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Post by ghost on Jan 4, 2013 16:41:58 GMT -6
Greetings Earthlings! There has been talk of maybe trying to make the 2014 East Wind air soft game. I myself would b interested in making this game. I would have to be a day player, maybe making 3 or 4 days. There is a lot to consider here. The gear list for one. Who would be interested in this. I know we will not be officially together as a team under the Robinson Recon banner, but I would still like to see how many of you friends and family would like to consider this.
Lets start looking into this! I think this would be an awesome event. Any takers?
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Post by predator on Jan 5, 2013 12:04:30 GMT -6
Sign me up, just not sure on what scale at this point but you for sure have me going.
This is not your average weekend skirmish. Much to consider here guys. Need to do your homework on this one, get on the site and do some research and for sure study the pack list and what is allowed and what can be accepted as an alternate. Ghost and I have done some preliminary research into this and think we have saved a few $$$ already. Once we have confirmed our suspicions we will post what we have found. We would expect the same from anyone else that might decide to join in on this madness.
If you start collecting gear now and space it out over the next year it shouldn't hurt toooooo much.
This will be one helluva fight no matter if you are there for a few days or the entire fight! Lets keep the lines of communication open on this one guys, the more ideas we share the better experience we will all have.
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Post by blueknight on Jan 7, 2013 19:12:12 GMT -6
I am with you Predator, not sure on what scale yet. Since Alan lives in my area and I have been in contact with him in the past about locations in the KC area to obtain gear at low prices, I will pass anything along that I find. I intend to meet up with him once things settle at my new job (about March) and I will keep everyone posted on what I find.
From what I have read, many of the missions would be very in line with what we love......recon.
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Post by ghost on Jan 10, 2013 10:42:46 GMT -6
For those who, like myself, were thinking of the day player option, here is a reply from Alan Swayze on the subject: The day player requirements are found here: www.operationeastwind.com/NATO/DayPlayer.shtml but do be forewarned that we are likely going to eliminate the day player option for next year. The reality of it is, we get VERY few day players out there for reasons which elude me. Food for though folks. How committed to this do we want to be? Lets talk about this and make some decisions, do we want to fully commit? We need to figure this out first because I don't know about the rest of you, but I have a lot of gear grabbing to do. As well as a weapon. That is going to be tough for me this year. I need all the time I can get. Thoughts? Ghost
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Post by predator on Jan 10, 2013 13:52:14 GMT -6
I would be willing to go for the full meal deal if I had assurances that I wouldn't be the only one from the RRT/OBR Combined Arms Team that would be going.
I have to be perfectly honest guys, as on old dog there is nothing that is appealing to me about standing guard in the motorpool in a freezing rain during the middle of the night (just an example of what I expect can happen, I don't know) but I would endure it (again) if I knew I wasn't the only fool I knew out there doing it.
As far as the gear situation goes, if we decide soon, that gives us a year to collect the required gear. Some of it will be easy, some not so (weapon, helmet, flak vest, gortex jacket, etc) so the sooner we can make a semi-firm decision the sooner we can develop a plan to start filling our duffle bag.
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Post by aswayze on Jan 10, 2013 17:02:55 GMT -6
Hello gents!
I think all of you here know me (and I know the three of you as well) so I’ll spare you the intro other than to say that if you need an answer about something East Wind related I am your man.
It is certainly good to see you guys looking at this since East Wind was created very much with a certain player base in mind. I have long said that I am not looking for 1% of all airsofters/paintballers, I am looking for 100% of the 1% of guys for whom this event is a fit. I have known you guys for a while now and you guys are part of that 1%.
Yes, as Ghost mentioned, I’ll most likely be dropping the day player option in 2014. We’ve had this option for years and in all reality only really get 1 or 2 per year. The lowered gear requirements generally mean very little since pretty much as soon as a person starts down the path of coming and begins to work out what it takes to be in the field for any period of time, even as a day player they pretty much end up with all the kit anyhow. Once they make this realization, the obvious economics of the situation begin to add up and before long, they are just sending in a deposit as full term players anyhow.
Either that or day players show up with NO earthly idea what they are getting into…
Either way, it simplifies things a bit to reduce admin clutter and help us keep things running smooth.
