The last year of Airsoft has seen a real renaissance in how the game is played and people's opinions on what is Milsim. Where the word milsim (Military Simulation) use to seem to say it all, we now exist in a world where it is just not that simple. I wanted to look at it from a literal perspective, make it a black and white perspective. I couldn't look at this question about what is Milsim without exploring more than one angle. Now this can be tough for a grunt, because we like to keep it simple.

Milsim (Military Simulation), how complicated does that get? In its simplicity we are talking about simulating the military. But where the argument comes in is to what degree do you simulate or what do you simulate?

In the strictest sense you are talking about knowing the tactics and training of what you are simulating. To be completely uniformed and equipped would have to happen for strict military simulation. The final piece of this complete Milsim package is the part that takes no money, just a soldiers mentality. That's where I as a grunt see most fail, but more on that later.

The truth of this question of what is Milsim is that we are asking the wrong question. We should be asking what is Milsim to you? The individual player. I find that players will have one, maybe two of the three qualities that go into a the strict definition of Milsim I outlined. This grunt has not come across any teams or players that have all three parts and it is not because I have not been looking. I have looked at all kinds of players, non military, current military, former military that all do not have the three parts I mentioned.

Why is it so hard to find a player with all three parts of what I would consider strict Milsim? Simply because not everyone wants that in a hobby. If they did really want that then they would be in the military. For those current soldiers that play, they want to enjoy the fun parts of Milsim and drop off the parts they don't enjoy about the real military. So, we all take those little pieces we want and create our own Milsim. Not everyone wants to have every piece of high speed gear. Not every player wants to train like the real troops. Not everyone wants to fall into line and will themselves to a command structure. This has created opinions on what is really Milsim or not. These differences are now creating tension in the sport that are not helping but dividing.

You have players telling you that Milsim is in depth player immersion with realistic kits. But I have seen many of these guys not able to use a compass in these immersion scenarios and not know the basics of battle tactics, like simple battle drills. What is more important? The skills of battle or to accurately look the part. Then you have players that are technically capable that know the latest of high speed battle doctrine. These players are your super stars that show you how tactics can dominate any competitor. But, these guys may not be able to perform in a proper chain of command. When you are so high speed that you dominate, it might feel like command just holds you back. So, is it better to be tactically capable or simply follow direction? Now you have players that are not looking high speed, they have moderate training but they are ready and willing to follow orders. These players know that it is about willing yourself to command and being part of the greater team. Now you will see all kinds of combinations of these three categories of players but rarely all three in one package.

Man, it gets confusing, and who is correct?

In reality they are all right and they are all milsimers. They have embraced that which is most important to them in the military and run with it. The player that is wrong is the one telling you they know better or their way of doing Milsim is the only true Milsim. Show me a player that says their brand of Milsim is better than yours and I will show you a player missing something. Usually what they are missing is what is most important and should truly transcend in the sport. No matter who you are and how you Milsim, the core military values of honor, integrity and respect should rule in everything you do. I say military values because these are not originally Airsoft values but values adapted from the military that we simulate in our game play. Remember those values when you are trying to tell someone they are wrong about what is Milsim.

Now, I gave you a pretty strict definition on what is Milsim. That is my black and white way of putting it out, non-compromising and without doubt. While I wish the world worked like that I know it just does not. This grunt looks at his own strict definition and the layers of how players see it. Then I have to look at what makes the most practical sense to me. Not every player can invest in the greatest gear on the planet, not every player has the resources at their disposal for the best training, but we can all find the core values within ourselves. To me, the most practical and realistic way to be Milsim is to simply have those values and like the soldier does at enlistment, will yourself to the greater command structure. If you can do that then you can be part of a core, a unit, a team that as band of brothers for a weekend can achieve anything. That pride and warrior spirit will always be more Milsim than any amount of high speed gear or high speed training.

This is just one grunt's opinion.

Javier "Darkhorse"

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About The Author

Javier "Darkhorse" Franco, formerly from This Week In Airsoft, runs his own Airsoft Blog at Facebook called "One Grunt's Opinion." This article has been posted here with the author's permission.