APRIL 10-12, 2026 - *NEW EVENT ISHTAR RISING -
Join us as we celebrate our 8TH ANNUAL VFA CHARITY EVENT with an amazing 3 day immersive military simulation experience bringing you high intensity engagements, high pace mission set, and the biggest adrenaline rush where teamwork and unit cohesion will be the key to success.
ALL MILITARY TICKETS ARE FREE!
ISHTAR RISING is a Military Simulation experience that will challenge you and force you outside of your comfort zone. This is not a traditional force on force style of event. If you have experienced our FRAGO lane, this event will focus on teamwork and leadership development. Three factions led by Cadre will engage in a series of missions over a 3 day period on an expanded AO that is rich in history and dates back to the civil war.
Join us April 10-12 as we return to Searcy with an expanded AO. We have partnered with the Alabama Mental Health Department to utilize the Mount Vernon Arsenal - Searcy Hospital in southern Alabama to promote our motto of "GET KINETIC".
The Mount Vernon Arsenal was established by the United States Army near the Mobile River, three miles west of Fort Stoddert, and approximately 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Along with the Kennebec Arsenal in Augusta, Maine, it is one of the most complete antebellum arsenals surviving to the present day. Established in 1828 as an ordnance manufacturing base, the Mount Vernon Arsenal served as one of the U.S. Army's main ammunition plants from its inception until the Civil War.
In 1900, the Alabama Legislature established a mental health facility on the former site of the Mount Vernon Arsenal to relieve overcrowding at Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa. The new facility was named the Mount Vernon Insane Hospital upon its opening in 1902 but was renamed Searcy Hospital in 1919, in honor of Dr. J. T. Searcy, the first superintendent. Searcy Hospital was a state-owned and operated psychiatric hospital and closed permanently on October 31, 2012
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Society - We have partnered with the organization that is preserving and educating the community on the history of the Mount Vernon Arsenal. We will be utilizing their ground space for camping and will be making a donation to assist these folks with their mission.
DISCOUNTS & FREE TICKETS
****MILITARY TICKETS ARE FREE. Our events are dedicated to those who served in our military branches. All Military tickets are FREE. Email us to be vetted and issued your code. Ensure you have signed up with our program by clicking the ENLIST tab and filling out the initial form.
Email:
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****Law Enforcement & Emergency First Responders will receive a 25% off admission ticket price. Email us to be vetted and issued your code.
TICKETS & RESTRICTIONS
Tickets - $200
Press - $75
Camping - FREE (primitive)
RV Spots - FREE (primitive & limited)
*Age restriction - 16+ with playing parent or guardian
*No refund policy with exception of Military.
*No ticket transfers authorized.
UNIFORMS
BLUFOR - Tan based camo. NO BLACK or RED. Mission: Acting as invading force. Follows Geneva Conventions and has strict ROE. Purpose is to gain control of the region, disrupt local forces, and establish regime change.
GREENFOR - Green based camo. NO BLACK or RED. Mission: Acting as nations forces. Follows Geneva Conventions and has loose ROE. Purpose is to maintain control of the region, disrupt and stop invading forces.
OPFOR - Civilian clothing. T-shirt/Flannel top. Grey, Blue, or Black bottoms. NO RED, TAN, GREEN, or CAMO. Mission: Acting as insurgent force. Follows no ROE. Purpose is to exploit the region, disrupt all forces, and resist all regime changes.
*Gear color does not matter
ARRIVAL & SCHEDULE
This event will have an arrival window from 1200 on Friday until 1700 on Friday. Saturday am late arrivals will check in between 0730-0830. There will no further arrivals after 0900 on Saturday. This event starts Friday evening and has a rolling mission set through Sunday with REFIT breaks. Gates will be closed during mission windows with access off/on the AO limited to refit breaks. Get ready to immerse yourself and enjoy an epic military simulation experience.
Friday
1200 - Gates/Reg/Safety Brief/Chrono Open
1400 - RECON MISSIONS/MEDIA
1700 - Gates/Reg/Chrono Close
1800 - Opening Ceremony
1830 - Move to Assembly Areas
1930 - Mission Startex
2200 - PAUSEX
2300 - Lights Out
Saturday
0730 - Gates/Limited Reg/Chrono
0900 - Late Safety Brief/Move to AA
1000 - Mission Resume
1300 - Pausex
1530 - Mission Resume
1830 - Pausex
2100 - Mission Resume
2300 - Pausex
0000- Lights Out
Sunday
0900 - Mission Resume
1200 - Endex
1300 - Raffle
1600 - Gates Close
STAY TUNED...
*VFA Inc, dba Veterans for Airsoft is a 100% volunteer based 501(c)(3) organization with a mission of providing military simulation events to those who have served our Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responder agencies. All funds raised from this event will SUPPORT our Milsim Program that connects Veterans to Milsim!
Also check out other Nonprofit events in Mount Vernon.
