16AA

16 Air Assault Brigade [16AA] is an online gaming unit playing a variety of games, specifically Armed Assault and Americas Army. In the past it has played Joint Operations : Typhoon Rising, Battlefield 2, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3 : Ravenshield, Ghost Recon : Advanced Warfighter and SWAT 4

Aims and motivations

[16AA] was set up to bring together individuals who are looking for a more realistic, teamwork driven and team focused approach to online gaming in first person shooter (FPS) scenarios. It aims to provide a good compromise between completely real tactics and tactics that work in game to maintain its core values of teamwork, friendship, realism and the drive to succeed.

Structure and Organisation

Our unit's structure is constantly expanding as our membership grows. Promotions are earned and can only be attained if the position is available. You will not see a top-heavy squad with ten Generals. The 16AA prides itself on it's meaningful and practical structure.

Formation and subsequent growth

[16AA] was formed on the 29 August 2007 by ex members of the online unit 75th Ranger Regiment with the intention of creating an online unit that follows realistic army tactics and doctrines and to provide an enjoyable gaming environment for gamers who want to play in a similar way. With a starting membership of 10 at it's formation [16AA] consisted of one platoon of 2 sections lead by Second Lieutenant Hutson and Sergeant Andersson.

Since then the unit has continued to slowly expand, emphasising commitment and shared philosophy and goals above skill and ability, to its current size of 36 active troopers. [16AA] continues to expand and take on new recruits, particularly since the release of Armed Assault in the UK. It also maintains contact with a larger community of ex members who have left the unit on good terms. These members are considered retired and have the option to return to active duty as privates after going through a refresher course on tactics but without the need to go through the entire recruitment process.

Recruitment Process

There are several steps to the recruitment process, which has been adapted and changed over the years we've been operating as a unit, to ensure that we get the right sort of people as members.

Application

The first step is to submit an application to the unit in the enlistment area. Once a member of the recruiting office approves it you will be scheduled for an interview.

Interview

The interview will last about 30 minutes during which we will attempt to get a feel for your character. If you pass your interview you your application will be Approved and you will progress to our Recruit Training program.

Recruit Training

The recruit training program runs over a series of sessions (on Monday and Wednesday evenings).

Phase 1

This phase is a short session on teamspeak to familiarize the new recruit with how the 16AA operations, both in game and on the forums.

Phase 2

This phase consists of the following subjects Contact Drills, Formations, Basic FIBUA, Defensive Theory, along with several others. It is essential that every recruit that passes knows how the unit operates as a whole an what their role is in any position on an op.

Company Training

The 16AA runs a number of company training sessions each week these include; practicing different tactics; running courses for our membership (Signals, JNCO/SNCO, Flying, Recon, Weapons, Map Reading, etc).

All of which bring the unit together to run in a more realistic and streamlined way when on op.

Community Areas

The 16AA participates in a number of community ops with a number of groups.

NATO Gaming Community (NATOGC)

We are a member of the NATOGC which runs several large games every two weeks - all operations are run in a realistic manner with orders passed through radio operators via teamspeak, to achieve the objectives of an evening.

The Real 16 Air Assault Brigade

[16AA] is based on a real UK Army Brigade, The 16th Air Assault Brigade, which was formed on 1 September 1999 by merging 24th Airmobile Brigade with elements of the 5th Airborne Brigade to form a highly mobile rapid reaction force consisting of Parachute units and airmobile units which employ helicopters.