1. When are 5th Special Forces Group events?
Events are hosted on Friday and Saturday at 1900 Eastern (7:00 PM EDT). In your timezone that is .
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Frequently asked questions
2. What does Initial Entry Training look like?
The infantry side of the unit does not require any Basic Combat Training (BCT) or any form of Initial Entry Training (IET) for most players. Potential members of the unit may have to undergo a crash course of how to play ARMA or use certain mods that directly tie to the unit depending on hours and playtime in ARMA. The only training all members will go through is platoon level training so that everyone has a basic understanding of SOPs and TTPs. Please note that not having certain training does not revoke your status of being able to attend unit events. The aviation side of the unit does require Basic Aviation Training (BAT) that just covers players' understanding of flying aircraft and overall aviation knowledge. Not completing BAT will be the only form of training that can revoke your "right" to attend unit events based on flight commanders' discretion.
3. What does the unit culture look like?
5th Special Forces Group was created by a group of friends that wanted to take the potential ARMA and its playerbase has to bring out a fun and realistic tactical experience for the community. To further build camaraderie within the group, ARMA is not the only game that we play together; a lot of members will get together to play other tactical shooters, horror games, survival games, and even as far as just getting in VC and waiting to talk. The motto we like to go by, or even go as far as saying something we "live" by, is "Strangers are just friends waiting to meet."
4. What does the modpack look like?
Something to take into account when looking at the size of the modpack is that a majority of the mods are common mods including RHS, CUP, Firewill, ACE, ACRE2, and more. Total modpack size: about 75 GB (~28 mods). See Modpacks for the current download.
5. Do I need TFAR or ACRE?
We use ACRE2 on Teamspeak — not TFAR. Install the unit modpack, join Teamspeak with the unit password, and run ACRE for in-game radios. Mic required; net discipline matters.
6. Can I join mid-campaign?
Yes. Zeus campaigns roll continuously; new members slot into open PERSTAT seats after they're cleared. You do not need to wait for a "new season." Check Recruiting for open roles and Events for the next op.
7. What PC / performance do I need for the ~75 GB pack?
Arma 3 is CPU-heavy. Aim for a modern multi-core CPU, 16 GB RAM minimum (32 GB preferred), and enough free SSD space for the ~75 GB unit pack plus Arma itself. Expect lower FPS in dense Zeus missions — that's normal. If you can run vanilla Arma smoothly, you can usually run with us.
8. Controllers, Zeus, and JIP?
Controllers are fine for driving/flying if your MOS allows it; infantry play is keyboard/mouse. Missions are Zeus-run. Join-in-progress (JIP) is usually allowed when leadership says so — don't JIP mid-contact without checking TS first.
9. Age, maturity, and attendance?
We expect mature communication and accountability. Real life comes first, but if you RSVP yes, show up or speak up. Main ops are Friday and Saturday; chronic no-shows without LOA hurt the squad. File an LOA through leadership — admins assign leave and the LOA role on the site. See Leave of Absence for your status if you are already on leave.
10. How do promotions, awards, and certs work on the site?
Rank and MOS live with Discord roles and the PERSTAT. Certifications and awards are tracked on your PERSEC file and the Certs board. Leadership updates them after training or events — ask in Discord if something looks wrong.