Wearing Insignia - Unearned
 

I'm wondering what the general airsoft community's opinion is on wearing insignia. Obviously this insignia would not be earned, so it comes down to the "if you didn't earn it, don't wear it" thing, but as far as accurate impressions go, it may be necessary. How do people feel about this?

Personally, it doesn't bother me so long as the wearer is not flaunting the fact that he's British RGJ2, or RM, and so and so on. Having spent a short time personally in the Royal Marines, I still don't even talk about it as anything more than an experience. What's others view on this?

Cheers, Brent

wearing an insignia even if it's just for "effect" or "realism" when you are not entitled either by law or tradition to wear it is just like flashing a "police" badge at someone when you are not a cop. what you think or feel about it is irrelevant. it's how other people feel. many people take pride in their accomplishments and titles, so much so that they will defend their right and honour to the death. wars have been fought forever over such things and it is not to be taken lightly. we take it for granted that we live in a country full of pansy do-gooders and have not had to fight for our honour, land or even survival in centuries. this is unprecedented in our world. many people have little left of their families but past accomplishments and titles and WILL take great offence to someone impersonating an armed service or peace officer. you say you spent some time in the Royal Marines, then you should be very aware of the pride that is instilled in each soldier to be a member of Her Majesty's armed forces. there may be other ex-members who view these boards and may not like it. just for the record i have never served in the armed forces but i do understand pride and honour. these are universal qualities that are becoming a scarce commodity these days. other people may be ok with this and it is their right to think that. but i for one am not.

That's exactly why I brought this topic to these forums. It's good to hear your input.

"we take it for granted that we live in a country full of pansy do-gooders and have not had to fight for our honour, land or even survival in centuries"

I'm not sure if you meant to exclude our armed forces envolvement in WWI/WWII. I for one would say that those were fights for freedom.....

MORGUE

AND honor.

I think he means that many Canadians don't recognize the fact that our freedom came as a result of a great loss, and that those losses are fading from the current collective conciousness.

I agree to some extent. But I am involved in a community that is comprised of many people in the Forces or facinated by the Forces, and the pepole that surround me in daily life DO respect and remember.

But I don't think the general population remembers more than once a year, if that.

Wearing the symbols of rank happens often in Airsoft, but to wear a piece of cloth or metal is one thing....misreprisenting yourself is another thing completely.

It is fraud to say you are something you are not. PERIOD.

Fraud of the kind mentioned above is even worse as you are NOT just wearing a simple piece of bronze, but are wearing the blood of every brave soldier to die or be wounded in battle. For your own gain.

That is a thing far worse in my opinion.

Military reinactors, Halloweeners and actors take note. Blackthorne is coming after you.

Like I mentioned in my original post, if it falls under reinactment, then I would deem it as okay. But the second it deviates from the that, my POV changes to not accepting it!

sorry if i caused some confusion. or armed services did fight and do fight still, but not on our own soil and not to pre-empt a hostile invader. far too many families in far too many places have lost loved ones to war both in armed service and as civilians. many of these have come to canada to take refuge from this and they bring old-world beliefs with them. we have no idea what it means to defend our own homes from imminent destruction so how can we know what it means to really be at war. until the bombing in afganistan took 4 canadian soldiers, we had not had a combat death in our armed services since 1953. to give service and your life speaks volumes to your character, honour and bravery that should never be trifled with, mocked or immitated unless you have boughten that right with your service.

reinactment is as much for education as it is for remeberance. places like bosnia, cyprus, somalia and other places our forces have been would not need reinactments. their memories linger still. our culture is passive and complacent and perhaps we need reinactments to open our eyes to the way the world really is.

well personaly the only insegneia i have not earned that i wear is the jtf2 unit badg that i have. i was a pte when i was in the reserves and also have a pte chevron on my shirt as well. i personaly do not see any problem with people wearing this stuff for airsoft purposes hence millsim. as well as people wearing a millitary uniform as a costume for halloween or somthing. now what i do have a problem with would be somone portraying themselvs as a member of the millitary wearing a unit badge or anyother identification around in public even though they arnt members they are miss representing themselfs. thats my 2 cents

Since JTF2 doesn't actually wear any badges that say "JTF2", you have nothing to worry about in that regard.

