Countdown to D-Day ~ Tac One

Name: Chris M.

Chris enlisted with 1 CAN PARA and the CEF way back in 2007. A dedicated scenario player, and a fixture of the Manitoba scenario scene, Chris figured 2007 would be his chance to make his “once in a life time” pilgrimage to the paintball Mecca that is Oklahoma D-Day. Since that fateful first trip, Chris has returned every year to represent Canada and the CEF. His 1 CAN PARA career has included several D-Days (2007, 2008, 2009), as well as the Tippman Challenge Central Canada (2009) and several other smaller scenario events across Central and Western Canada. In 2010 he returns for his fourth D-Day as the executive officer of 1 CAN PARA.

Why 1 CAN PARA and the CEF? “I’ve been playing paintball for 23 years now and have always been an aggresive player who preferred the charge to long-balling, and the one-shot kill to accuracy by volume.” says Chris. “I’m also a big believer in planning and preparation in order to achieve optimum results. Finally, I am a fiercely proud Canadian. So when it came time to pick a unit to register with for my first Oklahoma D-Day I did a great deal of research to ensure I found a unit that suited me. I was very impressed that Oklahoma D-Day event not only recognizes, but respects the contributions of other Allied countries to the historical event. So the opportunity to represent my country at the world’s largest paintball event was very appealing to me.” The decision for Chris was easy. “I looked into all of the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force units and was impressed by them all. However, 1 CAN PARA seemed to be the perfect fit with their missions, deployments, and tactics. My preparation paid off and I found myself surrounded by a band of paintballers who all believed as much as I did in working hard both on and off the field.”

“In my opinion, ” he continues, “the Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces are a cut above the average unit or team, and 1 CAN PARA is at the forefront. We excel at training and preparing our members for the Oklahoma D-Day experience. We offer a common uniform (“the Maroon Goons”), transportation (convoys from several different regions), a common kitchen (the DFAC), housing (CONEX shelters), and much more. We cultivate an esprit de corps second to none with structure, traditions, and entertainment. No sooner has one event concluded then we are planning for the next one.” And the CEF, according to Chris, offers its members much more than just D-Day. “We have expanded beyond Oklahoma D-Day, and become one of the world’s largest international scenario teams, taking part in events around the world. You will be hard-pressed to find a harder working, more capable, and more effective unit on the field. Above all, the CEF truly embodies the concept of family and we welcome all of our members, new and old, with heartfelt comraderie.”

Chris’ contribution to 1 CAN PARA and the CEF would be hard to understate. A keen tactician and strategist, Chris designed the training course that has made 1 CAN PARA and the CEF 6 AB so effective on the field, integrating the very best of the CEFs aggressive playstyle with tried and tested woodsball tactics. Teamwork is not not just jargon to Chris. He knows that solid teamwork at the fire team, section and company levels are essential for success in the field, and has laboured hard alongside 1 CAN PARA leadership to develop successful teams and successful leaders. His aim has been to ensure that 1 CAN PARA and CEF players are amongst the best prepared and most effective players possible, wherever they are playing – a task in which he has enjoyed great success. A proud Canadian, he has also gone to great lengths to promote Canadian paintball not only in his home province of Manitoba, but across Canada and the US. An able leader, blessed with a keen eye for detail, Chris continues to make a vital contribution to the success of 1 CAN PARA and the CEF both on and off the field, all year round.

Want to know more?: www.ddayadventurepark.com; www.ddaycommonwealth.com;