Tippmann Sports and U.S. Army Join Forces - New line of paintball equipment marketed under U.S. Army brand will offer players reliable equipment with an authentic look at an affordable price

10/24/2007
BUFFALO GROVE, IL - Tippmann Sports is proud to introduce U.S. Army Paintball, an entirely new brand for players seeking high-quality equipment and a realistic military feel at an affordable price. U.S. Army Paintball will officially launch in early 2008 with the introduction of a family of markers and modifications manufactured by Tippmann. The strength of the U.S. Army brand is expected to attract new players to paintball and help convey the unmatched level of realism and durability the new products will deliver. In addition to markers, all paintball categories are included in the official licensing agreement Tippmann signed with U.S. Army, so additional products will be introduced in the coming months.

"Dependable...rugged...top-level performance - words easily applied to the men and women in the U.S. Army as well as the new products being launched by U.S. Army Paintball," said Patrick Ehren, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tippmann Sports. "Based on initial feedback, we expect very strong response to U.S. Army Paintball. And, we believe the brand will create new opportunities to grow the game by bridging paintball to the estimated 30 million Americans who are active in the military, veterans, part of military families or military enthusiasts. Plus, it's a great way for Tippmann to demonstrate its support of our troops."

The U.S. Army brand will be launched in conjunction with a broad-reaching program that will utilize the core values of the Army to promote safety, teamwork and strategy among paintball players. The first-of-its-kind program will include a Web site and a unique U.S. Army Paintball Guide, which will be included with every marker to educate players and provide them with the necessary tools to be effective and responsible in the field - helping maximize their enjoyment of the game. The guide will even provide a few missions that the average player can easily integrate into their weekend game. Additional missions will also be available for download on the U.S. Army Paintball Web site.

"It's important to note that U.S. Army is a lot more than just a few new markers, it's a whole new product line that will give retailers the ability to merchandise a cohesive program to expand awareness of paintball and bring more players to the game," Ehren added. "Without question, retailers and players are hungry for a recognizable new brand that couples well-crafted equipment with the intelligence needed to play paintball the way it was meant to be played - the U.S. Army way."

For additional details about U.S. Army Paintball, please call 1-800-533-4831. More specific product information and retail availability will also be available in early November on the new U.S. Army Paintball Web site, located at usarmypaintball.com.

For more than 20 years, Tippmann Sports has been dedicated to quality manufacturing and the pursuit of cutting-edge technology and design. The company serves the paintball and airsoft industries from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Tippmann Sports' complete line of paintball markers and related accessories can be found at paintball stores and fields as well as mass retail and sporting goods outlets throughout the world.

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I'm surprised it took so long. I was thinking that the Army should get more involved in paintball. I know when I was a recruiter we enlisted a lot of paintballers. I was thinking about going back out on recruiting and I was going to try to bring paintball into my day to day work. Also would have made work a lot more fun. There are a lto of people who will disapprove of this and say it is a recruiter trying to take advantage of kids, but people rarely just walk in and want to join these days.

As SFC V is surprised I am also...But glad it has finally happended. Can't wait to see what they have to offer.
Should been done long ago....as the Neal Young song goes.

but arent we trying to not make woodsball look like army training? now dont get me wrong some of the milsim markers are cool and im also active duty navy for 12 years now but you see it in the news all the time parents speaking out against paintball cause they think its to military like. just my 2c.

Guys, I don't see where the US Army is involved in this at all. It's some very carefully placed word play.

not THE U. S. Army...

I love the military, but this is not Tippmann associating with the genuine US Army. It's them promoting their own offshoot brand called US Army Paintball... I hope the gear lives up to the hype.

I think there is a pairing because after I started researching this a bit, I found that West Point even has a Paintball team, both scenario and speedball. I know when I was an Army recruiter I always wondered why we were not more involved in paintball. Now I know that recruiters have setups at both scenario and speedball tournaments. So it only stands to reason that one of the top milsim companies teams up with the U.S. Army. As far as trying to make woodsball look less like Army training it is impossible. What inspired woodsball, but wanting to play Army. If you are running around the woods shooting each other with guns and learning tactics, then you are playing Army there is no way around it. Gotta call a spade a spade. Why some are so ashamed to call it playing Army to me is a damn shame though, by the way I am not accusing you tank fc1.

Yea SFC V West Point has had a yearly event since the early nintys, but I didn't know they had a speedball team. It stands to reason.

Yes Playing Army is what Ive always called Paintball.
Ive been playing army ever since I was old enough to know about the military.

Andy Van Der Platts promotes military envolvement with paintball. Has for years. He and others coined the fraze "Non Leathel Rounds" or "Less than Leathal" im not sure which, in referance to paintballs for military use.

Well if its as Gfgjester said that the American Army isn't envolved in this endever with Tippman Pnumatics thats a shame cause thay should be.

I don't disagree concerning the Army and it's involvement in paintball. We've been involved in planning and playing MOUT games and worked with the military to do that and still are. But this is taking a HUGE leap. And here's the VIP point... Playing Army is one thing, but pairing up when there could be any liability issue is just not the way I see it going down. And please understand that I'm a journalist, as well as a shop/field owner and player, so I read and get the scoop on a lot of things that aren't easily grabbed by the general population. And as you were a recruiter, you know as well as I that the Army does not do anything without a proper swap out. In this case, it would at least be their logos plastered all over the place and a major press release from their end. My 2...

I agree that's why I am keeping an eye on goarmy.com. Also I am watching for the logo to appear in various places. Even if the logo appeared on the Markers, then it would at least be some advertisement. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

If you look close at the Tippmann home page, you can see the US Army Paintball box with what looks like the Army star logo. Stranger things have happened. I actually hope you're right about the pairing. Personally, I think it would KICK ASS!