What are your thoughts on the military simulation community?

Wel maybe I should elaborate on the military simulation community. The military simulation community or MILSIM for short is a community in real life or games that are able to be played with military stuff implemented. For example you have a group in a game that decides they want to simulate the military in a game. Now he/she would replicate the military. For example you would make a battalion (Of course an actual battalion is very big for games so we shorten in down so like 15-20 people) you would make a chain of command. Now, what most people in the military don’t like is the ranks, ribbons, badges, etc. Let’s say the battalion we tak about a few sentences ago has a rank system, awards system, and courses where you can take them and get the appropriate badge for the corse. Like the paratrooper badge of something along those lines. The ranks they are an essential part of MILSIM as they are in the military in my opinion. Now awards are a big thing let’s say a person meets the requirements that the owner or the community set to get an ACOM they get it. What is your standpoint on this.

Bill Johnson I would still need more context. Are we talking military re-enactment or are we talking about airsoft and paintball? Or just a random group of people pretending to be their own militia?

SSgt Christophe Murphy military re enactment

Bill Johnson - Personally I don't have any issues with Military Re-enactments or those who participate. As long as they understand what they represent and know this doesn't represent actual Military service. There is nothing wrong with teaching history in one of the most tangible ways. With that said I think presenting Military awards creates a weird grey area that shouldn't be played in. Nothing to say they can't create their own award system to recognize hard work and dedication. But using the example you provided there is already an official criteria for Military awards. Awarding an Army Commendation Medal or something else outside of official means could be a major concern. Rank structure is less a concern in my eyes because it is associated with roles and responsibilities. But again, the understanding needs to be clear this is re-enactment and not military service. That is where my concern is and why I am more concerned with the awards than rank because there is less functionality to it.