Paintball as a leadership exercise?

[TAMHSGT]

Hey everyone,

I just recently had an idea of using paintball as a leadership exercise within my battlion. I was thinking that every other weekend one platoon could go out to the local paintball field and "battle" eachother for a couple hours. I think this is a good idea because it will allow the leaders within the platoon to lead their cadets in a stressful enviorment, while having fun. It is $17 per person, and of course the cadets would pay for themselves and the event would not be mandatory.

What does everyone think?

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[Drill for life]

Good idea but sounds nothing like a Leadership Training at all sounds more like a "Hey I want to play Paintball in BDU who else wants to."
I'm not trying to be rude but it's pointless and doens't have anyhting to do with JROTC or Leadership. I would love it if my unit had Paintball though, good luck on it. It's good to meet you I'm Drill for Life.

[TruBlu]

I must disagree with Drill for Life on this one. Exercises such as this are great unit building opportunities, and for those in charge, good command experience. But, here are some thoughts.


You cannot have it in the name of JROTC. JROTC units do not allow combat training.
You cannot have it unit funded, as that would be in the name of JROTC (good call on your part there).
Your cadets would have to know that it was not a JROTC event, so could not wear full uniform with rank and such. But, it would be unofficially, and I use that term loosely, the unit, so COs and the like should be respected.
If you want real leadership experience, you get inter-company competition with platoons facing off against each other. Or if your unit permits, have inter-battalion competitions with companies facing off against each other.
Do it once a month at most, not every other week. If you do that, you face monetary issues and time constraints. Have one week, set each month, where all wishing participants can plan for it.


I'm interested to see how this comes about, keep us posted.

[TAMHSGT]

That is one thing I forgot to mention, that I was going to say that cadets DO NOT wear their uniform. And if they did want to wear cammies the field supplies camo woodland tops and bottoms for use. Thanks for everyones help on this.

The reason I had said everyother weekend was each time we went out it would be a different platoon, seeing as it would be kind of difficult to get the entire battalion to fit in one field.

I do like TruBlu's idea of inter-company competitions. That would sound like a good idea.

Thanks for everyone's help on this, I think ill pitch this idea to my SMI when I get back to school this Tuesday.

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[TruBlu]

That is one thing I forgot to mention, that I was going to say that cadets DO NOT wear their uniform. And if they did want to wear cammies the field supplies camo woodland tops and bottoms for use. Thanks for everyones help on this.

The reason I had said everyother weekend was each time we went out it would be a different platoon, seeing as it would be kind of difficult to get the entire battalion to fit in one field.

I do like TruBlu's idea of inter-company competitions. That would sound like a good idea.

Thanks for everyone's help on this, I think ill pitch this idea to my SMI when I get back to school this Tuesday.

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

I'm not aware of field restraints. The paintball place in my area is some 66 acres with 11 to 15 fields, each large enough for at least 50 people on each team. You work with what you've got, but is your entire battalion or even a majority of the battalion going to be attending these events?

[TAMHSGT]

Thats the thing I am working on. Obviously the event would not be mandatory. I was thinking about sending out a sign up sheet for anyone interested this Tuesday(I am off of school until then.).

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[devin0116]

Paintball is an excellent team building exercise. I know from experience. First off tell me about the field and the company that runs it. do they chronograph (speed check) guns. Do you buy their paint or can you bring your own. Do they have CO2 fill stations. Do you rent the gun and mask. Does the 17 dollars cover everything or just admission? Remember these will come into issue when it comes to finances.Is it a large field because it becomes a real nightmare when you have 3 people trying to hide behind an object that is only big enough for 1.

best regards,
devin0116 :marine:

[TAMHSGT]

Yes the local field is very professional. They chrono, and the $17 does cover rental markers and masks. As well as the first 100 paintballs. I was thinking if every cadet brought an extra $5 dollars we could probally buy a case or two of more paintballs (it is field only paint).

The field has around 7-8 fields of a realative large size, and they allow the boundaries between fields to be opened if there is an extremely large group.

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[TAMHSGT]

I just did a little research on two local fields to compare prices.

Field 1:
$53 Per Person
-Rentals
-500 Paintballs
-Camo top and bottom
-Safety Presentation
-Field use
-Lunch

2000 Paintball Case- $60

Closer to our school

Field 2:
$50 Per Person
-Includes all things Field One includes, except 1000 paintballs.

2000 Paintball Case- $40
If we get 25 or more people to come out we get a free, new, paintball gun. we could probally just raffel it off or sell it.