At the onset, gear seems a real horror. There is a TON of stuff on that list and a lot of it is not immediately available to everyone particularly if you do not live within striking distance of an Army post (the further you get away, the more expensive EVERYTHING is). This can be a real impediment. Good news is, you guys have Blue Knight up here right by me and I am pretty aggressive about sourcing everything so I can keep him pointed in the right direction on shopping and you guys will end up kitted out for a lot less than you likely think. By and large all the kit we are looking for is a few generations back from what is “cool” now so it can mostly be had for a pittance. Even things like the Gore-Tex is WAY cheaper than you’d likely expect. Generally we get into these for $25-$35 and trust me you REALLY want Gore-Tex out there.
With regards to Predator’s sentiment, this is a common one we see with guys who are in tight knit groups. It is hard to convince yourself to go it alone into an in depth event. We all know the “typical” player and for the most part, none of us is particularly excited about getting stuck as the odd man out in a group. East Wind is a bit different. #1. We don’t tend to draw typical players so the guys you find yourself with will quality players like the guys you are accustomed to working with. #2. You’re with these guys for the entire week, 24/7 so you’ll know them up and down, in and out, pretty d**n fast. Before long, there will be little difference to you between them and the home team. We draw players from a wide geographical area (not quite as much as D-Day of course but still pretty wide) so coming on your own is the rule rather than the exception. In point of fact, on the NATO and Warpac sides this year, there is two groups coming “as a group” (One Shepherd and our Canadian Forces vets), the rest are individuals. Everyone struggles with the same decision, most choose to wait till they can come as a group but many end up coming alone or with a buddy the first time and after that, they are pretty much hooked and come without regard to who else is coming along.
About the motor pool… We don’t really guard that. Event wise, it is a giant waste of resources on both ends of things to secure main camp areas. The reality of it is, if I want to secure my camp, that would actively take 50% of my force so if I have ½ up and ½ resting that leaves me with NOBODY to go into the field. If I guard it in a half ass manner, then it is a trivial manner for even a complete idiot to sneak in on a dark night so we simply don’t bother and basically stay out of the other sides camp. That means rather than standing outside in the rain staring at trucks you sit in the ready tent playing cards on the SAT (Security Alert Team) which acts as the first tier reaction force for the guys in the field. You’re there, all kitted up, with weapon in the rack so that if someone gets in trouble (as they FREQUENTLY do) you can beat feet out the door and be hauling butt over to bail them out. That is much more productive use of time and also gives you some added comfort when you are the guys out in the field. Don’t worry, there is still plenty of stuff that sucks to go around, you can sit in an LP/OP in the rain or perhaps in ambush instead…
Blue Knight also hit on a big point. East Wind is VERY recon oriented. We do not script much of anything so as a result the lions share of what is needed by the company HQ is information to allow us to build a picture of what all of going on. That means a load of recon missions. You’ll see this both in the field as well as when you are rotated into the TOC on duty or simply in there planning for your next mission. Information is everything and we all know it.
Anyhow, I’ll spare you all the book on this one and stop typing now. If there are any questions you have for me or if there is anything in particular you are looking for, fire away and I’ll be happy to answer. I’ll be heading down to DDAP tomorrow for the weekend to teach a comms course so if you ask something over the weekend and don’t get an immediate response, it’s not because I am ignoring you, it’s just because I am internetless for the moment.
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Post by ghost on Jan 10, 2013 18:03:50 GMT -6
Welcome to the forum Swayze! Thanks for dropping in and sharing some details. I think I speak for most of the guys here that we are most interested in playing this game. It is an event that peaks my interest to say the least.
So, lets take it from here. The man is here guys, fire away. If Swayze can't answer your question, then there is no answer.
Ghost
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Post by blueknight on Jan 10, 2013 19:19:38 GMT -6
Aswayze, great to have you on the forum sir!
I still intend in getting together with you to investigate available surplus in the LV and KC area some weekend. Things have been hectic with starting a new job, so I have put it on hold until things settle down. I shall be in contact though to utilize your knowledge. I know this event is exactly what I would enjoy, especially the recon. I am planning accordingly and will start working on needed equipment soon.
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Post by predator on Jan 10, 2013 20:01:02 GMT -6
Hey Alan, welcome aboard, great to see you here!
Thanks for all the input and info, its really appreciated.
