Airsoft Newbie Common Mistakes
Common Newbie Mistakes (Part 1):
Gun Safety
This is something even some veterans are guilty of, and I cannot emphasize it enough: please respect your airsoft gun like it is a real gun.
Most newbies consider their guns toys. They point their airsoft guns around like it was nothing–they even point their AEGs at themselves or each other. However, with the authenticity of airsoft guns (particularly high-end guns), it is sometimes impossible to tell the difference between the real steel deal and the airsoft “toy” gun.
Example: I have a friend who was showing off his baby Armalite one time, and “parked” his Classic Army M4 next to it. I could not immediately tell which one was the real thing. Even when I picked both up, I could not tell what has the real thing. My friend said that the heavier one was the real thing, and I countered, yeah but the AEG still has no batteries. We loaded the AEG with a battery and put full magazines in each. Both of us could not tell on first touch (pick up) which was real and which wasn’t. And I consider myself a veteran player, what more a newbie?
So, then you pick up a gun—consider it real until proven otherwise.
Even if it is proven to be an airsoft gun, consider it loaded—there could be a BB in the hop-up chamber.
Be careful about where you point your gun at all times.
Keep the gun unloaded and on safety until it is game time.
Keep your finger out of the trigger guard area until ready to fire.
Before firing, be sure of what is around your target. You may hit something/someone you wouldn’t want to.
Flagging
Always running into a hail of gun fire when you round the corner or shoot over your cover? Ever wonder why the tangos knew you were there? This is probably because YOU told the enemy that you are there by flagging your position.
Flagging is the error of poking out the something that allows your enemy to know where you are, before you even have a chance of knowing where they are. Example of things that flag: muzzles/barrels of guns, visors/tops of hats, pack/gear, etc.
This is best illustrated as I can’t describe fully describe it.
Noise Discipline
When playing, you can often hear the newbies long before you get to see them. This is usually because most newbies are clueless about noise discipline.
After gearing up, but before going into the field, jump up and down a few times. If you hear the coins or keys in your pocket jingling around, or partially filled high-cap magazines or necklaces/jewelry (dog tags) rattling, then you are a “noisy” operator. Empty your pockets if you can. All high-cap magazines are to be filled to the brim, or when you move in the field, do not shake your gun too much. Whatever gear you can clip/tape/fasten down, please do so.
Even when you have solved all your noisy gear, the next problem will be YOU.
Watch what you step on—a rock is normally not as noisy as a pile of leaves or an old tree branch. If you have to walk through leaves, tiptoe (toe first, then slowly bring down your heel). Glass particles that may get imbedded in your boot treads have a crunchy sound, sound, thus you may carry around the sound of crunching glass wherever you go. (Not to mention the hazard that you may have to crawl on the glass you are carting around with you in your boots!)
In the jungle, be careful when bending branches as these may snap back and hit something thus create sound. Also the quick movement will attract attention is someone is looking. Naturally, you try to avoid breaking branches, it makes a lot of noise!
Talking may give away your position, particularly when waiting in ambush. Communicating by hand signals is always the best way to keep quiet. If you use radios, make sure that the speaker is on low or better you have ear plugs on so that only you will hear the radio and not the others passing by. When talking (to each other or on radio) whisper whenever possible.
An addendum to this is what I call the “1-2-3 Error.” Most people who ask for “covering fire” or to “rush” the enemy usually make a loud verbal call “1-2-3 covering fire!” or “Assault in 3-2-1!” etc. While this can be done in some situations in real life, you have to yell over the din of gunfire which helps reduce the chance that your opposition will hear your instructions. And, except for CQB, most real life combat is done at 200-300 meters range, not the 10-20 meter engagement ranges we have in playing airsoft. Thus, while in real life, the enemy will rarely get to hear your orders, in airsoft screaming a count (or countdown) basically telescopes your intentions to enemy. If you are going to coordinate an attack or provide covering fire, count silently or use hand signals, if not skip the count and do everything one the go. COVERING FIRE! (Then fire.)
Shadows
Shadows are a double edged sword. They may help you or give you away, depending on how you use them. Most newbies are in fact oblivious to the use of shadows, so other players often pickup on this and next thing you know, off to the neutral zone goes the noob.
When hiding, try to hide in the shadows. Most newbies assume that hiding in the shadows only work in dark areas. This is not necessarily true. In broad daylight (say in an open field) hiding in a shaded area (the shadow of a tree/bush or building) does two things: first, is the obvious—it provides shade. The less exposed you are to sunlight means you are less dehydrated, thus less likely to think about getting a drink of water and more likely to concentrate on watching your sector. Second, it makes you less likely to be seen. The human eye adjusts its sight to the light conditions. If the area is bright, it constricts the iris, making things in bright areas easier to see. However, the darker areas (even slightly darker) are now harder to see into. (Try running into a building from outside on a bright sunny day—it takes a few seconds for your eyesight to adjust.
In jungle or CQB, where there are a lot of objects (trees, bushes, rocks, walls, furniture, etc.) that cast shadows, almost everything is a shadow. The opposite now becomes the ploy. Watch the shadows! Watch out for sources of light that will cast your shadow. Try not to fight with the sun behind you (exception is then it is DIRECTLY behind you) as the shadow you cast will signal to the OPFOR where you are or that you are coming. Example: when you are guarding an intersection, look at the floor for shadows of people that may just be around the corner.
Movement
Millions of years of human evolution have designed the eye to be more sensitive to movement. Thus, when you are under observation, freeze. If not, you can use slow, deliberate movements. (And hope your camouflage works!) Quick or repetitive movements catch attention. (That is why you wave your hand at people to catch their attention.)
