make up around 1% of the Army and within the infantry community, less than 1% become Special Forces. 99.9% of soldiers aren’t doing high speed operator stuff.

So just keep it real, guy.