I almost hate to ask this, but is this a real military, training exercise? Or are you doing some kind of paintball or laser tag?

This is real military training. I'm a scout in the Scout Battalion 3 in Mistelbach of the Austrian Armed Forces.

And those are our uniforms, we use olive drab camouflage. Its way better than the computerized pixel thingys the U.S. and other uses.

Oh see, now I'm really happy that I asked. Because I had thought the uniforns and vehicles were far too realistic to be anything used in any kind of recreational games. However hard core the players. :) But goodness, now that I know I'm wondering if it's safe to abuse you anymore Mr. Meerkat. ^.^

You cant abuse the willing my dear big friend ;)

And as scout I watch out for preds XD
As meerkats do it all the time ;)

*Grins* That's a very very good point Ranek. I'll be sure to remember that. :)

Lol. And yeah, I guess they do really. :) I'm curious though, have you ever been any real combat situations? Obviously, I hope not. But i'm just curious what your thoughts on things if so.

Not really, once I saw one get blown up on a landmine (Mission Golan, watch the cease-fire between Syria and Israel) and once was a ambush of 2 criminals in Chad (Afrika) where both died and no harm to our Forces.

Oh hey! Looks like another lovely warm day in Austria!

Enjoying the weather? :P

Our forces don't use the pixely camo - that's for butt-farts. Bring on the DPM and Soldier 95 system. That's where it's at.

I like our olive drap ^^
Its very neat and hides you well too, but I heard that we someday should get such pixely camo x.x
Are 2 pics in my gallery as they presented it.

You should have a look at DPM. It's not pixelly - it's patchy. So that it blends in better. There are no sharp angles on the texture; it's blobs of green, black, brown, and beige. It makes you look like a piece of the forest, or grass, or mud.

I know DPM ;)
We have from times to times international trainings and our neightbours use them ;)

My country uses DPM, and as part of our training, we often get stationed with your forces in Germany.

I live in England.

If our army had yours or Germanies equipment, we'd be ubermensch.

What rifles do you use?

The Steyr AUG, its a very good bullpup designed and easily customized weapon.

Here a good Info Video which categories the Steyr AUG 7th world best assault rifle *is proud* ^_^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YfJY79vIRQ

Hahaha! I'm inclined to agree with you on Models like the AUG A3 - it's a BEAUTIFUL weapon. Something very elegant about it.

I'm very fond of our L85A3's too, though - they're INCREDIBLY accurate. However - I personally think we should move onto something like the G36 or Tavor 21 - because both of those weapons are VERY well designed, and have incredible performance. I'm more inclined toward the G36 though - because it's absoloutely featherweight compared to the other two, and it overheats much less. :)

Yeah G36 is a nice one too ^^

Every weapon has its good and bad sides, it depends on the soldier to adapt and use the full potential.

I agree that every weapon has its ups and downs- however.

It's my opinion that it doesn't depend on the soldier, but the people who train them. It's incredibly important to be well trained.

Yeah but those who train soldiers are in the rule soldiers too ;)

True 'dat. But who do you think uses the weapon more?

Someone out in the field, in combat?

Or somebody sat in a base, teaching people to use the rifle?

I think we both know it's more important to be well trained,
Otherwise you get royall chewed up out in the field. :P

I dont know how it is in your army but in our army the teachers and commanders are out with us in the field, many teachers are even troop leader when going out.

So yeah its pretty even here ^^
And even our officers have shooting trainings and they are veeeery good ;)

Our army instructors are often seasoned soldiers that have taken a course in training OTHER soldiers, but I still feel that good training means just as much as experience.

Its not the same but you can prepare.

I speak of experience, I was already 2times downrange. Training and the experience is not the same, you just can prepare to make experiences but that was it.