Perhaps most of you are already aware of this type of training for soldiers but it was new to me when I read it this evening:

Most people see a day at the paintball range as a bit of recreational fun, but for Canadian troops it's a deadly serious tool to prepare them to fight Taliban insurgents in war-torn Afghanistan.

The rest of the article is at http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pag...ticleID=2513701

Makes great sense to me as anything that can help increase the chances of bringing soldiers home alive and well is terrific.

I think it's a great idea! Like the man said, now they know if they've been hit or hit the target they were aiming at. And if they get hit, they can learn from it and not die.

edit: I forgot 1 little word...

It is a great idea though.

Come to think about it ...

Wonder if having paint ball games for high school kids as part of the PE would be great? After all, lots of exercise involved and I bet it would help with some of the aggression that a lot of kids have, too?

Actually Great for troops not a good idea for schools. They hurt a lot..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWkHNUrdaAw

I can tell you guys, I am a member of the Canadian Forces Reserves and I have trained with paintballs. By the way it's not your regular paintball either. We actually take our C-7, basically the same thing as the M-16 with a few modification, and just change the ammo... They sting a F*** load more then the regular paintball... and their is no way in hell to fake that you haven't been shot Also once you get hit for the first time you work 10 times as hard not to get shot again

I like the idea of paintball in high school... It is alot of cardio when playing speedball and you can use reballs (rubber balls) to play inside a gym so don't even really need a special field of anything.

Wow, I looked at the kid with the welts all over him at the link you provided, boopme - and ouch! Had no idea that these were so powerful! The one and only time I participated was about 15 years ago and getting hit 'smarted' at times, but nothing like that! Eep! Will take back my suggestion they be used for kids in school unless they can find a soft squishy paint ball version - or as Klinkaroo mentioned, use reballs.

When I read what is used in place of the regular paint balls, Klinkaroo, when training - well, can only begin to imagine how intensely it must hurt to be hit during training and can sure understand why all of you would "work 10 times as hard not to be hit again". (Please tell me you wear helmuts so you don't get hit in the face!!).

Yes helmets and full face shields, well we wear our full combat uniform...

Relieved to know you were both helmuts and face shield!

Although perhaps slightly off-topic (but after seeing the welts on that boy's chest - eep!), is each soldier supplied with a 'bullet proof' vest when they are actually in active service?

I personally don't have it issued to me... but I am reserve and Navy...

Both my parents we're regular force, Air Force and not combat arms so I don't know... but I think in general no... If they are issued out I think it's only to the combat arms (Infantry, Artilery, Armoured Soldiers, Signal Operators ect...)

I expect one of our Moderators shall shift this into a different section soon - and I'd completely understand as I know I'm heading off from the topic of 'paint balls for soldiers', and do apologise.

But I asked, Klinkaroo, about the vests because while knowing one can't believe everything we hear or read, I've been concerned over stories such as the one contained at the below link. Stories about soldiers having to fight without proper equipment, etc. While I loathe the thought of war, any war, the tida that the brave people fighting it without every safeguard possible available to them makes me incredibly sad - gentle sigh.



http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2003/10/03/iltis031003.html

http://www.alternet.org/asoldierspeaks/20322/