MilSim, or military simulation, is growing in popularity for a number of reasons. In fact, we recently published a blog on some reasons you should try out MilSim if you are thinking about it.

Unlike some other airsoft matches, Military SImulation is designed to simulate a live military experience as much as possible. This could be in terms of the equipment and accessories that are permitted to be used in the match to the map on which the course is played. In fact, some Military Simulation events are recreations of actual engagements in history and are designed to closely recreate these.

In addition, some MilSim matches take place over the course of several days and will leave you exposed to the elements and reliant on your team not only for success but for comfort. That makes these types of matches more demanding than most airsoft matches and will require you to be prepared. Start with this basic guide, and as you gain experience you will learn more about what you need to be successful.

Airsoft Gun

We have to get the obvious considerations out of the way before we can get into some of the finer points of essentials that you should bring with you. First, you’re obviously going to need a serviceable airsoft gun.

What you carry will be dictated by two things - by your role on the team and by what is permitted in the match. Some airsoft guns might be prohibited given the simulation, so far as the terms of the event detail.

Otherwise, your position on the team in which you enlist will be the biggest determinant of which airsoft gun you should carry. For example, infantrymen on the front line will probably be stacked with AEGs while supporting players might only carry a sidearm. Some will prefer to take up locations as snipers and will have more of a use for a spring-powered rifle. Either way, this is the most important item you will bring into a match, one way or the other.

(One more thing - this is not specific to these types of matches but to airsoft in general - bring eye protection with you any time you play airsoft - no exceptions).

Sidearm

Here is something else you will want to carry with you in a MilSim match, provided it is allowed; a sidearm. For most players, this is going to be some kind of pistol, like a gas blowback (GBB) pistol with a larger magazine that will enable you to defend you and your team in a pinch if you get ambushed or surprised.

If it is not apparent to you why you should always carry a sidearm where allowed, it can be summed up by the following phrase. “One is none and two is one.” If you only carry your main arm, say your AEG, and for any reason whatsoever it becomes unserviceable, you will be a sitting duck.

Extra Ammo (and Magazines)

Here’s another relatively self-explanatory item or set of items that you should bring with you when you take part in a Military Simulation match. Generally, someone on your team will probably also carry ammo that you can use, but that’s no reason not to be prepared.

That is to say, you should carry several additional loaded mags, and if you empty one, you should reload it at your soonest possible ability. Bring as much ammo as you think you need, and then another bottle. You could always not use what you bring, but if it runs out mid-event, again, you are a sitting duck once more.

Tools to Service Your Airsoft Gun

With some of the more obvious essentials in the rearview, now we can get into the meat and potatoes of what you need to bring with you into a MilSim event, and first on the list is a collection of tools that you need to clean and service your airsoft gun or guns.

We’re not even going to try to tell you exactly what tools or cleaners you need to bring with you in the field, and honestly, you should bring as few as you can get away with. At the same time, we can’t predict what tools you will need anyway. You might be able to get away with a few small screwdrivers or hex wrenches, but that much is up to you. Bring what you need to disassemble or partially disassemble your airsoft gun and service it in the field.

Knives

A knife is the most important tool you can have in life; not just in a Military Simulation match. There is basically nothing you can’t accomplish in the bush with a knife, which is probably why it is unanimously hailed as the most influential - and critical - tool that you can carry.

With a knife, you can build shelters or break them down, process trees, build fires, dig holes, prepare food, and more. You can make tools with a knife that will make your life more comfortable and practical in the bush. Don’t just carry one; one your airsoft gun[s] you should carry two. Get yourself a folder for EDC and carry a fixed blade on your hip or your pack. The number of times you reach for it in a match will surprise you.

Fire Making Supplies

As we mentioned earlier in this article, sometimes Military Simulation matches take place over the course of several days, which means you will be exposed to the elements for days at a time. Your comfort will be determined not only by your grit and resilience but also by the skills of yourself and your teammates, along with what tools you bring along.

Sometimes you will not be able to make a fire, because the territory you occupy will be hostile and the fire would give you away. However, there will almost certainly arise a time wherein you want to be near a fire or heat up a meal. That’s why you need to bring along fire-making supplies, whether you just carry some matches in a tin or you bring along lighters.