The motorpool reference was more of a metaphor than anything. I've done more than my share of time guarding the motorpool, ammo dump, pol point, etc along the "Gap' in the most uninhabitable weather you can imagine. I have no desire to do it again in any shape, form or fashion. So to sign up for this and be subjected to the possibility of something like that again even on such a small scale as this brings back memories better off left buried deep.
But.....I will be there if that is what it takes. Looking forward to 2014. I really hope we can get a team together and make this happen.
Thanks again for all your help. Hope to catch you snooping around often.
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Post by aswayze on Jan 10, 2013 22:11:30 GMT -6
Happy to be here fellas! predator, I figured it was a metaphor but it was still worth pointing out how we handle local security so you guys don't think you'll be stuck being security guard. @blue Knight, drop me a line when you are ready to head out and do some shopping. Lots of good stuff around here man!
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Post by aswayze on Feb 1, 2013 0:03:01 GMT -6
Just a last minute reminder, we are one month out from the sign up deadline for East Wind 6. If you are planning to attend, you need to have a deposit in by the end of Feb and your full balance paid by March 1. Day Player sign ups also close at the end of Feb so if you intend to attend as a day player you’ll need to be signed up by then as well. We do not allow any walk ons to East Wind so pre-registration is your only way into the event. If you were hoping to get to East Wind and are not yet completely kitted up with your required gear you’d better get hopping. Last minute gear chases are part of every years festivities so if you are running into a wall on one piece of kit or another make sure you hop on over to the East Wind forums and ask around to see if anyone can point you in the correct direction. If you are bringing a military vehicle to East Wind make certain that you have done all your maintenance tasks and that your vehicle is ready to go. Change axle oil, change oil in transfer cases, change engine oil, if you have a manual transmission, change the oil in it, if you have an automatic check you oil out and if it’s suspicious, change it AND the trans filter. Grease all your zerks according to the correct lube order for your vehicle (don’t skip the hard ones like the throw out bearing, if you’re thinking about skipping it, the last guy probably did the same) Check all your tires including your spare. Make sure you have a complete pioneer kit, make sure you have chains or a recovery strap, check your first aid kit, make sure you fire extinguisher is charged and double check all your black out light systems. If you are self deploying a CUCV, check your harmonic balancer, make sure both your alternators are charging well and carry a spare fuel filter with you. If you are self deploying an M880 series vehicle check and grease your front drive shaft double cardin joint, make sure that you grease both of your front wheel bearings, make sure your transfer case lock is correctly adjusted, and feel around on the top of your fuel tank for cracks. If you are bringing an M151, DO NOT EVEN THINK about bringing it out without changing your transmission oil, checking both your inner and outer shifter boots and greasing every one of your universal joints. You do not want to end up with water intrusion into your transmission or a busted U-joint. Also make sure you review the M151 training videos for either the M151A1 or the M151A2. If you are bringing a gasoline powered vehicle bring a spare fuel pump as well as at least 2 spare fuel filters. Do not skimp on ANY of the above, East Wind is a tough environment and your vehicle needs to be in top shape to operate successfully out there. If you are flying in or taking any other sort of public transit, make sure you get with us about your arrival times so we can see about getting you picked up and dropped off. If you are driving from some distance away, again coordinate on the East Wind forum so that you can take full advantage of carpooling or convoying to make your trip easier and safer.. This is shaping up to be the best East Wind yet and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!
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Post by predator on Feb 1, 2013 7:35:52 GMT -6
Thanks for the update Aswayze, great info to be sure. Please keep it coming, we need all we can get.
2013 is not in the cards for me, 2014 is gonna be tough enough for me to my sh*t together...gear, mind, body and soul.
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Post by ghost on Feb 1, 2013 8:10:08 GMT -6
Same here, not happening for me this year, and I can't make any promises on next year. I hope you have a great event Swayze! Since you are strict on your uniform code, do you allow anyone to wear a camera in game, such as a Go-Pro? Just curious. Some action footage would be cool to have!
Ghost
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Post by aswayze on Feb 1, 2013 12:17:02 GMT -6
No worries guys, just keeping you all in the loop.
GoPro is fine, just do the best you can to not make it stand out a ton. most guys just modify a NVG mount to put them on, others integrate their cameras into the side of their helmet and mask it a bit with a cover or some scrim.
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