Wear whatever the fuck you want. As long as you don't try to claim to an OUTSIDER that its anything more than a costume, who cares?

Bennifer?
 

BEN AFLECK IS NEXT!

I don't see the need to explain yourself for wearing insignia you didn't earn during an airsoft game. If you look at milsim, the game is meant to be taken seriously but it is fundamentally clear that the scenarios, combat, and weapons are not real. Wearing rank or insignia to further the simulation experience doesn't make the player an imposter. I think anybody who sees them as such completely misunderstands the point of milsim.

Kane, personally I wouldn't see it being an issue. But based on the replies above, it seems some people could take offense. I think it would be better to save yourself alot of trouble and simply avoid using them. On the bright side, custom patches are easy to get made so you could just get a design done for yourself or your team.

Monty.

For reenactors, its alright, aslong as they know what the badges mean, an treat it with respect. But people who do out an buy airborne wings, CIB, ranger tab, etc for LCF, I'm not a big fan of that, especially when people say "oh, I can wear airborne wings since I've done a sky dive civvie side..".
Best thing I've seen though, a guy who got a airborne tattoo, an felt he earned the right to have it because he went sky diving.

For some reason it seems to bug the reservists who have never been further than Borden or Pet the most....why is that. I know MANY combat vets who have been shot at and yet THEY never seem to have a problem with it.

exactly - come on folks, we dress up as military personnel, many of us obviously are not, and run around shooting eachother with toy guns;including the fact that airsoft is NOT kosher to the public eye. None of us in our right minds wear our kit around neighbourhoods, malls, busy urban areas, and whathaveyou. What does it matter if you wear JTF2 on your make-believe costume on saturdays? Yes, you are miss-representing yourself to the few people that understand why you would subject yourself to being shot at for fun. Im sure THOSE are the people that would have a problem with you wearing an insignia....right? point being, when you dress up in private and dont wear your BDU in public, so what if other airsofters dont agree with it - theyre wearing uniforms that THEY are missrepresenting themselves in too.(majority) And those of you who HAVE earned them. <thumbsup> I earned a driver's license. weee

i agree with MM n S_L. its all make belive on the wkend.

Rule of thumb I use when wearing my play clothes on the way to or from a field is take off any rank I wear and my nametape.(I dont wear my playclothes any other times) Usually toss a jacket over my clothes too and minimize the impression of looking like a soldier. Since wearing camo is in **BARFstyleGAG** by many people these days. these attempts to minimize my appearance as anything military are concious and in courtesy to those who have fought and died for our freedoms that many take for granted and to "blend" in.

pardon any above spelling/grammar errors...sleepy and contacts are fuzzy from being in too long. :)

Sorry...I don't judge a book by it's cover.

If you've seen pictures of my combats, you may have noticed some rank slides that you won't see normally. Reason being, I earned them as a Sea Cadet. I wear my combats for cadets and for airsofting. So all my badges are either issued or earned through training.

No one can get mad at me :grin:

I once thought "oh won't it be cool to wear unearned insigna", but now i think its just an ego rush.

I am thinking i rather put on an Stargate patch (http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/Wrestli...Prometheus.jpg) or a Resident evil patch http://gwk2008.com/starspolice.jpg to remind myself (and others) airsoft is a game after all and not to take myself too too seriously just because "i wear swat clothes and walk around with a gun that shoots plastic bb's"

to each their own...

Doesn't bug me one bit.

If I start getting upset at guys wearing surplus stuff they didn't "earn" then I need a vacation badly!!

What people think is cool is up to them, not for me to decide for them.

To clarify. If i wore real insigna then i would feel i did it as an ego thing. If i see others wear insignas, I would not judge them over "choice of fashion" lol. Only things i judge other airsofters on is thier behaviour towards others and how well they play (shoot)."
and yes i would also love a holiday, that would be grand.