Then again, your knife can be the only fire-making supply that you need, along with a flint or a ferrocerium rod. That’s one more way that a knife is a critical tool; carry a good one and you won’t need to carry additional accessories.

At Least a Cup

When we say that you should at least carry a cup, what we want to say is that you should carry a few different essentials to make meal prep and eating possible. For example, you could carry one of those little steel can openers, a hobo tool, and a small mess kit, but at the very minimum, you can get away with a cup, and seriously, it should be steel or aluminum.

Make it metal, because although it will be a little heavier, you will be able to use it as a small pot to boil water, if that becomes absolutely necessary for survival. Also, metal is basically indestructible, and you can cook food in a steel or aluminum cup in a pinch too. Point is, you’ll need at least one vessel like a cup, but get a small mess kit if you can spare the room or weight.

Water (and a Canteen?)

Carry along some water but don’t overload yourself. You will need water long before you need food, and if you can’t find water in a course you will be sorely situated if you run out. As with the cup we said you should carry, you should carry an aluminum or steel canteen if you can because they are nearly indestructible and you can easily refill them if you come across a safe water source.

There are other ways you can use canteens, and some of them are pretty crafty, but we aren’t going to list them here. Stick around and reach our blog if you want to hear about more tips and tricks in the future. For the time being, make sure you have at least one vessel to carry water with you in a MilSim match.

A Shovel (If You Can)

You might not be able to spare the weight for a shovel, but if you can, you should carry a small folding shovel or an entrenching tool with you and you will be surprised at how useful it is. Much of the time, you can do the same work with the fixed knife that you will be carrying (see above) but get yourself a folding shovel with teeth on one edge, and all of a sudden you will have a shove, an entrenching tool, a saw, and a seat all in one.

With a shovel such as this, it will be easier to work wood and excavate land to make makeshift structures for shelter. At the same time, if you take a three-part folding shovel and lock the shovel into place with the handle and blade at 90-degree angles to each other, you have an immediate seat or stool; you’re welcome.

A Radio

Radios are not completely necessary for every single player on a team, but if you can make room for one, you should carry it along. It will make it much easier for you to keep in touch with your team and allow you to communicate over distance.

At the same time, radio communication for your crew will enable you to (relatively) split up into groups in order to tackle more complex initiatives as a team. Again, radios might not be permitted to a given Military Simulation, but if you are permitted to carry one, you should.

A Flashlight

Make sure you carry a flashlight, even if it is only the tactical light on the rail of your AEG. this shouldn’t be the only light source you carry, but at the bare minimum, you should have one. Really, you should have more than one though.

If you think you won’t get ambushed at night or when your team is otherwise indisposed, think again. The opposing team will take every advantage they can, and if that means coming upon you in the night, be ready for it.

Plus, a flashlight will help you to keep working through the night if you need to. You can’t quit working just because the sun goes down.

A Waterproof Jacket or Poncho

You need to be protected from the elements, most importantly against rain, because if you get wet during a match and have no way to get dry, you’ll be in sore shape. You might just be uncomfortable, but you can also develop blisters and sores and might even get hypothermia.

Make sure you carry some form of protection against the rain, whether your actual jacket is waterproof or you just carry a poncho to throw on when it starts to come down.

The Ability to Carry It All

Finally, you will need the ability to carry all of the essential gear mentioned throughout the course of this article. If you can’t carry it, it won’t be much good to you, so you’ll need a good pack or vest to carry everything with you.

Get a good pack or a quality vest, one that is comfortable and has pockets that are well separated from each other so everything you carry along is well organized and easy to find. The better prepared you are, the more successful you and your team will be in a match.

Is this a complete or a comprehensive list? By no means, but it is a great place to start, and if anything, you might even consider the list of essentials here to be the bare minimum of what you should carry with you when you get involved in a Military Simulation match. That is, provided none of them are expressly prohibited, which is possible given the terms of the match.

You’ll still want to bring along extra accessories, and that’s fine. For example, you might also want to bring along a blanket, a sleeping bag or roll, first aid supplies, and more. You’ll learn as you go.

If you have any questions, make sure you give us a call. We’d be glad to help set you up for your first MilSim match and to get you involved in our great sport along with everything it can provide. Give us a call sometime at 800-581-6620 and we’d be glad to point you in the right direction.