A little farther away from our school

I know the obvious choice is field 2, but I just want to see what everyone thinks about the prices?

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[TruBlu]

Yes the local field is very professional. They chrono, and the $17 does cover rental markers and masks. As well as the first 100 paintballs. I was thinking if every cadet brought an extra $5 dollars we could probally buy a case or two of more paintballs (it is field only paint).

The field has around 7-8 fields of a realative large size, and they allow the boundaries between fields to be opened if there is an extremely large group.

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

Well just to give you an idea, as a baller and having been a referee for a good amount of time at our field I can give you some insight on pricing. Lets say you have 50 cadets who would like to attend your exercise. Everyone pays the required $17 for marker, tank, mask, and admittance. Oh and 100 paint balls (about enough for 1 round, maybe...). Your crew arrives on time and gets chrono done about an hour to an hour and a half after arrival. You have a pretty full day of play ahead at this point, and 100 balls won't do much. OK, lets buy some more paint. Well, field paint (standard "white box") will go for roughly $50 a case (2,000 balls). You need to know how much paint you will need and how much you need to buy it. OK, full day of play with a group of first timers and non experienced players (I say this because the rentals), lets guesstimate about 500 to 1,000 balls per person for a full day of play where everyone is playing every game and shooting an average amount. Lets go in between to cover the lower and upper extreme, 750 balls per person. Well 50x750=37,500 (the amount of cadets times the amount of balls per cadet equaling the total amount of balls for the entire day). 37,500/2,000=18.75 (the amount of balls for the entire day divided by the amount of balls in each case equaling the total amount of cases needed to be bought). Well you can't buy .75 of a case, you need to buy 19 cases. 50x19=950 (the amount per case times the amount of cases equaling the total amount of money spent on paint). 950/50=19 (the total amount divided by the amount of participating cadets equaling the amount that each cadet would need to bring for his/her share of paint).

So your $17 for basics plus the $5 for paint equaling $22 (plus extra for food if you won't be bringing your own) has turned into $17 plus the estimated $19 for paint equaling $36 per cadet (plus extra for food if you won't be bringing your own).

I'm just trying to make sure you know exactly what you are getting into for a good experience. And just as comparison here, I play at my field for a $10 entrance, about $5 in air, $20 in high grade paint (I only need 500 balls or so for a full day), plus cash for snackage. I spend about $40 a day for play, and I'm playing pump, not rental semi-auto "tippy time." Oh, just for fun, I own a VSC CCI Phantom (www.wevopaintball.com is good for some pics) all tricked out ;).

[TruBlu]

I just did a little research on two local fields to compare prices.

Field 1:
$53 Per Person
-Rentals
-500 Paintballs
-Camo top and bottom
-Safety Presentation
-Field use
-Lunch

2000 Paintball Case- $60

Closer to our school

Field 2:
$50 Per Person
-Includes all things Field One includes, except 1000 paintballs.

2000 Paintball Case- $40
If we get 25 or more people to come out we get a free, new, paintball gun. we could probally just raffel it off or sell it.

A little farther away from our school

I know the obvious choice is field 2, but I just want to see what everyone thinks about the prices?

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

You posted this while I was responding, so sorry for the double post but I'd like to keep all that there in the other one.

Those prices are whacked out in my opinion. $53 for rental (dirt filled "tippy" with bad air flow) and play time with 500 balls and $60 per case is a bad deal (even if they give you a white-bread pb&j and a juice box). Even the second field is a little odd, but reasonable at $50 per with 1000 balls and only $40 per case (of course there is probably a reason why it's $40 and you are going to have to shoot more of it). Also they throw in a new marker? What marker is it anyway?

You've stated it, field 2 is the obvious choice, but I would find out the company supplying their paint and what it is that you are buying for $40. Also find out what type of markers you are renting, as that will affect your paint and air consumption considerably.

[TAMHSGT]

Thank you for all that information on pricing, that will really help. I emailed the field (field 2) asking what markers are rented, what paint is used, and what marker is given out for free. Ill post again once they email back.

Thanks for the help,
TAMHSGT

[TAMHSGT]

Well, the filed responded and here are the answers to the questions.

1. What markers are rented out?
- Electronic Spyders w/ Compressed Air Tanks

2. What paint is used?
- Diablo and PMI Paint(The price is now $45)

3. What marker is given out for having over 25 people?
- PCS US5 Marker

Does this look good for the price?

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

[TruBlu]

Well, the filed responded and here are the answers to the questions.