Let ME Clarify
 

Perhaps my post was mis interpreted, let me clarify..

You can wear whatever you like, where ever you like. It's a free country.

But if someone walks up to you and asks to shake your hand because they see a medal pinned to your chest you bought at Nick's Army Surplus..

YOU LOOK SHEEPISH AND TELL THEM YOU DRESS UP LIKE THIS TO HAVE FUN AND HAVEN'T SEEN A DAY OF COMBAT IN YOUR LIFE.

I wear camo, and hope to wear privates bars with Wolfpack soon.

Actors? We expect them to lie, like polititians, it's their job. Holloweeners and Military re-Enactors? It's part of a hobby. Worn with respect, there is no issue.

But if you stand there with your $2.50 mail order purple hart knock off and explain to someone how you got it in "the 'Nam", you deserve to get your fucking balls cut off.

I dress up in uniform and run around with a gun because I want to have fun. But I never forget the folks who do it for real, or make myself out to be one.

Blackthorne OUT

yeah that is an extreme example, but i think most airsofters would never wear actual army medals and try to BS. I am talking about wearing armpatches that say "SWAT" or "police" etc. I don't think rank insignas are a big deal either.

When i first saw a group of pseudo swat ppl with the guns out i was intimidated because i am a newbie, but i said wait a sec this is airsoft, then I was able to relax a bit and focus more on shooting.

although i do approve of hotties dressing up as policewoman or in army clothes.
http://images.searchextreme.com/covers/1000003778.jpg

If it's on priviate land it's not a problem (as long as everyone is ok with it) as well most people dont have a problem wearing ranks and such if it's representing a different country (east german, 101st airborne, russia...) as long as it's not current canadian Canadian ranks with current Canadian Cadpat.

P.S I didnt read every post in this thread so if I ansewered a question based on someone elses answer...Sorry

Erik

Leave Affleck alone man, Affleck was THE BOMB in Phantoms.

At any rate, I have nothing new to say in this thread that hasn't already been said. Don't wear bars unless the scenario calls for them, and don't wear unit insignia unless you are prepared to show respect by *researching* the unit and know it's history. Proper knowledge will separate a re-enactor from a punk.

I personally have three unit patches for my Vietnam kit that I've taken off various articles of clothing, simply because I do not yet feel comfortable enough in my knowledge of them to qualify as a true re-enactor. Frig, I'm still learning the finer points of Vietnam life in general.

i dont think i've ever gone to a game assuming any of the medals/badges were actually earned, that's a pretty unreasonable thing to do at an event where people play soldier. the only ranks you ever really see are just for structure within different teams or just to complete a uniform. it's a game of dressup.
anyway, you can kiss my 1st cavalry master sergeant ass at the next game, recruit :P.

Yup.

Yup.

Not entirely true. Technically, it is illegal to wear CF issued gear downtown if you're not entitled to. Ironically it's in the Code of Service Discipline which doesn't apply to civvies, so I don't know why they bothered writing it, but whatever.

Me, I'm just a lowly corporal in the army. I have spent time getting shot at by angry Serbs and Croats, and yeah real war is real hell. I know most folks here will never experience it and I wouldn't want them to, but that's another story. I've never taken a jump course, or a pathfinders course, or a French commando course, so I won't wear any of the badges. Hell, I went to the base tailor and had her make up a shitload of nametags and slipons for the local guys with our specific club stuff on them. It is pretty cool to wear that. I wear the uniform of a soldier all week, but putting it on again on the weekend to go shoot BB guns, it's somehow a different aspect altogether. Hey, you can incorporate certain insignia into your games. Make a respawn point behind enemy lines that only airborne players can use. Make a bridge demolition be required by only an engineer, etc.
What it boils down to is we are playing dressup. Wear what you want. But keep in mind the respect a uniform is due, and you'll be fine.

I feel that people can wear what ever they want in this GAME. I don't realy care about it except if the individual is taking the "credit" for something that was not earned.

