If that is the case, the Pentagon and Veterans Affairs should be pouring money into airsoft fields all over. Veterans suffering from PTSD are now the biggest issue being encountered by the military after they return from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with suicide rates among veterans now being higher than those killed in combat according to a report from the Pentagon.

Thanks to Thumpy's 3D House of Airsoft for finding this link since this shows that airsoft is not only becoming a valuable training tool, it seems that it is becoming a valuable healing tool for soldiers adjusting to normal everyday life after seeing combat according to KCENTV in their recent report called "Local Soldiers Returning Home Find Healing at Airsoft Field."

What is pointed in the story is that soldiers playing airsoft combat without a negative outcome which will not cause some kind of trauma for them as compared to a real firefight where the threat of death or grave injuries for the soldier or his buddies is high and combat casualties can cause such negative experience that veterans carry with them for the rest of their lives. They come out alive and go home to their families who are just nearby.

Furthermore non-veterans who play airsoft get to interact with the veterans and understand the sacrifices they have made.

By recommending to soldiers, especially veterans, to visit and play at an airsoft field once a month, the Pentagon can utilize such a hobby or sport to help in the transition to civilian life, which is much needed by the soldiers as failure to adjust had caused such high unemployment rates amongst veterans or even interacting with their local communities.

For airsoft skirmish field owners, targeting such veterans as customers in their marketing campaigns also means they are giving a helping hand for veterans to cope with a change such a change in their lives.

It's a great report from KCENTV, and lucky for their report for not being hit in the eye as he wasn't wearing eye protection in the dead zone.