Gollum1

IIRC the USMC IBA and MTV vests use Coyote Brown (or something very close to it), which is a much darker brown than the more sand-coloured "Tan". Just a heads up. :) Also @OP, the vests used by the USMC in Arma 2 (and in real life) are not fragmentation vests but proper ballistic vests with SAPI plate protection.

Incredible that someone remembers me talking about stuff like that probably over 3 years ago, thank you. :)

Semi-active Finnish Defence Forces reservist. Conscript service 2006-2007: Pori Bde / Satakunta Jaeger Bn / 1. Jaeger Coy (FRDF) Kosovo deployment 2008: FINCON KFOR / MNTF © A Coy Rank: Cpl Training: Mech Inf + Fire Support Section (Mortar)

Nice work. Some things I noticed: The pads are inaccurate. The Hatch Centurion knee/elbow pads (both the plastic and nylon parts) are built to completely cup the joints. The pads are larger than on the model and envelop the joints but there should be no sharp edges that protrude like this: The structure of the pad is not straight, it is curved/cupped to eliminate stuff like that. The straps are also too narrow on the model. Both the knee- and elbow pads are too small. When watched directly from the front, the kneepads look like on the picture below. They are much wider and larger than on the model, and will completely compress any fabric caught in between. I have a relatively thick leg and it looks the same on me. On the SJ models it looks like they are glued to the jumpsuit fabric. (KFOR MNTF C Force Protection Pln. 2008) Both thigh straps, the belt and the goggle straps are much too narrow. Don't be confused by the width of the twin clip versions of the Uncle Mike's straps; the velcro version that you have decided to model (in the first pic below) is much wider. All the too narrow straps would be uncomfortable to wear and are as such much wider IRL. Here are some more examples of kneepads and the holster. The beret is an improvement but now too big and floppy. Even if the beret is too large and isn't taken care of or shaped in any way, there cannot be that much fabric to spill over the side, the size on the tag would be something comical like 70. The M05 uniform collar is too small and low-profile. The helmet's shape is slightly too high, narrow and conical. The ballistic vest (especially the collar) and tactical vest is cool. The Damascus gloves for the SJ look perfect. I think all the units shown should use them. Overall the units look good.

The FRDF doesn't work that way, he would not be directly assigned to any unit, or at least not informed of it, just by signing the "readiness contract" (which I wouldn't call "enlisting"), just get a letter in the mail saying that he is in readiness. When the recruitment of the FINCON of the Pogada operation, probably named SKJP, would begin, a lady from FINCENT recruitment would call him and offer him a place as a liaison officer. If I remember correctly, at least KFOR LMTs and ISAF MOTs are independent of companies and are instead directly under Task Forces and PRTs respectively. Prior operational experience does not especially qualify you for being a liaison officer, as I have understood it. I am not aware of an FRDF HQ Coy with liaison officers in it, but please inform me if something like this exists because I've been trying to figure out what exactly this apparently purely on-paper FRDF organisation is about for years. Everyone on operation nowadays is I guess (I don't know) in theory part of the FRDF but I can tell you that 90% are completely unaware of it or what the FRDF is, as am I basically. It seems to be some fictional organisation included in force registries and the heads of some generals. As far as I have gathered, it is a loose pool of reservists and FDF personnel who have signed the KriHa readiness contract. Reading the FINCENT homepage one might get the impression that it's some sort of recruited and organized force like the EUBGs, which as far as I know is a completely different organisation that still bears the RDF sleeve insignia for some mysterious reason. edit: I made a mistake, PorPr rekrytointiala is actually responsible for KriHa recruitment nowadays since almost a couple of years ago, not FINCENT (PVKVK) anymore.

According to this logic I think the need for "out of shape civilian teenage boy" models far outweighs the need for female ones.

What games would that be and exactly how do they simulate it?

Impossible to practically (non-annoyingly) take into account in a game, though. The effects of auditory exclusion vary wildly depending on the person and stress level (as you said).

As I said, the dispersing crack is actually quite loud at this distance (from all directions), almost rivalling the bang of the weapon. After this distance the sound starts to weaken considerably but even then it is very audible. I don't own ArmA so I don't know how realistic/useful this "dispersing crack" sound parameter is. I will only get myself lost if I start commenting on the physics aspect of it. What is BUTTS? The direction relative to the flight path doesn't matter significantly for about over 25m (?) distances. It is very audible from all directions. I don't have much experience of the very close-range cracks, so all I can say is that they are there and they are very loud. I'm sorry if my opinions sound a bit too wishy-washy, I haven't observed it systematically or even purposefully.