Personnaly I will never wear them out of repect for the men and women that dedicate themself to propecting my freedom past, present and future.

I agree with Vondnik, at a game, if its milsim you're doing an impression, you can wear it. This is, IMO, entirely different than walking down the street with it. Similar example would be wearing a vest with a "POLICE" velcro patch on the back. Heck, in the context of a realistic SWAT-style scenario, the LEO players would pretty much have to call out "police" to identify themselves in the process of the "raid." Everyone on the field knows you're playing a game.

The one thing that does irritate me personally, if you're going to wear it, at least A) have a proper impression, don't just slap patches on mismatched kit cuz they're "bad ass", and B) understand and respect the organisation whose impression you're doing, not just cuz it looked cool in some movie.

Hey!!!!
There is only one outfit that is "badass" and they are on an express elevator to hell, going down ;)

Oh my,
Well...For living history, haloween, movies...that stuff its fine.

It gets to me when, like in that recent story, some guy went to a military funeral wearing a colonel's uniform with the medal of honor, and he wasnt ever in the forces.

There should be a law against that or at least a fine for public mischief. Fake Colonel's uniform to a miliary funeral? What if someone went dressed as a police officer to a police officer funeral. That person needs a heavy fine and a few sesions with a mental health therapist.

the main problem i see is that just wearing is so that it is visible to anybody at all = shouting it out loud. you are obviously not trying to keep it private. this issue of symbols, badges and colors is not just a military or police thing. you wear a hell's angels jacket when you're not a member and it WILL cost you your life. the problem is we really are a country with no backbone and we just say "meh, whatever" and we don't take a stand for anything. this is just another example. some folks may think i'm a little extreme on this issue, but goddammit what ever happened to respect. did it vanish along with canada's spine? whatever happened to honour. when we wear insignia's do we do honour to those who are actually entitled to wear while we think it's cool? people really need to re-think what basic values are and actually apply them to their lives. in just about any other other country in the world this debate would not even be occuring. a line would be drawn in the sand so to speak and that's it.

"There should be a law against that or at least a fine for public mischief."

There is a law against it... Sec 419 Criminal Code of Canada...
www.canlii.org/ca/sta/c-46/sec419.html

And as an aside... I agree with mcguyver... it's just pure and simple... show respect for those whom have either made the ultimate sacrifice or poured their sweat and blood into earning the right to wear that "piece of brass or cloth"... to some it is quite a bit more than that...

I once saw a kid of 16 or 17yo wearing a 2Commando (Airborne Regiment for those that don't know) t-shirt in the mall. He left the mall not wearing it.

Bottom line.. wear what you want, but always keep in mind that those that earned the ability to wear such things might not look kindly on those that didn't. And don't be suprised if they are in your face because of it. If you're not prepared to face the person that you're trying to immitate, you should keep your gucci-kit at home.

Most vets are very sensitive about the display of battle honors, regimental insignias and such. A lot of people had to go through a lot of shit to EARN THE RIGHT to display their accomplishments proudly on their person. My view, and the view of most in my position is that if you didnt earn it, it is not yours. And if by trying to impress some friends you choose to display those insignias someone may take it back....

Good point Ibby.

Actually, as a civilian, I can be arrested for wearing a police or "police like" uniform. Your not even supposed to wear a security guard patch unless you are licensed.

So it should read, "Wear what you like, it's free country. Just remember the law still applies."

If i may take a stab at interpretation, i think he was trying to say that Canadians on the home front haven't faced the dangers that europeans have and still do face on the home front: subjugation, ethnic cleansing, extreme fascism and possible eradication and de-nationalization. Canadians and Americans have no clue what these threats are all about (for that matter, neither do I, but my parents faced these fears head on in a post ww2 europe, and my grandparents in pre and post great war europe.)

We gave our troops in the fight against genocide during ww2, and i respect much of what was gained from that war.

