REC: Kzoo 3/15/15 AAR

[Abbot]

Well, post your AAR (After Action Report).

Mine:

I was tired... Getting home late, going to bed later, then getting up early (and with daylight savings just recently on board...) really threw me off. However, I had a pretty good time.

My gear held up excellently, not one problem to complain about. I wish our (Spidey's and mine) baofengs would have works, that would have been really cool, but for some odd reason, they didn't.
My helmet felt ever so slightly heavy at the end of the day, but I suppose that was because of the constant speed and head turning combined with the already-tiredness of my head... But it held up well.
My head-wrap thingy worked as it should have, some rounds didn't hurt as much they would have, but still did hurt a bit.
NCPC was amazing. Still feels a little big, but not bulky. And was also very comfortable. I don't remember it being uncomfortable or giving me issues at all. It did need more cardboard plates, I feel like it was a little too skinny looking.
Pants were awesome, but a belt would have been nice. Them knee pads saved my knees multiple times, as some might have been able to see from the mud embedded.
Jacket was a pain... It bagged out at the ends and was a little uncomfortable. I didn't want it hanging out as I prefer to know it won't come up and leave my back exposed to the open air. And to BBs... I really need to get myself a Crye AC or G3 Combat shirt soon. Those things are amazing, and I would recommend every team member to get a combat shirt in either woodland or MC (I believe there are some companies that make woodland ones, maybe Tru-Spec).
Boots felt a little heavy... I would recommend making sure your hikers are semi-light weight.
My gun held up well. 2-3 times I had my usual trigger issue (I pull the trigger on semi only to clicking noises, and have to switch it into full auto and fire a couple rounds to get my semi back) right when I had a guy in my sights...

Some things I didn't like about the day are the obvious stupidity (or maybe bias) of the refs in not switch players over from red team. Honestly, in those last rounds, I was seeing teams of three coming to fist-bump the refs multiple times... That was (forgive my French) utter bull. Another one of my problems with Kzoo: they seem very biased towards the regulars vs. the every-so-often players. I've seen it multiple times. The team which has the regulars always seems to have the upper hand most of the game if not all of it. When we (a couple times ago) started really creaming red team, they immediately switch yellow guys to red. This time, I don't remember ONE SINGLE TIME they did this. Also, I could swear those few red guys were shooting hot, but it could've been just me.

My favorite time there was the one point when that one girl, me, Jerry, David, Tony, and some other guys held the right side in turf wars. We just sat there and watched our shooting zones and NO ONE MADE IT BY. That was a well performed dig-in.

Pros:
It was a good time
Gear was awesome
Everyone figured out what works for them better

Cons:
Ref bias
Guns shooting hot

Seeing as we've been to Kzoo multiple times, I vote we attend either Kizzy then TCP next month, or maybe even two trips to TCP. Anyone else?

Post your experiences/comments/anything else you want to say.

[Ajax]

Aside from a few cases of cheating and hot guns, I had a good time. One thing I did note though was when we tried to act as a squad there were some disagreements that hindered our ability to act as one unit. And I don't say this to sound like a jerk with a "my way or the highway attitude" but on the battlefield we aren't really a democracy. When we vote on squad issues on the forum we are, but during a battle it's important to do as the CO says to keep a coherent unit. I know this wasn't really intentional, but you guys voted me as the leader, let me lead you, If your not satisfied with my leadership then by all means elect a different co.
(Not trying to sound like a jerk)

[Abbot]

I would have pushed that we act more like a team while we were there, had we been more situated. This weekend we (myself at least) weren't really aiming to make this an official Phalanx team event, as much as it was prep for Fallout (for you, me and Spidey at least, the others were just there to shoot a little, not so much act like a team). But I can guarantee next time we will be much more solid.

Also, I don't think that I am personally interested in going back to Kzoo. After playing there for the fourth or fifth time, I've just come to see its just not my play style. My reflexes just aren't fast enough for CQB. Predator agrees with me in saying we're both just much more partial and used to outdoor engagements and we'd prefer to stick to them. So if you guys want to go back to Kzoo in May or sometime later, by all means do. But I'll probably sit it out or just go to TCP.

[Spidey]

Ajax is right. As a squad, we stank. We did not really look to, or mind leadership. I think this is do to the fact that (like Abbot said) we did not properly establish, or initiate the fact that this event would be a "squad" event. Next time we have to; establish that it will be a team event, coordinate our movements with the CO, and follow orders. I know that you said that it is not a democracy on the battlefield, and you are right. But also, as CO, you must put forth the plan we are to follow in defining terms. The leader has too lead. We all have to work on our roles a little, but it will work itself out. I think we should answer this issue by using our team days to work on squad conduct, and following the chain of command.

I agree with Abbot in that I would really prefer Kizzy, or TCP for the rest of summer. We should only go to kzoo when the other places are closed.