In my experience, the crack (I would say it's more of a drawn-out crackling sound as it almost always echoes) is audible to everyone at several hundred meters and is very loud, but seems to quickly weaken after that. The bang itself is audible at many kilometers. For the operator, the mechanism of the weapon is also clearly audible and rivals the cartridges' bang. The sound seriously varies a LOT, being completely different depending on the weapon, distance, obstacles etc... I've never played a game where the crackling sound of a firefight was accurately implemented, realistically the cracks and bangs are almost as loud at short distances and are very distinctly different sounds. In combat, the operator may hear everything, something or nothing of his weapon, depending on adrenaline-induced auditory exclusion. How can a sound be travelling subsonically in air? I would assume that it would be travelling at the speed of sound. Correct me if I'm wrong.

It is good to see some Finnish units, but I think these still need a lot of work. If you need some source pictures or another viewpoint, add me on msn: tarcontel9 at hotmail.com. I would be happy to help.

Most of the dialogue among the enlisted was really braindead and irritating (plus points for realism). I think the pilot episode was good compared to other American military drama TV/media. It isn't really anything groundbreaking and has the usual clichés, but it's competently made and I liked the realistic details, like asking about wearing beanie caps in briefings, people lending each other Leatherman tools, visiting the AAFES PX etc. They seem to have paid attention to realism concerning language and gear, at least. I will watch the whole series. I haven't read the original work.

From a recent foot patrol I was on: Notice that issued slash resistant gloves and Burgmann light protective vest are in use. IMO any virtual FRDF soldier in combat gear should wear gloves of some sort. These are Damascus DPG125. Non-issue items here include the ballistic glasses, luminous tape attached to the helmet, Surefire sheath and weapon sling. The sleeves of M04 (hot weather) woodland and desert uniforms are always rolled up during the summer, except at night (cold).

Extremely nice weapons. Especially the ITKK looks photorealistic. A few years ago berets were still used as the standard headgear on international operations, but nowadays woodland M05 caps or desert boonies/caps are used. I can't definitely speak for other operations, but berets in KFOR FinCon are nowadays only (sometimes) used by very high-ranking officers or LMT, the camp gate guard, in parades and on leave etc. So an "FRDF" soldier in M05 combat gear and with a beret is a combination that is only very rarely seen nowadays (I've never seen it myself except in EUBG/FRDF exercises). On foot patrol a helmet is fastened to the combat gear or kept in a backpack. According to recent pictures I've seen from EUFOR Chad/ISAF, I would guess that the same practice is in use in those ops.

It's possible to get an AAR like that without computer games. We conducted a company-level exercise for a week with SAAB BT 46 simulator vests which have an integrated GPS that updates the soldier's position in real time. It is also possible to watch a recording of the battle as an AAR. It basically looks like a recorded Command&Conquer game. Each round fired and each hit is also recorded and visible on the screen. Vehicles, mines, indirect fire, NBC and AT weapons are also simulated. I agree with you, just wanted to mention this better and much more expensive alternative. That said, VBS-like simulators are very cost and time-effective and fun, I believe they are very useful as training tools. Another advantage of it (for an infantryman) is conditioning the soldier to kill; the process of "aiming" at a realistic-looking human target through realistic-looking sights, pushing a button and watching him "die" can be repeated quickly and endlessly. Airsoft and paintball (/simunition) games are ideal for this and provides much more realism, along with the fear of being hit yourself and inflicting pain on another human being. Shooting live rounds at paper bullseyes doesn't train you to kill, it trains you to shoot paper bullseyes. I think that games can actually provide more realism in this case (paradoxically?). Yes, I recently read a lot of Grossman.

Trijicon ACOG. Not sure of the model, maybe TA11. FDF name Kiväärikaukoputki 04.

I am pretty sure that there is no way the branch patch would ever be used on anything other than leave uniforms. Even if it was issued in wartime it would be stupid as hell and pointless. As I understand it only a velcro flag and some rank insignia would be issued. Not sure about the rank insignia on the arm, I think the arm velcro patch is only designed to be used on undershirts, not jackets. I've been wondering where to put the rank insignia on the M05 combat equipment though, the equipment vest obscures the velcro patch on the M05 jacket. At least judging from M05 pictures (NBG etc.) it isn't used at all on the combat equipment, it isn't all that "necessary" anyway except in garrison. Would be nice if the FDF had decided on adding the rank insignia on the helmet like the Americans do, it would be practical and maybe add some small additional incentive to actually wear the helmet as much as possible.

