Urban Warfare

I crouched behind some barrels and concentrated on making myself as small of a target as possible. Around me I could hear rounds impacting objects and zipping over my head. I couldn't believe the high volume of fire and I also couldn't believe how fast my heart was beating. Then the shooting stopped. Are they reloading or charging my position?

I didn't really want to wait around and find out so I fired off some rounds in their general direction and ran for some cover off to the side. If I could get on their flank I might have a little better chance. As I glanced around and took stock of my new position I felt a sharp pain in my leg. Like an idiot, I had left it slightly exposed and now I was paying the price. Fortunately, no one was shooting real bullets. The rounds in this firefight were paintballs, but my leg still hurt like crazy. I knew I would have a welt there for several days.

The military says it's the closest thing to actual combat without using live rounds. The Marines say their soldiers learn urban warfare tactics much faster when they're using paintball guns. [Source]. Nothing teaches young Marines better like the sting of a paintball fired at high velocity. It really hurts. But it hurts much less than getting shot with real bullets. In the past, laser systems were used and they still are, but there isn't any pain when you get shot and that's an important training tool. The US Army has even used paintball in battle scenarios while training with other countries like Turkey. Some accused terrorists were actually using paintball to train.

Whoever invented paintball wanted to avoid parents concerns about their kids playing "war games". To this day, the paintball guns are actually called paintball markers. Not that it fools anybody. As far as I'm concerned, it's a chance to relive those halcyon days of yesteryear when we played "army" tromping through the neighbors' yards with our plastic M-16's and Tommy-guns.

It's a hobby that anyone can get into for under $200. This will get you a paintball "marker" a face mask, co2 tank and miscellaneous accoutrements. The only real tricky thing necessary is some place to shoot five or six of your closest friends. Many paintball fields have sprung up where you can play, but it's cheapest if you know someone with a decent plot of land and some woods.

Paintball seems to be getting really popular. It used to be that you could only get the equipment at specialty hobby stores, but now you can go to Wal-Mart or any major sporting goods store and buy everything necessary.

I have to admit that I sometimes feel a little silly running around with a bunch of paintball gear. I'm perilously close to being 40 afterall. But it is a whole lot of fun, especially when you can get the other guy before he (or she) gets you. Hopefully, it's the closest I'll ever come to actual combat.

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