Hey Ibby where did you serve, I was in Croatia in 94.....1 RCR baby Dukes Company. :salute:

When did the CF started becoming a criminal organization. You like to talk about respect and yet you're openly willing to call your country a land of spineless citizens. In another country, statements like that would never be tolerated. Go ahead and draw your line, thinking like this is more dangerous to me than someone wearing a peice of cloth he didn't earn.

Im with Bruce there

my person oppinion on the topic
I wear our team logo, the canadian flag
and a patch that says "PORN" and yes, we deserve it.

as for other badges, IMHO, its people getting a bit overkill on the dress-up part of the game....

my 2 cents . i wear corporal badges , us, usmc, and white leaf cdn jump wings on my bdu's, an osons patch and a 2 commando tab. i earned them all, and if i saw another player wearing these badges or any other unearned badges, i think we would have to go for a nice leisurely walk to the low ground and "talk". we use to say in the commando " hump or jump" the only 2 ways to be able to wear our regt insignia. not our cdo insignia though.

Conversely, I once saw a kid wearing a shirt enscribed with 'Devil's Brigade' (the WW2 precursour to the US Special Forces) on Remembrance day. I cast him off as a punk-poser (as he had a lip ring and all the 'punk' regalia). He met an actual veteran of the Devil's Brigade, and ended up crying into his chest, thanking him for his service. I heard it all and my eyes watered up a bit. I judged a book by its cover and was wrong. There are kids out there wearing 'gangsta' cammo or unit regalia that know what it meant, and while it's debatable whether they have the right to wear it, some of them know what they're wearing and really respect the people who served in w/e unit.

Matt I think maybe you should take a breath man. We are all big kids playing war, we dress up and EMULATE groups/units/regiments or what have you. .... best form of flattery?? Its one thing to come out to the field in your kit being a sealranderdeltasniper who cares man?? Does that make you feel any less deserving of your own merits? It shouldnt if your credentials are legit and im not saying they arent(we have had several "SEALS" and such in here) you have earned the right to wear them where ever you will. Now if you caught some wanker talking about his l33t Para skillz outside of a game by all means sort the lad out but keep the machismo for them please. I was never in Australia let alone the Ausi Army but I have all the kit... should I not wear it?? If you think I should whats the difference between a set of camo and a specific unit? I guess all us weekend warriors have to trade our shit in for hunting cam! Seriously.

Sock'neverfiredashotinanger'Monkey

i understand about the forms of flattery and all, my credentials are legit. read scapegoat, eat your weakest man,behind enemy lines, tarnished brass, macleans magazine,cbc archives on somalia. im not trying to come across as macho, but howcome when people outside the as community wear insignia its ok to jack them up but its wrong to do it in the airsoft community? so i guess its ok to wear an outlaw bikers colors and then when someone gets caught with it words are supposed to save them from an ass kickin? i guess only the men who earned these badges, will understand the importance of having only us wearing them . re-enactment is fine i guess. i trained and worked my balls off for a long time to be able to EARN the right to wear this,so when i see sidewalk commandos wearing these it makes me feel belittled and my accomplishments and duty unnapreciated. i hopr you did not take this as a personal insult, that is not my attention, my motive is understanding. have a good one, AIRBORNE.

Personaly I have to respect any one willing to put thier lives on the line for me and mine. You have respect from me at any rate, and it is likely you have to go through the things a REAL soldier must to understand your issues. With that said should we not wear Cadpat? or any issued kit? Its a fine line, most of the guys I know who are real life day to day soldiers arent irritated by airsofters playing at war. If they get caught pretending to be what they arent they get censured and i know 1 case for sure who isnt coming around anymore claiming he is somthing he is not or never was. As for wearing colours... They are outlaws as you say and deal with percieved afronts in outlaw ways... not what you and all soldiers have fought to uphold... our laws and way of life.

With utmost respect,

SockMonkey

thanx for replying back, it doesnt matter to most soldiers if people wear different uniforms, cadpat or whatever, i wear us bdu's, its all good. i just personally have a hard time with the insignia thing, maybe one day i will be releived of that, open mindedness wouldnt be a bad thing lol. anyway it was good chattin with you, take 'er easy my friend, have a good one. airborne!

