Hi folks I'm an anthropologist. Don't shoot!

[Therian]

Thank's man and good luck with the BA. I was just thinking today about the grammatical aspect of some games as in having to follow story-lines and not being able to interact with scenery which is only backdrop etc. I was thinking since Arma3 is considered an open world this wouldn't be an issue but then I realised being part of a unit adds an element of this given that you have to follow orders. Any thoughts on this?

[B. Black]

Well, what's interesting about the 506th is that all of our operations have some sort of backstory to it, there's a reason why we're in these 'countries' and the missions we accomplish. So yeah it's open world, but we're limited by, like you said, orders and in a way, the story. However, the story that is created progresses by what happens in the missions. So, in my mind, it kinda balances out to an equilibrium of sorts. Dunno if that helps or not.

[Therian]

Well, what's interesting about the 506th is that all of our operations have some sort of backstory to it, there's a reason why we're in these 'countries' and the missions we accomplish. So yeah it's open world, but we're limited by, like you said, orders and in a way, the story. However, the story that is created progresses by what happens in the missions. So, in my mind, it kinda balances out to an equilibrium of sorts. Dunno if that helps or not.

Thank's CPL. Specter. Does your backstory reflect real life events and if so where does the narrative come from? I became interested in this from watching Jester814 YouTube clips while I was 'studying'. I was really impressed by the realism in that how battle orders were communicated and understood appear very effective and real to life (I don't know how to say that in milsim speak but I'm referring to squad movement/tactics/formations). Where does such expertise come from? I also had a look around at other clan YouTube clips and there was a British Marine one where they were on a foot patrol in what looked like Afghanistan. I'm not joking, the clip lasted an hour and a half and all these six or seven guys did was patrol and chit chat while doing so - nothing else happened. I guess that's a realism element in that most combat veterans will tell you that war is 99% boredom and 1% scary as hell intensity. I also found a clip where there was a guy sitting in a vehicle hiding behind a wall and some brush and there was Arabic music playing. I don't speak Arabic but recognised the word Jihad as being repeated in the lyrics. Anyway, he/she was checking GPS and when the time was right he/she sped off and rammed into what looked like a US or UK armoured vehicle and detonated VBIED. I was pretty blown away by that needless to say - art imitating life and all that. Do you guys ever play against other clans or is it always against AI?

[B. Black]

Always against AI controlled by one or more 'game masters' referred to as Zeus. Zeus can pretty much warp the entire flow into how they feel like by doing things such as placing hostile units, IEDs, even controlling civilians and enemies and talking through them. A lot of our training documents are based on the actual army equivilant, and a lot of our members have a lot of military experience, not myself personally, however I've studied military tactics and theory for school (when I was still attending). As for where the story originates from, I can't comment, I'm not in that department.

[Waller]

As for where the story originates from, I can't comment, I'm not in that department.

S-3 Operations (the people responsible for creating the missions - especially CPT Nagel) together with command staff decide where we get deployed and outline what is going to happen on those deployments long-term.
S-2 Public Affairs then creates stories around all of that to increase immersion for our members and anyone interested. Those stories also announce important events in the deployment.
Keep in mind that our actions on the battlefield do have an impact on following missions and long-term on the end of the deployment.

[P. Grimm]

My interest in the military and video games began when I was just a wee lad. I grew up playing "baddies and goodies" with my older brothers which later translated into joining a WWII 101st airborne reenactment group in California.

Video game wise, ArmA represents another layer of simulation that you can't get in real life (besides actually being in the military), and like others have mentioned, there's a whole social and community aspect that is very appealing.

[Therian]

I have to apologise for how half-arsed my 'research' looks. I got a dose of shingles in the middle of researching and writing my final two essays and it really kicked my arse. If you've never had shingles think bad flu times 2 or 3 for three weeks and you'll understand. Both essays were 4000 words on radically different topics and one was on dense jargon filled contemporary theory so I'm only just recovering. Thank's for all of your input so far and I'll try come up with some engaging questions soon.

[CW2 (Ret) O'Neill]

Hey Dave,

I am a 19 year old life long military dependent and currently a Cadet in ROTC working toward my commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. My dad is an active duty Army Colonel in Air Defense Artillery and is my main inspiration for joining the Army. I have spent my whole life moving from one duty station to the next and grew up in military environments so the Army is simply the lifestyle that I am accustomed to. My family has a lot of history in the military, I have two cousins in the Army, one in reserves and another in Special Forces. I have an aunt and uncle that are both retired Air Force Colonel's, my grandfather served in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars and my great grandfather served as a Marine in the Pacific during WWII. I am currently working on a BA in Criminal Justice and a commission as a 2LT in Aviation. I aspire to be an Apache pilot.

As for the unit or milsim in general, I think they are awesome concepts and places where large groups of people from hundreds of different backgrounds can come together and share in a common passion. I am both an Arma Milsim gamer and an Airsoft Milsim player. I greatly enjoy both and always take some of what I learn from one into the other. Milsim is awesome and by far one of the coolest and most enjoyable experiences I've had in my short life.