I did have fun, and liked how my gun performed. The rest of my gear I am replacing, so it did not matter how it performed. If you want to know the truth though, I'm looking forward to a nice team day at someones house.

p.s. Ajax, you are not a jerk man.

[Caesar]

I didn't have any physical issues going into the game. But, the next day, I was pretty sore. Need ways to prepare for this stuff so that extended periods of airsoft aren't killing us.

I think that the two-way radios were working well. As Ajax observed, there is a good team communication system, and there is bad. Ammo supply structure and usage could definitely use work. We need a system for ready ammunition. My stuff worked great.

Kalamazoo airsoft is not growing on me. It is way too dark inside. Plus, it is a physically hazardous environment. Although CQB does work for me, it is super taxing.

I think that if we want to succeed in battle, we need a plan for our deployment and we need to stick to it.

I had a great time. I loved it when Grizzly and I were holding the Garage. During the search and destroy game, I stayed in the Tower and found that the field of fire was excellent. When the other team came to set the bomb, I had a clear shot at the site. I was shooting the guys on the bomb team, but could not stop them from placing the charge.

I am confident that we can work as a team. We just need practice.

[Spidey]

Yes, a plan of deployment that we stick too, any changes to be made by the CO (Ajax) mid game. No more, I'll do this, and you do that. Rather, the CO says he'll do this, and then says you other group (if two groups are needed in a situation) do that. Makes good sense.

[Sev]

Mar 17, 2015 1:06:50 GMT Ajax said:

Aside from a few cases of cheating and hot guns, I had a good time. One thing I did note though was when we tried to act as a squad there were some disagreements that hindered our ability to act as one unit. And I don't say this to sound like a jerk with a "my way or the highway attitude" but on the battlefield we aren't really a democracy. When we vote on squad issues on the forum we are, but during a battle it's important to do as the CO says to keep a coherent unit. I know this wasn't really intentional, but you guys voted me as the leader, let me lead you, If your not satisfied with my leadership then by all means elect a different co.
(Not trying to sound like a jerk)

I don't actually remember anyone (co or xo) saying anything about what or how things should go during the battle, at least not to me. I did note that when we (spid, eccy, abby, and me) were staying together as a group inside there was some pretty good movement and cover going on at times, that could be a good thing moving forward. I also think that we can be better at sticking together and working together when in a less hectic environment. Also, like Abbot said we weren't really settled in as a group yet and I think that we don't really have outstanding issues moving forward, just need practice.

[Ajax]

Yeah part of that was my fault and most was just not being prepared. Sometime we should set up our general chain of command, so in case Spidey or myself are dead or incapacitated we still have someone in charge.

[Sev]

I also think it was not really a set "Squad Day" but more of a "let's get together and see how our gear choice looks" kind of day, once we get more situated we can be more serious about such stuff. Particularly when we start going to milsims as a team.

[Grizzly]

I also think that the team, before the game, should decide where to go when the game starts, you know like, indoors, or outdoors. If we are a team we have to stick together wherever we go, and we can't stand around and argue about it.  

[Caesar]

Exactly. Concerted effort requires that the team members be in the same area.

[Sev]

I have a few things to say so bear with me.

I think that we shouldn't have huge expectations for the first few times we work as a team, Rome wasn't built in a day (or even a few hundred days). On the other hand, I don't believe anything just "becomes" great (with the possible exception of Mozart)... It takes work. As a group...yeah we need some work, but that's what teams are for, right! We have made a "commitment" to be on this team and this entails trying to make it the best it can be.... this is a team effort, responsibility rests not on any one of us but on a group, each of our focus needs to be on what is best for the TEAM. There should be no space for pointing fingers or making excuses (Remarks of mine earlier were not to lay blame on co or xo but just intended to mean that I had not been aware of any communication otd). THERE IS NO I IN TEAM! As a group we need to discover how we can be most effective. Once we have a set command structure we need to follow it like Ajax said. In the real military, esprit de corps means every man has the back of everyone around him. We need to follow this principle. This is why I chose "I've got your back" as my signoff sentence, and I really mean it! Sure, I might kid around, or even argue a little, but when it comes down to it, I will have the back of each and every one of you, on the field or off, and that is a promise!!!!

As to the suggestion by Ajax for training.... We have a set of Combat and Survival books written for the military, they cover everything from fibua (fighting in built up areas), to winter and desert combat, to squad movement and tactics. I think we should bring these to the next team day and see if there is any ideas they can spark as to a training plan. We do need a little work, maybe these can help.

I do like a lot of things I saw at the Kzoo airsoft day. We can be a good airsoft team if we put in the work to do so and everybody "buys in". I really look forward to going in to battle with all of you and this is going to be a lot of fun! Let's do this!!!!