NATO-PUNCH

[EasyCheez]

As many of you probably know, the IAA is crawling with guys who love late 80's Soviet style load outs. AKs, income distribution, and long lines for bread are everywhere. A group of guys, primarily led by Dutch and Harvest, have decided on an answer to this red menace: NATO-Punch. NATO-Punch is essentially designed to be a group of guys who will dedicate themselves to mil-sim/reenacting a NATO (read: U.S. Army) unit of the mid-80's (Grenada/Panama) era. SO, for those of you who have enough money and are interested, please post here.

Please note that this isn't a "new team" and it isn't going to trump the Ruff Ryders, IMCO, PARA, or any of the other NATO teams involved. The primary goal is, well, to give us an excuse to buy new stuff. Oh, and if we plan any big games Warsaw vs. NATO, it'll be totally bitching. Also, for those of you who don't have webgear or vests of any type this could be an opportunity for you. To "join" you need woodland BDUs (one of the guys on the IAA team is volunteering to get and mail out nametapes for everyone), a K-Pot (please get a replica, not the real thing lol), and webgear. This means a nice, cheap, surplus Y-Harness or H-Harness will do (I suggest H-Harnesses, they distribute the wight much better).

Now, the goal of this is to actually look the part, so you need to have an M16A1/M16A2 rifle (If you have an M4 I'm sure you could pretend it's an XME177 or whatever the old Special Forces rifle was). Luckily, CYMA makes an M16A1 (they call it the VN) that is pretty cheap and, from what I hear, kicks ass. Plus mags, ALICE pouches, and other accessories are cheap.

Just an idea for everyone.

[EasyCheez]

Jinx, this is something we should talk about... We have a lot of guys who don't have ODs and have limited gear. The NATO gear is pretty cheap... Everyone has woodland, ALICE stuff is abundant and cheap...

Now, I still love the OD look. You have OD, I have OD, Stash just bought OD... Nobody else on the team has OD. Maybe until more people start sinking money into OD stuff we should include information about where to buy this 1980-1990 NATO stuff on our website? That way we can have people worry about getting their woodland kit filled out before going out and buying new OD uniforms (And, really, the webgear from the woodland kits would work with OD BDUs perfectly fine). Just a thought.

For the record, buying an M16 has me planning on buying an Israeli assault vest instead of a MOLLE vest this fall.

[JiNX]

That sounds like a great idea. I do plan on getting into NATO PUNCH and just need to fix up the M16.

I plan on getting a reservists vest (I think thats what it's called) and getting the authentic IDF uniform. For some reason their shade of OD looks good in the sun AND shade. The newer OD seems mediocre in the sun but works good in the shade. Going hardcore means buying the real shit and I plan on doing that.

[EasyCheez]

I agree... the OD that we buy is just, well, weak. I am actually getting a Vietnam-era loadout and the OD that the old '65 uniformd came in is a tight shade of OD. The new OD is just blech.