While many of the technical dynamics of real combat are vastly different in airsoft, having tactically experienced players grants you many benefits:
1. The players KNOW the value of communication. That's a hard one for johnnie civilian to grasp, it seems.
2. The are probably competent at shooting and moving within a unit.
3. They probably are proficient in small team movement, and battle drills (react to contact, ambush, assault, raid).
4. They have a set of values that the Armed Forces enforce - Integrity being a good start for airsoft.
5. The war stories alone make their company much more interesting than corporate Joe.
As one, I'm gonna stick up for Joe Six-pack.
1. This isn't one that's hard for us civies to understand. Most of the people that I play with have comms and use them. The distances that we deal with in airsoft (effective range) necessitates that people in units be closer together to provide cover. We're in "outside voice" range of each other at most times.
2. Again, most of the people I play with (and play against) are very good about this. Covering someone who is reloading, providing cover fire, moving with the group, and spreading out in intervals is airsoft 101.
3. Nothing that a few games under your belt won't teach you. Ambushes especially don't translate well from the real world. Again, it's the thing about being in close. Springing an ambush at 40 ft and catching enemies in a crossfire would most likely get the people staging the ambush killed in their own crossfire.
4. This one stung the most. Honesty and honor is THE biggest requirement when playing airsoft. Even us civies know that one. We're all pretty good about being honest and calling hits.
5. I suppose you've got this one. I personally know and play with a lot of vets and consider them friends. I don't like to bring up their service or really talk about it, since I knew (and still know) plenty of vets that don't like to talk about what happened, as it is painful for them to talk about. In a group that has had that shared experience, I guess it's easier to relate. I'm not in that world.
On a side note, us blue collar/corporate Joes do entertain ourselves with banter between games. Plenty of laughs and good conversations to be had.
All that said, I'm still on Seth's side. He can make his team whatever he wants to make it. People may not agree, but that's that. It's his and he can do with it what he wants.
Ghoul (and all the other vets), I hope you don't read what I wrote as bashing. I just disagree that the military necessarily prepares you for airsoft any better than getting out and playing.
Seth, sorry for yet another long post on your thread. I hope your team comes together well. All the best.