Optimus Prime noticed two tweets, one of which came from Thumpy, and tasked me to investigate further on. The tweets were about a discussion thread at the US Army's Ask A Soldier Forum regarding airsoft. And reading the reply to the question will surely rile any avid supporter of airsoft as a training tool for military and law enforcement organizations. The screenshot below shows how the discussion worked out (click on the image to enlarge):

A really good answer to an honest question it is not (and we don't know if the person who asked the question went to on to join the  Navy/Marines or the Air Force, though the probability may be high. Just ask Thumpy ). When everybody in the airsoft world know that they are the community most ripe for recruitment by any country's armed forces, they are usually treated as non-entities by some in these organizations who think that airsoft shouldn't be given any attention at all as it's just a sport or a hobby for wannabes.

The good thing is that such people in the army (or any law enforcement or military organization) with such attitudes to airsoft are getting fewer each day. And another good thing, a reaction to that answer was a more positive one from a veteran who has experience in using airsoft for training and even for a PTSD program. It's not anymore airsoft players defending themselves, a growing a number of police and military officers attest to the usefulness of airsoft as training tool. Not only does airsoft replicate real steel firearms in functions, it is safer and cheaper to use for training with the use of BBs rather than real bullets. This link from Military.com can actually provide good reading.

Frankly, a simple google search would have brought up a lot of positive answers to the question, where one doesn't have to wait for other people to answer as such questions have already been asked previously. And if you ask us here at Popular Airsoft, we will always say that any extensive airsoft experience can be a good foundation for a future career in the military, especially in the army. We qualify airsoft experience as "extensive" since some recreational airsofters may not have established some discipline yet.

Any recruiter would value any person who has some knowledge in firearms handling and especially one who appreciates the military by playing to be in one during weekends or airsoft events. More soldiers are also getting into airsoft for recreation and for veterans with PTSD, a helpful activity for them to cope with life after being in actual combat.

The facts are there, and being closed-minded to these facts won't help one bit in improving the army.