MattP I am a little confused. Please tell what unit you are in.

Wearing issued kit isn't the problem(unless its stolen an isn't supposed to be owned by civvies).

Wearing qualification badges, unit insignia, etc is what pisses people off since guys an girls had to go through courses an combat to earn those badges like Jump Wings, Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger tab, etc. You may think you are respecting the troops who wear those badges an immatation is the best form of flattery(or whatever).. well that don't work for wearing badges, etc you haven't earned. To the troops who earned those badges its disrespectful to think you have the right to wear them an show them off for a airsoft game(or whatever), etc. Go to places like www.socnetcentral.com/vb/ http://www.usparatroopers.org www.army.ca and ask them what they think about guys wearing SEAL Trident's, Ranger an SF Tabs, Airborne wings, etc


None of that stuff is needed for airsoft, you can go for a certain look without using those badges.


Wearing badges for Reenacting/Living History is a bit of a different subject though.

Again I dont see the difference between wearing kit to look like a soldier who is say regular infantry and wearing your airborn kit. Is one better than the other and deserves special mention? Different yes. more specialized most certainly. Deserving of more respect than any other man or woman who is dedicated enough to put on a uniform and serve thier country? im not sure. So unless we all plan on puting on hunter leaf pattern stuff I dont know what to say. Im playing dress up and army.... Im not out preaching im somthing im not. What about the various teams out there with a rank structure??? Im sure some have earned thier ranks as im sure others have not. I will wear what I like until the time comes the club I play with decides its unnacceptable to do otherwise.

With respect people... Airsoft is a game... games are for fun.... If you are unable to have fun with people playing dressup I respectfully suggest you either find a new hobby or perhaps start a club and host games where it is unnacceptable to wear rank and insignia. If given the oppertunity to play with that group I would most certainly abide by the rules set out.

Sock"beatingadeadhorse"Monkey

Did you even read my reply?

Nobody cares if you wear kit that a plain jane Soldier wears or kit that a Special Forces Soldier wears. Also, from what I've seen for team ranks, looks like most teams make up their own rank insignia. The thing some people have a problem with is people wearing insignia(qual badges, combat badges and unit patches) that they haven't earned.

Also, just because people don't agree with your opinion don't tell them to find a new hobby an stop playing airsoft.


Wtf are you going on about?

I used airborne wings, CIB an Ranger tabs as an example of what people use. Not wearing military insignia applies to everything, all qualification badges, an combat badges an unit insignia.

Nobody said a plain jane soldier is a "lesser soldier" compard to a Soldier in Special Ops.

With all due respect to your arguement MikeL, police officers and rent a cops, ski lift operators to belayers, everyone has a uniform, and an earned one at that, but many of us wear them to immitate for sport or game, like airsoft and paintball, or for an event, ball, gala, halloween? I think it's just apples and oranges when it comes to our forces because those are uniforms that are given thru rigorous training and dedication, in comparison to oh say...a ski lift operator. Sure! they wear grouse mountain, or whistler blackcomb, because they know the drills, the safety etiquette, and all the hooha...but they dont put their life on the line when another country comes knocking. It's all hype, and to each their own IMHO.

i see both sides, tho. sockmonkey...is....troubled. dont get too overzealous over what he says.

Who are you punk to make a personal attack on me?? Dont get all chairsoft tough on me kiddo we run in the same circles(lemon) My point wasnt that you(Mikel) were belittling any one. My point is where do you draw the line? You say all you have issue with is rank and insignia ect I was pointing out that people are pretending to be who ever when ever what about the next person who comes on saying "I earned my Cadpat I dont like johny no army wearing my shit". Saying that nicely they can like it or lump it is just what it is. Unless you (being agrieved parties) are going to go assault the person then play or dont, make your own field with its own rules.

I don't see anyone saying people shoulden't wear uniforms, not on this forum or others, etc. Anyone can wear a uniform, not like you have to really do anything to earn one, just sign on the dotted line an show up to basic an you get a uniform. But all the badges, unit insignia and rank people have to earn.

