Paint travels at blazing speeds

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  One of the more fast pace and intense outdoor activities available to Airman on Columbus AFB is paintball. The paintball course on base used to be available to Airman on the weekends and was located on the other side of the runway. Now it is conveniently located right behind Outdoor Recreation and available for use anytime Outdoor Recreation is open, as well as on the weekends.

"Nobody was using the paintball course on the other side of base because a storm went through the field last year and nearly destroyed it," said Rob Wilburn, 14th Force Support Squadron. "Paintball is a fun sport, really an adrenaline rush. So we decided to move the course into the woods behind the Outdoor Recreation building."

With the new location of the paintball course Outdoor Recreation is able to manage paintball games anytime they are open, as opposed to only on the weekends.

"Before we moved the course we could only play prescheduled groups on Saturdays and Sundays," said Wilburn. "Now that its right behind the Outdoor Recreation building you can come anytime we are open. However we still book prescheduled games on weekends as well."

You don't even need a large group to play paintball now. If a few Airmen want to go out and play with a small group that is now possible.

"If just two of you want to play during lunch you can now," said Linda Norman, 14th Force Support Squadron. "As long as outdoor recreation is open you can walk over there and have a good time."

Paintball is a fun and safe game as long as you follow all the guidelines. A few simple rules can save an unnecessary injury from ever happening.

"I went into playing paintball thinking that it could potentially be dangerous, but if you follow all the guidelines it's fun and safe sport," said Gwen Granderson-Ford, 14th Force Support Squadron.

All an Airman needs to know to play paintball is the safety rules. Playing paintball is extremely easy to do so practically anyone can play.

"The gun was really easy to use, said Norman. "We had never played before, and I was surprised how fun and easy the game is."



If you are looking for something fun and fast-paced to do paintball is a great option. Moving the course behind Outdoor Recreation makes it easy for Airman to take advantage of this great opportunity. The woods-ball course has been modified to fit more players, and is a great way for you and your friends to get outdoors.

"The new course is about 20 acres," said Wilburn. "We have the area divided into to two sides so we can play two different games at the same time."