What does Airsoft Mean to me! Winning Essay.

Larry Mays aka: Firedog Team P.A.C.

http://team.airsocom.com/profile/Firedog

Hello,
About 16 months ago I attended a birthday/homecoming party for a group of family and friends. It was my daughter and grandson’s birthday and a dear friend’s son coming home from the detention facility he earned the right to attend. That’s truly the way I felt. Being raised by just my father who believed you lived only two ways: The right way or the wrong way, but would never be the judge that was your own job.
After talking at length with these young adults at the party I noticed this guy really wanted to cut his pathway back to the right path, but doesn’t have a clue how, nor did I. I did know his interests were paintball, guns, rock music and the military none of which I knew a lot about except the military. Not that I really know a lot about the military as a whole but it helped me back many years ago. You see in my own youth I made some bad choices and at seventeen years old I had a beautiful baby girl. Wanting to provide the best for my young family and having little to no skills and trouble with my schooling (I did not graduate) I was lost as to how I might provide for them. I turned to the military. I knew they could help train me to “Be the Best I Can Be”. So I took the test and did well. Then came the catch. I didn’t finish school. Because of that the best I could do was join the Army National Guard, then meet with a recruiter with a plan
and a friend. The plan: To join the guard, go to basic training and get my G.E.D. and then I could transfer to the Army. I did just that. It wasn’t easy but after I finished I became a 91C field Medic. I also got the chance to go to Army Ranger School and I did that and finished that as well. I loved the Army and everything it did for me personally and professionally. It lasted a short five years and eight months and came to an end abruptly with an injury on a training exercise. But when I left I took with me Honor, Integrity, Pride and a highly moral way of life.
A few months had passed since I had talked to my young friend fresh from rehab and I had heard of some failed attempts to help the guy. Then they came to me and asked if they could play Airsoft on my land. I checked into this “Airsoft” thing a little and agreed to let them come and play but I wanted to watch them closely. So out to Wal-Mart I went and bought my spring shotgun and pistol, you know so I could watch closely. After our first battle we had about five people. I overheard at the battle “I’ll get them all next time; I’ll have my sniper rifle by then”. So next I go get a cheap China MP5 AEG and then our weapons grew to AEG’s. The guys then introduced me to TeamAirSocom.com and they further informed me that they have started a team and would like ME to be their team leader. I agreed and Team P.A.C was formed. First enlisting family and friends then branching out to others our team grew. All the while I notice changes in their
morals as well as their self esteem. At times over this past summer they camped staying for days at a time, working hard on the land that is now our practice field. They have raised a sunken boat (for a prop on the field) built bunkers, nests and even a safe house. I started getting reports from the parents of some of these young adults saying “I can’t believe the changes we are seeing in him”. I am very proud and honored to be a part of this team. We are 17 strong now and growing. I asked for something from my team members a couple of months ago. I told them of a contest on TeamAirSocom.com, a new ribbon for a “featured team”. I told them I would like to be able to post this new ribbon for all to see, but we had to earn it. I discussed how to do that and they went to work. They made me proud yet again. They not only won the ribbon once but for two consecutive months (so far). They have gone above and beyond what I asked of them. There was
nothing better than the feeling I got when I took them to the local airsoft store after weeks of hard work on the field, seeing that gleam of pride in their eyes, excitement about what is to come, new weapons, new battles, new friends, etc. It is with great pride I watch as those veteran members pass along their older weapons to younger members that may not be able to afford the more expensive ones. I see such pride in them for their accomplishments. I also see so much honor and integrity coming from these young adults, they didn’t have before. I love listening to the stories that start with: I remember the first battle with that weapon. These people have become my family. What happened to the troubled youth that did some time in a detention facility? Well he is now studying for his G.E.D. and looking forward to a career with the United States Marine Corps. He is also a one of the best fire team leaders and special ops commanders a team could
want. We are proud to have him on Team P.A.C. Airsoft has changed lives. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.
Settling down to a big meal after four to six hours of practice and hearing my team exchange strategies and tactics with each other; or after weeks of discussion with a possible sponsor, I have to tell them that I blew it, because after promises were made to me from said sponsor and then ultimately not followed through with. When I questioned the possible sponsor’s moral integrity I was called childish. Needless to say we did not get sponsored! They team replied to me “If we must ignore our morals for a sponsor, we don’t need that sponsor- Honor and Integrity shall prevail that is our motto.” Oh how proud of them I am. But most of all airsoft means to me joining together with a family of choice and slinging 6mm BB’s at or with them. These are the things airsoft means to me.
Respectfully.
Larry Mays, aka: Firedog – Team P.A.C.
www.freewebs.com/pacairsoft


Congratulations Firedog, Well done!