Beginner Guide

How to Join MilSim

A practical path from your first game to your first scheduled operation.

Indexed communities
261
Directory status
Live
Ranking
Momentum

Choose a game, find an active unit, and join its training pipeline without guessing at the next step.

The communities below offer a live starting point for players looking for a unit that fits their schedule and style.

Beginner guide

Milsim has a higher bar than casual FPS. Here's how to clear it without burning out.

Most people who bounce off milsim do so in the first two weeks — wrong game, wrong unit, wrong expectations. This page is a step-by-step for picking a game, finding a unit that matches your time zone, and surviving the trial period.

Why trust this guide

MilSim.io indexes 670+ active milsim units. The advice here comes from what actually works across that population — not theory.

Pick by time commitment, not by game

If you have 2-4 hours a week, Arma 3 or Reforger. If you can only do weekends, Squad. If you want airframe specialisation with deep systems, DCS. The game matters less than the unit you join.

Live directory

Active MilSim Communities

261 listed

Live community listings ranked by momentum and visibility.

3rd Wing USAF logo

3rd Wing USAF

3rdWING

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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Special Forces Strike Group logo

Special Forces Strike Group

SFSG

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team logo
Partnered

12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team

12th

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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Task Force Jormungandr logo

Task Force Jormungandr

TFJ

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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dsf

fds

dsf

Discord

Unavailable

Website

Unavailable

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1ID

1st Division

1ID

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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22SAS

22SAS Arma Reforger Community

22SAS

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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Battle Fleet Armageddon [40k] logo

Battle Fleet Armageddon [40k]

BFA

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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Advance To Contact logo

Advance To Contact

ATC

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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OGN | 101st Airborne Division logo

OGN | 101st Airborne Division

101st

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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338thACR

338th Armored Cavalry Division

338thACR

Discord

Unavailable

Website

Unavailable

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Grupo Operativo Reconquista logo

Grupo Operativo Reconquista

GOR

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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Ashes Of The Lies Of Our Fathers | Carrier Strike Group 10 logo

Ashes Of The Lies Of Our Fathers | Carrier Strike Group 10

CSG-10

Discord

discord.gg

Website

linktr.ee

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GLOP

Global Operations

GLOP

Discord

Unavailable

Website

Unavailable

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Coalition of Brothers in Arms logo

Coalition of Brothers in Arms

CBA

Discord

discord.gg

Website

Unavailable

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tes

Test

tes

Discord

Unavailable

Website

Unavailable

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Field notes

Frequently asked questions

How do I start milsim as a complete beginner?

Pick a game (Arma 3 has the deepest pool), find an active unit on MilSim.io, expect a trial period, and ask about training.

Do I need to buy Arma 3 or Reforger to join?

Yes. Arma 3 is on sale frequently and is the cheapest entry. Reforger is available on Game Pass.

What equipment do I need for milsim?

You need a working mic and roughly two to four hours a week for operations. A headtracker is optional, and most units are PC-only.

How long does it take to get accepted into a milsim unit?

It depends on the unit. Most have a two-to-four-week trial where you attend scheduled operations.