If a person is wearing badges, etc that they haven't earned I can say something about it. As for assualting someone because they are wearing it, well I woulden't go that far since jail doesn't sound like a fun place. But people have gotten badges an t-shirts taken from them by people who earned them.

As for making my own field, yea.. not a realistic option. I will continue to play at any airsoft field in my area.

I think Cyclic explained this issue the best.

No, he was talking about Lemon, not you MikeL.... He said that LEMON attacked him, not you.

...And I agree with MikeL. Uniforms are cool, but badges of rank or achievement/accomplishment are things you should EARN not just slap on because it makes you feel cool.

As Gander pointed out my first statement was directed at Silent Lemon. The second part on topic. My point is made you can agree or not this is one of the things men and women in uniform defend daily. I wasnt making this conversation about me and any one in particular. Dont shit sling because you dont agree with me.

Not to sound too brash here, but I don't really see the big deal about wearing insignia if someone wants to roleplay out their little milsim army fantasy while on the field. If you're going to wear chevrons, epaulettes, insignias, "POLICE" patches and law enforcement shoulder patches on your BDU and then boast that you are whatever rank your chevrons say you are, when you're not, well then I hope you're going home on the short bus.

I guess the only real problem would be wearing gear off the field for whatever reason, like wearing your BDU's on the bus or subway on the ride home, with the rank you were pretending to be on the field, either because you're too lazy to change or feel the need to look for the opportunity to act all badass when someone asks you if you're really in the army.

In short, I would say that yeah, if you want to dress up as hardcore as possible, right down to the chevrons, then do it on the field, but keep your gear in your bag until you're ready to change into it; then pack it up and change into your street clothes when you're on your way home.

The quams I would have about personating service personelle would be personating service personelle from our country, in our country. I don't see it as having as much of an impact if you want to personate a high ranking officer in the Russian Army, or a Navy Seal commander, since we have nothing to do with those countries. Airsofters are generally smart enough to know that you're just role playing and that it's all in fun, but if you're going to apply it your Canadian themed load out, you'll eventually get some flack for it, since it ventures into disrespect, so you're better off just not doing it.

Sockmonkey who's shit slining? me? I don't see any of my posts being offensive towards anyone, an you or someone else thinks they are, well that wasn't my intention.

If you want do wear military insignia, well there is nothing really to stop you(unless you are trying to be a poser an impersonate cops or soldiers, etc). But just know that people who earned those badges might not like that an approach you on the matter.

Might be hard to understand why Soldiers, Sailors, Airman an Marines don't like people who haven't earned those badges wearing them unless you've served, but in the Military nothing is free, every badge, medal, rank, etc we have to earn an take pride in that.




As for people wearing BDUs, etc, I(an others) don't have a problem with it. Only problem I have is when people are wearing stolen kit an kit that shoulden't be owned by civvies.

i think insignia is unecessary... i mean unless it's a tribute game. in which case it's fine, but otherwise it shouldn't be allowed.

Qual badges, insignia, etc. help define the soldier. Soldiers define themselves by saying "see this? I served in Bosnia. see this? I'm Para qualified. see this? I took a Pathfinder course." Like Mike said, it took sweat and blood and tremendous toil to mold themselves into the people they are today; people who earned those badges. To see other people with these, unearned, can really hit them almost like identity theft.

..

Kiddo eh;kiddo is going to do the mature thing and send you a private message encompassing some slung shit, okay, BRAH?!

oh this unfortunaty is getting out of line and althow still on subject is turning into a personnal pissing contest.

I think that everyone here can accept the following facts:

1-99% of airsofters have a above average respect for men and women in service
2-displaying something you did not earn can be considered rude and disrespectuff by the people that did earn them
3-Gear kits are issued to everyone that enters service so they are not realy the issue.
4-argueing on a airsoft forum is not the wisest thing to do

ok guys I'm locking this thread as nothing better will come of it....I think we did go around the question more than once.