MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- There’s a faint smell of war, but mostly just the stink of paint.
A few seconds go by and then ... sound and fury.
Projectiles whiz through the air, punctuated by the steady tempo of gas bursts and the ever present thwapping sound of paintballs bursting in all directions at once.
The fight doesn’t seem to last more than 30 seconds, but one team has already vanquished the oppossing forces. The dead have already walked off the field; they’ll get another chance in this war.
Really, this is just another day at the Crossfire Paintball range where legends can be born roughly every four to five minutes.
The sport of paintball has garnered quite a dedicated following, providing recognition for the sport and generating significant changes.
Although some generations might remember jaunting through the woods attempting a stealthy takedown, Crossfire Paintball range is speedball.
“Electronic markers dominate the market now,” said Sgt. Matthew McMahon, a paintball veteran. “It’s computer chips and adjustable rates of fire.”
New players to the sport might find the tempo established by modern guns a bit intimidating at first.
“You have a rope of 30 rounds coming at you in a second, the rush is a lot greater than just the pop pop pop coming at you,” said Staff Sgt. Ernest Lawson, who has been playing since the mid-90s.
Depending on what play-style you seek, the increased speed may be just the adrenaline fix you’re looking for. Either way, the increase in the sport’s popularity has brought about other positive changes.
“It’s revolutionized the sport; obviously it’s a lot more competitive now, the markers are easier to use, they’re a lot more customizable and they’re easier to breakdown as well,” said McMahon.
Still, a good gun is no substitute for a solid skill set.
“I’ll let somebody borrow my gun so they can see the difference; it really isn’t the gun,” said Lawson.
Lawson may be underestimating the intimidation factor; however, one maxim of the sport can’t be denied.
“The pain is the same no matter where you are, and it’s really not that painful,” he said.
Even amongst the players who took the field to practice for the upcoming Commander’s Cup event, there were players successfully using the tried and true rental guns offered by the range.
Sgt. Robert Davis had some tips for every player, no matter their equipment endowment.
“First, have fun, and make sure you keep a low profile,” he said. “Keep your gun close to you, and try and get behind a bunker as best you can.”
Another tip provided is something even seasoned veterans have to be reminded of.
“Tunnel vision,” said McMahon. “A lot of times you’ll get too focused into battling one person, and you’ll completely forget about everything else that’s happening on the field.”
In the end, there is no substitute for actually hitting the field and taking the inevitable bruises and lumps necessary to learn.
“The number one thing you need to do is practice,” said Lawson.
A core group of players usually end up at the range on the weekends, and these salty paintslingers are not only willing to help but want new players to join in to help the sport grow.
“Get with a player that knows how to play and hook up with them and learn as much as you can from them, said Lawson. “A lot of the players here, they’ll hold little on-site clinics to help the newbies out.”
“This place can’t grow unless people come out,” said McMahon. “If you’re interested, this is a lot cheaper and I think a lot more fun than just going out and getting wasted. And you don’t have to worry about that hangover, just the bruises.”
For more information about Crossfire Paintball range, visit the Web site at http://www.mccsiwakuni.com/paintball/ or call 253-3822, the same number for Outdoor Recreation.