I/07 was still using it in PorPr... I guess II/07 will never know the wonders of the original "pellepuku" (which I hate from the bottom of my soul). In Utti I guess they will never switch from it, they are still using the 62. To get maximum realism, the M62 set should be mismatched as fuck with 10+ different color variations on the camo. Were you still using M/62 battlebelt made of cotton ('rätti tetsarit' ), Breadbag (leipälaukku) and cotton rucksack with leather straps which basically is big enough for just 1-2 day patrols or 4-5 days of 'cold and starvation'-patrols I had almost complete set of that gear last summer. Time before 1962 clearly wasn't time when ergonomics was known. Oh shit, OK, and I thought our M85 combat belt, M91 shrapnel vest and M85 'pallo' rucksack were crap Only seen that older stuff in pictures. Knife often isn't even necessary with M62, they open up by themselves. Yeah, atmosphere...like the spontaneous crazy ROFL atmosphere in our recruit squadroom when we tried them on for the first time...

I/07 was still using it in PorPr... I guess II/07 will never know the wonders of the original "pellepuku" (which I hate from the bottom of my soul). In Utti I guess they will never switch from it, they are still using the 62. To get maximum realism, the M62 set should be mismatched as fuck with 10+ different color variations on the camo.

Yes every FRDF soldier will have pistol & holster. Is M-80 pistol (Browning HP) still the standard pistol in FRDF? I've heard of P226 being used too. Also any idea what model the holster in ArmA is? I'm actually a bit uncomfortable discussing some of this stuff on a public forum (even though nobody tells me anything of importance and I'm exaggerating, I only know of rumours and my own training, but you can never be too careful), but collecting rare 'tactical' FDF info (especially international stuff) and pics is a kind of hobby of mine so add me on MSN (or PM me) if you think you might have use for me. I will be deploying in a few months and will have some kind of further first-hand experience with this. I have some kind of response to those questions you asked. As I said I don't have ArmAss but in pictures the holster in ArmAss looks like the Bianchi M12 to me. Cheers.

Cool. OK, nice, thanks for the explanation. About "active duty FRDF"... one can apply and get into an EUBG without ever having signed an FRDF readiness contract (or completed FRDF conscript training) and still for example wear the RDF insignia...so as you can see the term is a bit misleading. It's a bit like the US Army 75th Ranger Rgt., not all Rangers have gone to Ranger School and not nearly all officers who have finished Ranger School are in the regiment. edit: I have never really heard any peacekeepers/others talk about FRDF in any other context than the conscript training. The first KFOR battalion was formed out of parts of the FRDF reserve, as I understand it. But for simplicity's sake FRDF soldier is fine, I'm just nitpicking because there is some understandable confusion about the FRDF role. I have a friend of a friend who is going to Chad too. I have one of those desert suits too (non-ripstop version), but it wasn't issued to me Maybe make a guy with the woodland M04 hellepuku too? Just for the rolled-up sleeves, heh. About those vests, yes that would be logical, but I still fail to see the difference between them other than name and coloring/surface. I guess there's some explanation like the difference in soft armor that I mentioned, I was just looking for info because I really don't know. I had the same idea sometime when searching for my combat belt in a dark tent, that it would be very practical to just combine protective and equipment vests, but the M05 frag/shrapnel vest has few PALS links compared to the equipment vest, so it can't completely replace it. The US military has IBA and other vests that have a shitload of PALS on them but they still often use chestrigs and vests over them, I heard they help a lot with load distribution etc. I have only used the M05-style KASI sim vest and well...I don't know. edit: Had nothing to do and found further "proof" that the protective vests are basically interchangeable...two guys from apparently the same squad wearing "different" vests in this picture for no apparent reason. Yeah... Yeah, it isn't. Thanks for your work, FDF team, looking forward to see the finished product (even though I don't own ArmAss or play video games anymore). edit2: How about pistol holsters for the FRDF guys? From what I have seen in public photos, everyone in NBG and EUFOR Chad has a pistol, and I mean everyone. In FRDF conscript training the Uncle Mike's Pro-3 Triple Retention holster was issued (along with a few old "lucky luke" leather holsters haha), and it worked pretty well, looks like NBG is using those same ones. In KFOR, a whole lot of holsters are used, mostly a Bianchi flap holster and some Safariland 6004, I even saw someone using a Blackhawk Serpa.

