FINE, FINE, Wulfyn's right. stay on target....stay on target...STAY ON TARGET!!

I think Mateo's post on page one is the best description really. if you're into spec ops, there's a squad for you. if ground pounding's your thing, another squad might be up your alley. pick a squad that you have a lot in common with, and chances are its members' gaming style will closely resemble your own. and once you've trained/drilled/practiced with this group long enough, you build a trust and understanding with a great many of your teammates. an analogy is like the US basketball team in the last olympics....they had a lot of the world's best players but they kept getting smoked because they had no real cohesion. you then look at the Detroit Pistons and they do really well even though they don't have any tier one superstars. what in-house-squads tend to do is mix the Tier one players with the average guys and once they gel they're almost unstoppable. and as an added bonus, you usually have a good time since you know both of the guys fighting to your right and left!!

*PLUG TIME*

currently i'm in the "trial period" for the 1stMIP, and i like what i've seen. 1stMIP uses the application of real life tactics such as fireteams, and relies more on squad cohesion and discipline for obtaining goals than relying on "the twitch factor". i still have a lot to learn, but here's what's for certain:

1) you have to put in the time to understand each of the kits and how they'll be used in a combat situation. whether you're battling armor or infantry, each kit has a role to play and a niche to fill. practice, knowledge and discipline will teach you instinctively where to be, whatever kit you happen to be, in order for the squad to succeed.

2) to reach this level requires practice practice and more practice...TOGETHER. in house squads organize these "drill sessions" for you to get comfortable with the kits, the guys/gals you'll be fighting beside, and the standard procedures to deal with various types of threats.

again, i've only practiced with 1stMIP and here's what i experienced during the drills. John Canaver (founder and leader of 1stMIP) is VERY specific about what he wants each person to be doing, and offers up constructive criticism during practice. if you're not fulfilling your kits role, he lets you know what that kit should be doing in the given situation. John doesn't sugar coat it; he tells it like it is. this helps you evolve and improve as a player. HOWEVER, once you actually engage the enemy, the training pays off, and John offers nothing but a positive attitude, squad pride and encouragement. in a nutshell, a strenuous practice results in fun and succesful gameplay with friends. that's what an "in-house-squad" means to me...