Blacksheep Milsim - Official

05/21/2026

VETERANS IN THE WORKFORCE

Roughly 16 million Veterans returned from World War II. They were heralded as the GREATEST GENERATION for winning the war on two fronts – European and Pacific. I would argue that their greatest contribution was on the homefront. Veterans entered the workforce with honor, commitment, knowledge and skills that transformed the United States into an economic powerhouse.

Currently, less than one percent of the United States population serves in the Armed Forces. The honor, commitment, knowledge and skills are still there. When we talk about training Veterans for the workforce, I believe the workforce should be trained on what Veterans bring to any situation.

• Leadership is ingrained in every member of the Armed Forces – you lead people, you manage things. Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) are used at every level – receive the mission, issue a Warning Order (WARNORD), make a tentative plan, start necessary movement, reconnoiter, complete the plan, issue the complete Operation Order (OPORD), supervise.

• Mission statements – who, what, where, when, why - are used to task subordinate units. It is then up to that leader to determine HOW to accomplish the mission based on capabilities and resources.

• The Operation Order (OPORD) is a detailed, precise planning and communication tool used to pass information from one level to the next. It consists of five paragraphs – situation, mission, ex*****on, service support and command & signal. Put those MBA business plans to the side, this works if you want to start and run a business.

• Communication skills are taught at every level. Military language is precise, clear and to the point; BLUF – bottom line up front. Words have very specific meanings.

• Teams of diverse people are built to operate in life threatening situations in any terrain and in any weather. Veterans are confident in stressful situations. They have learned to control fear. SLOW IS SMOOTH – SMOOTH IS FAST.

• Safety is the highest priority and risk management is essential. Every mission and training exercise requires a risk assessment to mitigate hazards. Safety briefings are delivered for everything – including a weekend off or holiday travel.

• Failure is not an option. Your buddy’s life depends on you doing your job.

• Time is sacred – everything is choreographed based on time. The military uses a 24-hour clock to eliminate any confusion. Early is on-time ~ on-time is late ~ late is unacceptable.

• The Military Decision-Making Process (MDP) is a detailed analytical system. It includes IPB – Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield; METT-T – Mission, Enemy Forces, Terrain, Troops Available, Time Available; OCOKA – observation and fields of fire, cover and concealment, obstacles, key terrain, avenues of approach.

There is so much more! Just ASK a Veteran.

John Bucciarelli
Blacksheep6
Major, Infantry, US Army Retired
Author of Leaders Are Made! A Building Block Approach to Effective Leadership and Are You A Leader? (ebook)

12/18/2023

Greetings Patriots!
I am compelled to share this information with you. It is a compilation of over forty years of experience in the military and emergency preparedness. My goal is to give you a vehicle to learn the skills to protect yourself, your family, your community and ultimately our democratic republic.
The attached document explains itself. Please read it carefully.
Share it with your family and friends.
Don’t hesitate – do it quickly.
Respectfully, with blessings to you and your family.
John

10/15/2023

Saint Michael's Veteran Entrepreneurial Institute
https://www.facebook.com/SaintMichaelsVEI
Greetings!
We have had a significant lull in the action waiting for the State of Connecticut to make a decision on the future use of Southbury Training School. We are finally getting some traction. We have an important meeting with the State of Connecticut tentatively scheduled for the end of October/early November.
We have had a tremendous outpouring of support for this project. We would like to demonstrate that support with a stack of Pledges of Support. Please express your commitment to SMVEI - a statement of enthusiasm, a partnership, a service or a contribution. Of course, this is still pending an approval of our plan by the State of Connecticut.
If you would like a copy of the SMVEI Prospectus 2022 (DRAFT), PM me with your email address.
Please share this with your contacts, friends and family.
Keep us in your prayers!
Thank you,
John Bucciarelli
Chief Executive Officer
Saint Michael's Veteran Entrepreneurial Institute

03/04/2022

Saint Michael's Veteran Entrepreneurial Institute in Southbury, CT.
https://www.facebook.com/SaintMichaelsVEI
This is huge! SHARE it!

Provide Veteran entrepreneurs with education, training, facilities and resources to grow their businesses. Provide long-term and transitional Veteran employment/apprenticeship opportunities. Provide services and work opportunities for homeless Veterans.

09/04/2019

HUGE Airsoft/MILSIM TAG SALE!

I have been involved in this sport for almost 14 years. It has been a blast, made lifelong friends and hopefully contributed to the sport. I thank everyone who has been part of the Blacksheep experience!

Blacksheep will return in the future in a different format - mobile event production is not a good business model.

