RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The term "MilSim" stands for "Military Simulation." This best describes the type of operations that are conducted by T.E.A.R.S.

We certainly do not glorify war. Our Team enjoys teamwork, strategy, the outdoors and all the elements that make the Airsoft experience unique and satisfying.  This allows us to gain a slight, very slight understanding of how it might feel for "the real guys on the line".

T.E.A.R.S MilSim operation rules create conditions and variables of actual small infantry units operating in the field. We try to inject as much realism as possible, yet at the same time we balance it with safety and fun. In order to achieve these conditions, our operations use the following rules:

·         All operators are expected to follow the “ Code of Conduct”

·         CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

·         All operators must use ANSI 87.1 rated goggles or glasses that have a tight seal around the face

·         All hits to the operator's body count as a kill, including web gear

·         Gun hits do not count

·         After calling “Hit!”, you will place a red rag on your head, put your gun over your head or on your shoulder with one hand in the air and them move away from the combat area at least 300 feet

·         Dead men do not talk to live operators

·         Dead men do not talk on the radio, not even to say "I'm dead"

·         Dead men are not spectators. They hunker down away from the field of action and contemplate their state.

·         If a dead man suddenly finds himself in a combat zone, he will immediately move to a new secluded area.

·         There is absolutely no shooting at anyone within a 20-foot safety zone.

·         If you encounter an enemy head-on and you are less than 20 ft away, you must call a "parlay".

·         You may surrender an enemy if he is 20 ft away, and you are behind him with a clear shot and he is unaware of your presence.

·         If someone surrenders you, you must comply without question if the attacker is within your 20-foot safety zone.

·         If any operators have any disputes, they are expected to resolve them in a gentleman-like manner.

 AIRSOFT HITS
 

·          Hits to any part of your body count as a kill.

·          Hits to any part of your tactical gear or equipment, such as ammo bags, canteen, and pouches, etc. also count as a kill.

·          Ricochets that hit you count as a kill.

·          Hits to the gun do not count as a kill.

Because airsoft BBs strike with only a fraction of the impact of paintballs and do not leave a mark on the clothing, disputes sometimes arise as to whether an enemy operator has been hit or not. In the heat of battle, an operator may sometimes not feel a BB hitting him for several reasons.

The most common reason is adrenaline. Sometimes an operator is so focused on an objective that he may simply just not feel the hit. There are many examples of this in real life combat. A soldier may be grazed by a bullet and not notice it until later. Also, when operators are making a run for a flag or for cover, it's difficult for them to feel the hits because they are moving quickly. Equipment such as tactical gear or a tactical vest will also prevent an operator from feeling a hit. However, in most cases, BBs hitting someone's equipment makes a distinct sound, and both operators can usually hear the impact.

 This can also happen when someone is wearing heavy clothing, as is often the case during the wintertime. However, hits on clothing are usually more difficult to hear. Also, if you are shooting at an operator at longer ranges, the BB may not be hitting the person hard enough for him to even notice.

On the other hand, there may be situations that an operator thinks he has hit his opponent but in reality he hasn't. The most common one is long-distance shot. To the shooting operator it may look like he's hitting his target but in reality his BBs are falling short of their target. Brush and other natural cover can create a false perception of a hit.  Brush and foliage can easily deflect a shot. In rare cases an operator can miss someone even at close range. In his excitement to shoot his enemy, some operators spray their guns wildly and hit everything but the target.

IGNORING HITS

Operators may sometimes come across a situation where a BB lightly hits the toe of his boot or while lying down a BB hits his butt pack. He thinks that if it was real life the bullet would have just only taken off a part of his shoe but missed his toe. Or that the bullet would have just passed through his butt pack and miss him. So he thinks that hit really doesn't count and continues his mission. In T.E.AR.S operations, any hit, no matter how seemingly minor is a clean kill.

• (Except a gun hit)

CHEATING

The foundation of the Airsoft experience consist solely of the individual player’s personal Honor and Integrity. CHEATING WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE TOLERATED. Anyone caught cheating will be immediately dismissed from the operation and that person may not be invited back to future T.E.A.R.S operations. Let us make it clear cheating is unacceptable. You may be able to get away with it at first but in the long run people will know you for your lack of Honor and Integrity. You will eventually develop a bad reputation as a cheater and this mark will follow you for a very long time. Eventually you will not be able to find any operations in which to participate.  

PROFANITY

No profanity is allowed any time.

PHYSICAL CONTACT

No aggressive physical contact is allowed. Anyone that makes violent physical contact with any other operator will be ejected immediately from the operation and AO and will not be invited back.

 

20 FEET SAFETY ZONE

All operators are considered to have a safety zone of 20 feet. No operator is allowed to shoot another operator inside this 20 feet zone. Any operator caught violating this safety rule will be expelled from the operation and AO and will not be allowed to participate again in the future.

PARLAY

A parlay is a truce that is design to protect operators from accidental shooting at close range. When an operator finds himself face to face with an enemy with in the 20-foot safety zone, all operators in question must stop action immediately. This is MANDATORY. Opposing operators then turn away from each other and move at least 50 feet away. Once all operators involved have taken cover, they may resume their missions.

SURRENDERS

An operator may call surrender only when he enters an enemy's 20 feet safety zone from behind or the side with a clear shot and his opponent is unaware of his presence. Once an operator calls surrender, the defeated enemy must comply with the surrender. This is MANDATORY. If the surrender is successful, then the defeated enemy becomes a dead man. After the surrender, the defeated enemy may protest if he thinks his opponent has called surrender from too far away (more than 20 feet). The operators are expected to negotiate on the spot and reach amicable resolution quickly, in a non-confrontational and gentlemanly manner. Should an operator turn around before surrender is called, the operator behind can still immediately call surrender if it is obvious that he already had his gun at the ready and pointed at the back of the operator being surrendered. If there are any disputes, then the situation becomes a "parlay".

CODE OF CONDUCT

EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS

This section deals with all rules and regulation pertaining to equipment used in operations and safety. Safety is a very important issue to us. We want all operators to have a good time but at the same time we want all operators to be as safe as possible while conducting our milsims.

Airsoft Guns