1. What markers are rented out?
- Electronic Spyders w/ Compressed Air Tanks

2. What paint is used?
- Diablo and PMI Paint(The price is now $45)

3. What marker is given out for having over 25 people?
- PCS US5 Marker

Does this look good for the price?

Thanks,
TAMHSGT

Well, it's good enough I suppose if that's all they have to offer. The gun and paint match up well together (not so good marker meets not so good paint equals a level playing field at least). The marker that they are "giving away" is a Tippmann rip off, but you might as well take it and try to raffle it off after a day of play. Then use that money to help cut the cost a little bit for any subsequent time.

Try this though. See if instead of them giving you a marker, if you said that you could bring 25 or more people (or up it a little more to sweeten it for you), then they discount you guys and they can keep their little toy.

[devin0116]

Paintball is a fun activity/sport. But it is a fairly expensive game, especially in these economic times. Thats why i have switched to airsoft. It's more of a mil-sim (military simulation) type of game and once your purchase the initial gun, all thats left is the BBs which isn't much. But I doubt all of your cadets are going to buy airsoft guns, and decent ones at that and there a very few airsoft fields out there, especially ones that rent out guns. But if you can get a gun and find 10-15 cadets give or take and head down to the local woods, it can be very fun. Just some food for thought.

Best Regards,
devin0116 :marine:

[Airbourne Infantry]

I think it's a good idea. Make sure the players know the rules of the game though. I used to work at a paintball field and we had people come in all the time that were way too trigger happy and had way too abbreviated field briefings. Also, I suggest that everyone use the same markers (those that the field rents out) so you don't have some guy among you all playing with a $300 high-performance paintball gun that will smoke you all :p

[TruBlu]

I think it's a good idea. Make sure the players know the rules of the game though. I used to work at a paintball field and we had people come in all the time that were way too trigger happy and had way too abbreviated field briefings. Also, I suggest that everyone use the same markers (those that the field rents out) so you don't have some guy among you all playing with a $300 high-performance paintball gun that will smoke you all :p

$300 is "high-performance" for paintball? I don't know what you are referring to, but that's a low ball for most "high-performance." It's more around $500 and up, unless you are talking about we pumpers, that's around $300.

[TAMHSGT]

Sorry I have not posted in a bit.

I was going to ask my SMI about this yesterday but he had to go to North Carolina to testify in a Court Martial case for something that happended while he was active duty.

He is getting back next Monday so I will ask him then. I will update with what he has to say.

Thanks to all,
TAMHSGT

[Billyd]

Cadet, check your Private Messages.

[HairyEyeball]

We interrupt this thread for a brief administrative message.

Cadet TAM, you have not earned the right to display my chevrons. They are not 'decorative', they have import and meaning you obviously cannot understand. You have been requested - repeatedly - to remove them. Please do so immediately or they - and you - will be removed. If necessary, this message will be reposted in every thread the cadet has posted to.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion.

[c/ltdan2192]

Yea some of the kids in my unit tried to do something like this only they wanted it to be, at the least, partially unit funded. Needless to say the ASI's didn't like the sound of that and it kind of drifted by the wayside. Then again they just wanted to go play whereas your idea has a more tactical application. Good on ya, hope to hear how it turns out.

[TAMHSGT]

Oh, sorry about the rank, I didn't see the crossed rifles. I just assumed the Lamp of Learning was in there. Sorry I will remove it.

The reason I did not change it earlier is because I am not allowed on my PC during the school week except of Friday's.

TAMHSGT

[Airbourne Infantry]

$300 is "high-performance" for paintball? I don't know what you are referring to, but that's a low ball for most "high-performance." It's more around $500 and up, unless you are talking about we pumpers, that's around $300.

Lol, at least you knew what I meant though. All the same, make sure you're using the same equipment.

[TruBlu]

Lol, at least you knew what I meant though. All the same, make sure you're using the same equipment.

Yeah, big fun. But that is a must if you want real competition, to have an equal playing field. What's the status on this?

[Drill for life]

I remember playing Paintball with a friend of mine who's in the Army I still have the scars from that day. Remember to wear protective gear!!!:D

[TruBlu]

I remember playing Paintball with a friend of mine who's in the Army I still have the scars from that day. Remember to wear protective gear!!!:D

It's rare to get scars from paintball, very rare. I've played for say three years and have only received one lasting mark, and that was recently. I also don't wear much protection, I've got my "special" paintball pants and then a matching tee shirt. Needless to say, I know when I get hit, but it doesn't leave battle scars per say.

[devin0116]

Rare perhaps, but not impossible. I have seen it happen.