Thanks for acknowledging my comments. What do you mean? I see in the new promo picture (posted on the homepage) that the helmet cover has these small holes in it meant for putting vegetation and other crap in, like on PASGT helmets. M05 covers don't have here, compare it to the completely smooth cover in this picture. OK...but I don't think you really know what FRDF is if you use the term 'FRDF operators', which is understandable because I don't really understand it 100% myself since it's confusing as hell. I guess you could say I am a typical "FRDF operator", but then again I know some types who fit the same definition who couldn't operate their own fucking shoelaces. :P Check the wikipedia article on FRDF. NBG, KFOR, ISAF etc. aren't really FRDF even though they use the same beret and insignia. On the other hand, the peacekeeping law says that all applicants for international missions are taken from the 'crisis management reserve'...it's a bit confusing...once again, don't confuse 'EUn nopean toiminnan joukot' with 'valmiusjoukot', 'suomen kansainvälinen valmiusjoukko', or just 'nopean toiminnan joukot' which FRDF is sometimes incorrectly called. They are a bit similiar and are connected in a way, though. I haven't seen those arm covers issued to anyone except NBG and Guards Jäger Regiment (maybe they were to the EUBG before that, GBG, but I never saw them use them). I wonder how your source can say that they aren't used in real operations since AFAIK none of the units they are issued to have ever been in real ops. To go off on a bit of a tangent here, just WTF is the difference between the M05 shrapnel vest and the M05 ballistic vest? The ONLY difference I have seen is different color, leather material on the shoulders and PALS on the front instead of fixed mag pouches. They close exactly the same (as I understand it), the shape is almost exactly the same, and both take ballistic plates (!. They are both the same basic design as the M91 ballistic vest (not shrapnel vest), that is also made by Burgmann. I never saw the GBG Force Protection Coy. (during a year of training in the same brigade as them) use anything other than the M05 'shrapnel' vests, and they sure as fuck had plates in them. They also had the Burgmann light body armor sometimes, that is basically a plate carrier. Now NBG is using the same brown M05 'ballistic vests' as Guards Jäger Regiment, but you can see in the picture that I linked that small amounts of M05 'shrapnel' vests are also in use. So what is really the difference?? Does the M05 'shrapnel' vest just have weaker soft armor inserts or something? I haven't used the M05 gloves myself but I know someone who has, they were nice but nothing special, look almost exactly the same as the totally worthless old ones too as I understand it. I always use my own Hatch gloves anyway so it doesn't matter. :P Once again I have to ask what is a 'standard FRDF soldier'? For example in KFOR (I'm not deployed yet) the usual equipment is a uniform, beret/cap, pistol and maybe M05 equipment vest + rifle. It looks like you're going for the NBG look which is really nice and fits well if you're going for a standard FRDF soldier (if there is such a thing) in heavy combat load, so I have no problem with that, I'm just trying to question the definition a bit. Then you could also consider that the NBG personal combat equipment is just basically the same as the M05 equipment for a standard FDF soldier, except for the arch insignia. I'm rambling a bit, I'm off now but I am inclined to continue the 'discussion'.

Very good progress, especially the RK 95 looks almost photorealistic. The soldiers are obviously WIP but quite good. Are they supposed to be FRDF reservists? Looks like the standard NBG equipment. In a reservist exercise a few months ago FRDF didn't have any other M05 than the gloves, vest and goggles. Some (obvious) issues with the WIP soldiers: - Goggles waaay too small - M05 arm pocket should be tilted and have rounded corners on the flap - RDF arch too small (don't know if it's just the perspective but I've worn it quite a bit/sown one on and it doesn't look right) - M05 helmet cover does not have the same kind of holes as in U.S helmets AFAIK - Helmet shape/size, vest pouches, protective vest collar. Hope you add those badass arm protectors for urban jägers. - Needs gloves, looks better and is realistic. Phht I can't think straight right now but there are a bunch of small issues that I'm sure you will fix.

There was a ("TRUE! SERIOUSLY!") story in Pori Brigade about a XA-185 getting lost in the woods like that, but it wasn't even in winter, it just had a camouflage net on and the drivers wandered off pretty far. Sounds like BS but I don't know, I remember putting more stock in the story because it came from some more reliable source. I suppose it's possible, but each brigade has an own legend about disappearing vehicles. Yeah, searching for stuff in the dark with a flickering, dying light (if any light at all) is really fun...kind of like the time I felt my hands going numb after being cold as hell for a time when carrying a mortar tube, I really started involuntarily laughing to myself for some reason (I kept all my fingers in the end).

Brigade Combat Team.