Greetings from Norway, gents!
Been playing CM for a little while now. My first experience with it were the original games, but I was younger back then and didn't quite grasp the finer aspect of war simulators.
My (short) military experience:
- Basic line infantry training in the Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion, focused on squad and buddy pair attack drills. 2BN is a mechanized inantry battalion, first unit to deploy CV9030 in combat, composing a combat group together with the Engineer bat.
- Battalion trustee for about 9-10 months. I missed being out in the field, but in this conscript position my colleague and I actually managed to reduce expenditures in two battalions, and we got unique insight in the day to day life and organization of battalion camp. Daily responsibilites consisted primarily of ensuring the health, environment and safety regulations of the entire conscripted force in the battalion (about 300-400 men). A desk job, to make it plain. What I remember as most satisfying and meaningful was taking up complaints by enlisted men and women and advocating them both up and down the ranks. I worked closely with two battalion commanders under my time, with my direct CO being the company staff officer.
- Since I missed field training, I signed up as a volunteer as a rifleman in the Norwegian Home Guard (task force). The skill of my task force was surprisingly high, and the task force rifle teams are expected to function as regular army rifle teams, with similar equipment. This was an excellent transition to civilian life, because of the focus on force and objective protection (which basically means a less aggressive modus operandi, while stille being able to perform attack maneuvers). Besides the excellent training both in forested areas and MOUT, I completed one live mission when Norway suffered a terrorist attack in 2011. Of further notice I have very limited training (no experience) as a squad leader.
- Rank of temporary lance corporal (private)
My military experience gives me a good basis for playing CM, and I've been enjoying CMBN, and CMSF especially. That's not to say I'm an elite player of any kind. I often lose, unfortunately because of "patience issues", and I've never played PBEM, something I'd like to try out, but I don't even know how.
Looking forward to CMRT and the new modern came that's been announced.
Just wanted to say hello before we start sharing experiences! I've been a lurker for some time
-Erik