Eielson youth learn paintball

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Eggleston
  • 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The first paintball camp in the Pacific Air Force was held at Eielson Air Force Base June 14 through 18 at the base paintball field located near Iceman Falls Ski Lodge.

The Force Support Squadron hosted the camp through the youth center. Outdoor Recreation also greatly contributed to the camp with supplies and paintball markers, which are also called paintball guns.

In the fall of 2009 PACAF received many requests throughout the command to have a paintball program brought to the Pacific. Two camp advisors, Tim Gray and Josh Cravens, were sent to teach the youth of PACAF how to play paintball, along with some valuable life lessons.

"The goal of the camp is to teach youth the proper way to play the game of paintball, both for quality and safety of the game," said Josh Cravens.

The first objective was to teach children the basics of paintball.

Students learned how the markers operated, strategies of the game, and how to make the game more interesting by choosing different styles of play including speed ball and woods ball. Speed ball is played in an open field with bunkers and woods ball is played in a section of forest.

The camp advisors goal was also to teach life lessons. None of these lessons were more important than the value of decisions.

Paintball relates to life because making choices can either help you, or end the game.

Students were taught this by playing different styles of paintball games. Ammunition was the key prop in this lesson.

This lesson was accomplished by sending students onto the field with only ten paintballs in their markers. Then, once the game began, team members were to scour the field while protecting themselves to collect sports themed Easter eggs with more ammunition inside.

This brought to the surface the value of decisions. The choice of staying hunkered down in a bunker, or scurrying to another to try and find ammo was a tough choice players had to choose.

Again, the connection to life is to either be happy with where you are, or do something about it to improve your situation.

"This is a great way to introduce paintball to the kids, and teach them some valuable lessons toward life," said Master Sgt. Clint Ericson a volunteer during the week long camp assigned to the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"I loved the program," said Blanca Kellum, a participant and mother of two of the children involved in the camp. "It is a great way to spend quality time with your kids and be outdoors. Also, it is a good way to get some exercise."

Sergeant Ericson will continue to work with the Youth Center and FSS to ensure the paintball program on Eielson continues to grow.

Lessons learned through paintball have opened the eyes of 23 children, and four adults during this camp. It was conveyed to the participants that even though the object of the game is to shoot the opposition, there are plenty of lessons to be learned in other areas in life.