Tell me how you got your start playing paintball. 
What was your first outing like?

Much like most paintballers, I first started playing after being invited out to Fields of Fire with a good friend of mine.  Very Old School player, played with Youngblood when he wore a suit.  Anyhow, first time out, immediately after the whistle blows to signify game on, BAM, shot right in the leg.  “Oh great, this is gonna be a fun game, wearing all this uncomfortable gear, carrying a gun I don’t know how to work and my first of MANY trips to the deadbox...”

Tell me what teams you've played for up until now.

I have played for FBI, Team LA, Argent Force of course and Argent Speed.  Played in 10 man, 7 man, 5 man, and 3 man.  Played mostly front but some back as well.    

How did Argent Force come to be?    

OD (Dave O’Dell) introduced me to Jimmy (Simeone), and Jimmy introduced me to Mike Levy. And the rest is History. 

What is your role on the team?

I am honored to be an original member of the team, and I play the role of a Team Captain.     

What kinds of things do you look for in potential recruits for the team?  

New recruits are always evaluated with who has heart, who has something to contribute to the team, who plays with aggression, and who plays fair.  But most importantly who has a good sense of humor.  This is an absolute must because we rarely take anything seriously.    

Tell me about a scenario event that stands out in your mind as the best you attended.  What made it so great?    

I think the first scenario game we ever played was one of the best ones we ever played because everything was so new at the time.  We had heard of these large games of 200 on 200 and were like, “WOW I gotta get some of that action, and play for 8 hours straight?  You have got to be kidding, sign me up!”  We had no idea of story line and no idea of missions just went out and straight up SLAUGHTERED people, over and over again all day long.  I think we had like 6 or 8 people with us on the first one and it was BRUTAL.  We did take home Most Valuable Team that day for playing the exact same way we still do today.   But by far the best game ever, was the Prison at Fort Ord in Monterey.  We played that place a number of times and still tell stories to this day.  Everything from the Night Vision in the Tower, Jimmy and Taylor taking over the Staircase, the Grenade out the window, the genius on our team to light the smoke grenade in the kitchen, but NOTHING will ever beat the Doorway to the yard.  OD posted up on one side of the Doorway and myself on the other side: typical Crossed Up fashion, nothing too special, pretty basic.  But they just kept coming: one after another, after another, after another.  This seemed to go on for an hour.  I have no idea how long it really went on for but we were dropping pod after pod, body after body, and honestly it was Merciless.  Many people were playing on, and we were making sure they were hit, but the best part about it was we were so completely calm.  We were so focused and it was so surreal, laughing and talking with each other the whole time, the only reason it stopped is because game was called.  This is what we call the Zone and others have been there before and everyone strides to get there.        

What advice would you give to a young buck just starting out in paintball?

Patience young bull.  You know the story of the 2 Bulls up on the hill looking down on a herd of Cows?  Kinda like that.     

What do you do for a living?    

I am a Construction Manager for a General Engineering Contractor here in Southern California.  We do a lot of State and City work.  The stress can get to you at times and paintball is a great outlet for me.  However, almost every Monday at our Staff Meeting I still wish I had a gun in my hand.      

You've done some traveling to play paintball. You've done the Oklahoma D-Day event a few years in a row; you'll be flying to Florida soon to take part in a special event with Smart Parts this year.  

We have made a pact between ourselves on the team to do one big travel game a year with as many local Scenario events as we can as well.  D Day 3 years in a row, this year Florida, and next year will be Castle Conquest.  It is awesome to get out and play paintball in a brand new place with brand new people.  But the best part is the traveling; we have SO much fun on every trip the stories go on and on.  From getting OD a drink before 7:30 am, to going to the BIGGEST Wal-Mart any of us have ever seen, making new friends at the Casino, enjoying the local culture and the friendliness of what the local residents have to offer, to driving behind a local bumpkin with our high beams on long enough at 2 am, for him to get pissed off enough to rush our car to beat us up.  Turns out it was only T Devil and he had no idea who we were.  He was still pissed and Taylor swears his high beams weren’t on.  Right Taylor, they weren’t.  Priceless, you can’t make up stories like that.     

What, thus far, has been the best place to play scenario paintball?   

The best place ever was the Prison.  Period.  Hands down.  However there have been a ton of other GREAT places.  And we are lucky to go and visit and get a chance to play with friends we only see once or twice a year.  But it is even better when we get to make new ones and our squad suddenly grows from 8 men to 18. 

Is there a regional difference in the skill level and attitudes of the players?

I do notice a difference that we play Aggressive, not stupid aggressive but we can think it out on the field and come up with a simple quick attack plan to do what we need to do.  Very basic stuff, and I am surprised some people just don’t see it before we do.  Sometimes it is as simple as Jaime walking straight up the road and slaughtering an entire side by himself while we watch in amazement, or breaking off a squad into 2 and flanking.  Lots of places we have played people don’t understand how we do it and how it pays off.    

What types of gear do you think is most important to a scenario player as opposed to someone who just plays walk-on or tournament paintball?  

Most important?  Hydration.  When we play these big games, we will go out for HOURS at a time.  Robert from COPS911 designed a vest with our input that is amazing.  First of all with our Sherpa packs we can hold an entire case of paint per man.  This saves reloading and walking all the way back to the camp.  These fields are HUGE, nothing like you see here in California.  When you travel across the Country to play paintball, more time on the field means less time filling pods.  Plus it helps break any falls.  That is another story.  But one of the best aspects of the vest is the Camel Back insert.  The heat and humidity we feel playing at these other places is NOTHING like we experience here in Southern California.  It doesn’t matter how in shape you are, or think you are, I can tell you right now you are not ready unless you adapt to the local climate.  Start drinking LOTS of water a week before you set off on your adventure.  And while you are there, water all the time, constantly.  Outside of that, larger tanks for lots more air; don’t want to waste time walking back and forth to the air station.       

What makes Argent different from other Scenario teams?

 The one common bond that we share with each other is the fact that we constantly are willing to helping each other out on and off the field.  What also makes us different is that we kind of do our own thing, have a hell of a good time doing it, and we always keep a good sense of humor never taking ourselves too seriously.