V/R
CPL O'Neill 3rd Platoon, A Co. 1-506th IR RU
CDT O'Neill Talon 3-1, Golden Eagle Battalion, Kent State University

[SGT Kahrs]

Hey Dave,

I am a university student, studying Professional Flight Technology with no ties to the military except for extended family that are serving. I do have a heavy interest in serving in the military after college. Currently considering Air Force Reserve or the Navy.
The 506th is my first milsim unit and I can say that I have met some awesome people while playing with his community. There are some lessons I have been able to learn about leadership and teamwork that I have been able to bring to real world application. Also, there are things from my life that I have been able to bring to the community as well. In the 506th I fill an active billet, but I also serve in S-2 as Media Specialist.

Regards,

SPC Kahrs
3rd Platoon, A Co. 1-506th IR RU

[P. Grimm]

  My dad is an active duty Army Colonel in Air Defense Artillery and is my main inspiration for joining the Army. I have spent my whole life moving from one duty station to the next and grew up in military environments so the Army is simply the lifestyle that I am accustomed to. My family has a lot of history in the military, I have two cousins in the Army, one in reserves and another in Special Forces. I have an aunt and uncle that are both retired Air Force Colonel's, my grandfather served in the Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars and my great grandfather served as a Marine in the Pacific during WWII.

That's quite the family legacy you have there.

[Bloomfield]

Hows it going dave,

 The names gage and i am 21 years old. I have been in the united states navy for about 2 years as a air traffic controller. I played arma since way before i joined the military and just recently found this group. I have been on one deployment overseas to the Persian gulf. Ill answer any questions.

V/R

Bloomfield

[Therian]

Thank's guys and I agree with SPC Grimm regarding CPL O'Neill legacy - wow. Closest I come to that is my father was a member of that famous Irish revolutionary movement but he left after his mother and aunt convinced him to do so.
CPL O'Neill, as you say, this community is made of people from hundreds of different backgrounds. I've been looking around and I agree. I'd even say that there are many different reasons for playing. I saw a video of a guy from Brazil who was living in New York playing a flight simulator with his father. Although they were separated by thousands of miles, it was really nice to see the smiles on both of their faces doing the wing-man thing. I may be wrong but I'm assuming that some folk play Arma3 as preparation for service or because they are veterans who miss the camaraderie they found during service. In /Coming of Age in Second Life/, Boellstorff show's that people with physical disabilities can at least virtually experience 'being' able-bodied through their avatar. I'm rambling.
I was really impressed while watching Jester814 clips at how individual players function together as units and in particular with communications relating to situational awareness and actions to take regarding this. How does your community turn gamers from a wide variety of backgrounds into competent members of a fighting group? Also, Like I said further back in the thread about watching those British gamers on foot patrol,  do you ever have an Arma3 session where you might be involved in a battle but do very little yourself?
SPC Kahrs, thank's for getting involved. What is S-2 media specialist?

Dave

[Waller]

I was really impressed while watching Jester814 clips at how individual players function together as units and in particular with communications relating to situational awareness and actions to take regarding this. How does your community turn gamers from a wide variety of backgrounds into competent members of a fighting group?

You'd have to thank our OSUT (One Station Unit Training) instructors and NCOs with their regular training schedule for that (fire team leaders, squad leaders).

Also, Like I said further back in the thread about watching those British gamers on foot patrol,  do you ever have an Arma3 session where you might be involved in a battle but do very little yourself?

In my experience that rarely happens. We try to balance realism and fun. Most people enjoy shooting their rifle more than not.
Except for aviation.

[SSG (Ret) J. Hart]

You'd have to thank our OSUT (One Station Unit Training) instructors and NCOs with their regular training schedule for that (fire team leaders, squad leaders).

Just in case you are unaware as to what these entail: OSUT is a four day course spread over two weeks. Classes are roughly two hours long. This training is intended to teach everyone the basics of Arma as well as the basic infantry tactics and training they will need when being placed in a squad.
The first day covers the very basics ranging from how a platoon is organized to radio comms and basic Arma controls.
Day two is more hands on with topics ranging from formations to MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) to fire and maneuver.
Day three covers everything pertaining to the enemy and some additional stuff as well. OPFOR Weapons and gear familiarization, enemy vehicle ID, convoy procedures, and basic land nav with map and compass.
Finally on day four they do a graduation FTX (Field training exercise) to give the new students an opportunity to use their new skills, as well as give them a taste of whats to come in their respective squads.

As far as the regular training go, my squad (Havoc 2-3) has a training at least once a week. Squad trainings are held on the first and third Thursdays and fireteam trainings are held on the second and fourth Mondays. 2-3 has a comprehensive training schedule/guide explaining our various weekly focuses. Here it is if you would like to have a look.

Regards,
SSG J. Hart

[SPC (Ret) Ciancio]

I was born and raised in Hawaii, I have a Bachelors in English form the University of Hawaii. I'm 29 years old, and currently work as an office manager/medical assisstant, as well as a tutor. I am working towards becoming an EMT and/or a firefighter. I do not have any real life military experience. As far as this milsim, I used to be a team leader, and now I am a tactical air controller. Before that I was in a different Arma 3 milsim (15thMEU) as a corpsman (a medic) since March of 2013. The reason(s) I am a part of this community is:

1) The fun
2) The "simulation" aspect
3) The sense of community and friendships
4) The acquirement and practice of teamwork, leadership skills, and discipline that can be applied to real life.

Send me a PM if you have any questions, Id be happy to help you.