[quidnunc]

The point is that the Canadian Army doesn' event have the resources necessary to equip their forces with up-to-date training gear.

While paint ball guns might be of some value in urban-warfare training, there's no way they would be as realistic as the troops' own weapons.

[coydog]

One of the big problems with using paintball guns and equipment for combat training is that a paintball can be stopped by thick brush, and induces people to mistake concealment for cover. A very fatal mistake.

[marron]

I'm working my way through Dallaire's book. The whole thing is hair-raising, but as hair-raising as anything is his description of the Canadian military, of which he is very proud. I don't think even he realizes how inept they sound to an outsider.

Of course, his description of the UN management is a must read for everyone, especially for people who love the UN, who are probably the least likely ever to read it.

[Spktyr]

And then there's the US military's MILES gear, which is arguably better and discourages "cheating".

"BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP" "You're dead!"

[Drammach]

While paint ball guns might be of some value in urban-warfare training, there's no way they would be as realistic as the troops' own weapons.

I prefer the paint-ball method..

Reason?
Brandon Lee
Killed when real ammunition was mixed with blanks..

Soldiers in a training exercise, using standard issue weapons that are capable of firing real ammo, is a recipe for disaster..
How then, does the government explain to the parents that some functionally illiterate soldier "mistook" the real ammo for the "powder ball" training ammo.. and the resultant deaths..