I am liquidating all of the Blacksheep event production supplies and equipment. It has taken me over a decade to assemble this stuff - worth almost $50k. I hate to see it just sitting in my driveway. Contact me if you are interested in the whole package or parts - I have an inventory of everything. I am selling the WHOLE PACKAGE for $20k. Once in a lifetime opportunity. Spread the word.

I will see you on the high ground!

Blacksheep6

03/07/2019

Here's another one. The Trolls ruined this possibility. Watch it!

In June of 2014, Blacksheep Milsim hosted the first of its Milsim events incorporating the PTSD Milsim Challenge at the GTI Joint Operations Center, in Barnw...

03/07/2019

This is from 2015. Watch it. It's amazing how the Trolls have ruined this sport.

This Week In Airsoft sits down with Blacksheep 6 for the low down on Camp Shelby and whats to come in 2015 under the Blacksheep banner. Also we get the full ...

10/16/2018

State of the Sport 2018

Knock off the bu****it! If your comment, MEME or effort doesn’t move MILSIM forward, then don’t do it. We look like a bunch of children on a Kindergarten playground. There are many outside of MILSIM watching what we do! When you hurt another player, another organization, another event – you cripple the sport.

Nothing has changed – matter of fact we have stepped backwards in time. Every sport has a history - a lineage of people, organizations, events and milestones that trace a story. I still believe that MILSIM has the potential to be a sport. I challenge all of you to look at the history of American football - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_American_football. American football was plagued by the same issues that MILSIM is plagued with today – bickering between organizations, no standard rules, no administrative body and minimal enforcement of safety requirements. Football was almost banned in the United States because of this. We may face a similar fate.

Many support Blacksheep. Many have believed the negative hype against Blacksheep. Here is a brief history of MILSIM from my perspective. Please add to it!

Airsoft has always involved local, regional and national events. John Lu started Operation Lion Claws in 2002 and has continued to produce quality events nationwide. Back then the Airsoft/MISLIM world was a collection of team, regional and event websites and forums. It was a daily ritual of posting to these websites and commenting to move the post higher in the feed.

My cousin Crossfire/MSATO and I played paintball as teenagers. When I retired in 2001 from the United States Army he haunted me for three years to try this new thing called Airsoft. In 2004 I decided to try it. I drove up to Massachusetts – Battle for Tolland. I was impressed with the gear and motivation, but they all lacked an understanding of tactics. We spent four years building the tactical proficiency in the Northeast through a variety of events and training. Finally WE were ready for something bigger. It took me a year of working with Fort Drum to get approval for our first event at the CACTF – Operation Pine Plains I. Ninety players attended that event on November 3, 2008 – the original Pathfinders! We held four events at Fort Drum under the MSATO banner. Crossfire and I split due to a variety of reasons. I continued with three more events rebranding under Blacksheep – Blacksheep at Pine Plains. There were a total of seven events held at Fort Drum until Sequestration curtailed operations. Fort Drum is the birthplace of MILSIM.

Through the years other national organizations have provided excellent MILSIM experiences at different levels. American MILSIM (AMS) out of Oklahoma is a consistent MILSIM event producer. Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation (OLCMS) out of California provides an introductory MILSIM experience. A player described it best: OLCMS is PG, AMS is R and Blacksheep is X. Every sport needs great events and experiences at the local, regional and national level.

Enter FACEBOOK! All of the team, regional and event websites migrated to this new social-media platform. It was awesome, at the beginning. One place to post all the event information. Then the TROLLS appeared – a swarm of negative voices. Don’t get me wrong, there were TROLLS in the forums of years past, but they were controlled by a player population where every gun had a name associated with it. We knew them! Social media created the keyboard warrior – anonymity provided bravado and our sport began to fall apart.

Blacksheep branched out. Opening events at The Cove - VA, GTI (with the permission of AMS)- SC, Camp Grayling – MI, Camp Guernsey -WY, Camp Shelby – MS and Skirmish – PA. Our mission statement – if you can’t come to the mountain, we will bring the mountain to you.

By any standard, Blacksheep is the toughest MILSIM event. Those who have attended will vouch for this. Those who have not attended have no voice, other than on social media. Don’t be a victim of social media. Start preparing now for the return of Blacksheep. It is not a walk-on game.

Blacksheep6

10/14/2018

Remember when MilSim was more about Honor than Blank Fire and Camping.....Blacksheep Remembers....

08/10/2018

I love this picture from Operation Blacksheep at Skirmish - 1/2 Price Pain!

https://www.facebook.com/MMAirsoft/photos/t.100000618814965/10151729176714031/?type=3&size=1296%2C972&fbid=10151729176714031

Maj B giving the briefing before Op Blacksheep @ Skirmish started