The General is back to lead the troops.
For the second straight year, 麻豆社国产resident Aaron Bunbury will lead the charge for the Allies team at the annual Operation Overlord paintball event in Greenwood, B.C. from June 28 to 30.
Bunbury and his soldiers dominated the event last year and won every battle at the Second World War-themed military simulation. He became the first-ever general to successfully defend "the beach" from an Axis attack.
He said he's looking forward to assuming the role once again.
"I kind of had mixed feelings about being asked to be the general again," he said. "A lot of my guys didn't want to do it because you don't get to play as much. You don't get to do the hands-on and shooting stuff, but you do get to play more of the tactical game, which is what I'm interested in. But I was honoured to be asked again and figured I should defend my title."
Bunbury will lead a team of 76 players and said the general has to be on top of everything going on.
"You have to balance being in the heat of action and also have to be able to control what's going on from the outside," he said. "I roamed around and played sort of all over. I have to go wherever I'm needed, but it's a lot of fun."
He will be matched up with the same opposing general as last year and admitted that he will change up some tactics, but hopes to have the same success he had in 2012.
"It all boils down to two things," he said. "One, it's paintball not real war and two, you're only as good as the people you're playing with. If they don't want to listen to you or if you can't communicate to them, then it won't happen. You also have to be able to think on the fly because things change in a heartbeat on the battlefield."
Bunbury started the 麻豆社国产Paintball Society 11 years ago and his elite team of 麻豆社国产Rangers will be represented at Operation Overlord. Team members Peter Vartanis, Peter Trachsel, Dan McDonald, Devin van Hierden, Andy Morris and Jonathan Byerley will make the trip to Greenwood and play under Bunbury.
He said paintball locally is a little stagnant and is hoping to recruit some younger players to learn more about the sport.
"When I first started out here, I wanted to give kids one more option for something to do," he said. "Paintball is such a great team-building and confidence-building activity and it's good for kids who might not fit into football, baseball or hockey. It's just a great option."
Bunbury pointed out that many of the Rangers are now in their mid-20s and he's looking for some fresh blood to keep paintball young locally. For more information, visit 麻豆社国产Paintball on Facebook.
