Squad 426

A Decade of Gaming, Production, & Friends
Welcome to the history of Squad 426's remarkable journey from 2005-2019. Born in competitive gaming and evolving into a recognized creative team, this tight-knit community carved its own path through gaming excellence, media production, and close friendships.
About
For over a decade, Squad 426 wasn't just a name in Battlefield 2 – it was a thriving community, a creative powerhouse, and a chosen family. Founded in Southern California by Steven Seagondollar alongside his cousins Robert Medeiros and Jared Costa, 426 evolved from elite gaming origins into the dynamic 426 Productions. We became known in the High Desert and beyond at a young age for our high-quality video content (VLOGs, gaming montages, airsoft films), our competitive gaming/airsoft teams, and our unique, substance-free culture built on quality friendships, mutual support, and shared passions. Led by 7 hounding members called the "Hierarchy" and growing to over 55 active members in 2015, Squad 426 was an incubator for young friendships, networking, and skill development, while being a catalyst for lifelong bonds.

The club was a testament to the explosion of the internet of things and social networking could achieve, this is what new technologies being scaled achieved with the first generation that grew up with it. This archive celebrates it.
The Battlefield 2 Clan
Battlefield 2 Beginnings
"4" "2" "6" was founded in 2006 by at the time 8 year old Steven Seagondollar in Hesperia California, Troy Seagondollar his father helped Steven to create an online profile on the new class based tactical shooter windows xp game launched in 2005 "Battlefield 2". "426sniper" would be what was chosen due to Steven's dedicated use of the "Sniper" class, one of 7 classes available in the game, however "426" was made up without grand design and was a mash up of Steven's birthday month in April and his younger sister Amanda Seagondollar's birthday date the 26th. 426 decoupled from it's alignment with BF2 and discontinued eventually, but BF2's online community continues to live on today through projects like "BF2Hub".
The "Brotherhood"
426 evolved from a randomly selected number to "Squad 426" after Steven became experienced BF2 online combat and he determined he'd like to build a team from friends and family, two of Squad 426's earliest members would be Robert Medeiros of Oak Hills California and Jared Costa of Highland California, Steven's immediate cousins who at the time were the only other Battlefield 2 connoisseurs he personally knew but also were considerable founders expanding the concept and group. Steven with his less passive sniper support, infiltrating alongside Robert with his aggressive fast=paced offensives, supported by Jared with his aerial and ground vehicle support interest would lead to thousands of hours across different Battlefield 2 titles and mods.
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The Hierarchy
The gaming clan's membership was capped at 7 members, which all 7 members took on a design similar to the founding member Steven's username for standardization, their username reflecting the kit they'd learn to play reliably, for example Robert was "426assault" and Jared was "426antitank". Other classes included 426specops, 426support, 426engineer, and 426medic. While squads in Battlefield 2 were capped at 1 leader and 5 members, Squad 426 was designed to have it's odd 7th kit fill the commander role, offering the renamed squad name from the default [Squad (A, B, C) to "Squad 426" in game, a dramatically more interactive squad support experience vs the other unorganized squads. This and the role based training enabled 426 to turn any battle's tide rapidly.
Historical Battlefield Highlights
Launching 426 Productions
426
The numbers were coined in ~2007 around Steven's Battlefield 2 Username
Squad 426's Birth
The numbers became an entity in ~2010 forging a team of 7 gaming clan members.
426 Productions
Content starts getting published of gaming and in-person hangouts in ~2013
Non-Gaming Involvement Grows
Around ~2013: Real-world bonds strengthen; hangouts & early VLOGs increase, integrating key non-founder friend.
Conversion from Roles to Members
in ~2015 a application/voting system was developed to formally expand membership beyond the original 7 founders.
Transition to REISENDE
Finally in ~2019: Squad 426 operations conclude; via 'Project Mayday', a meeting held by founders, 'REISENDE' a travel VLOG collective launches.
Evolving Beyond Gaming: Squad 426's Transformation & the Rise of 426 Productions
The pivotal ~2015 decision to replace the rigid 7-member 'Hierarchy' with a formal application and community voting system fundamentally reshaped Squad 426. This structural change wasn't just about numbers; it marked a transformation in the group's identity and purpose. Opening the doors allowed for significant expansion, welcoming a diverse array of individuals into the fold. Crucially, this included many whose connection to the group stemmed from shared real-world interests, friendships, or creative inclinations, rather than solely from proficiency in Battlefield or competitive gaming.
While the Clan 426 division continued to uphold the group's gaming legacy, the overall Squad 426 entity rapidly evolved. It became less like a strict gaming clan and more akin to a large, vibrant social collective and an exceptionally close-knit friend group. This was particularly significant as many core members navigated their post-high school years, with the Squad providing a vital sense of community and connection that they had just lost from graduating. It transformed into a dynamic network where members supported each other and connected over a wide spectrum of interests – technology, cars, local events, personal projects, and simply hanging out – extending far beyond the original Battlefield focus.
'426 Productions' emerged naturally from this new reality. It became the essential creative division designed not just to make videos, but to document and showcase the life of this broader, multifaceted community. Its focus necessarily expanded:
  • Reflecting Diversity: The content shifted to capture the wider range of personalities and activities present in the expanded group. VLOGs began featuring group trips, diverse hangouts, event coverage (like airsoft operations involving newer members), and individual member spotlights, reflecting the reality that not everyone was a hardcore gamer.
  • Capturing Connection: Productions aimed to convey the authentic interactions, friendships, and shared experiences that defined the evolved Squad 426 social network. It became the primary means of sharing the group's collective story, both internally and externally via the YouTube channel.
  • Leveraging New Skills: The influx of members brought diverse talents. 426 Productions provided a framework to channel these skills (filming, editing, graphic design, planning) into collaborative projects that represented the entire community.
Therefore, 426 Productions wasn't merely a side project; it was the direct creative expression of the expanded and transformed Squad 426. The decision to open membership created a richer, more diverse community, and 426 Productions became the dedicated entity for capturing and sharing the energy, experiences, and connections of that vibrant, post-high school era collective.
Productions
Vlogs
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Visuals
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Gaming
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The Archive
160+
Videos Created
Diverse content spanning gaming, events, airsoft, and short films
33,900+
Total Views
Significant viewer engagement across all content
1,400+
Hours Watched
Substantial audience retention and engagement
434+
Subscribers
Dedicated following built through consistent quality content
Through 426 Productions, Squad 426 established more than just a video repository - they created a living digital archive of their collective experiences. The YouTube channel showcased their creativity and adventures while preserving countless memories for years to come.

Disclaimer - As many of us have professional careers and this is childhood endeavors, the majority of our channel content has been made private, however it'll never be destroyed and is accessible on request by historic members and approved parties.
The Experience & Culture
Substance-Free Gatherings
Large, high-energy parties and social events that were deliberately and proudly substance-free, reflecting many 'straight-edge' principles and prioritizing genuine unimpaired connection.
Chosen Family
An environment where individual interests were encouraged, collective successes were celebrated, and members relied on each other for support and camaraderie.
Local Recognition
Earned notable respect within the High Desert community through visible activities, positive values, and consistent quality of creative output.
Back To Our Roots
Early 2016's Battlefield 2 LAN party at Steven's was key to uniting the expanded Squad 426. During this active period for 426 Productions, newer members dove into our foundational game alongside the original crew, creating a lively, shared touchstone with our core history. Though technical challenges limited the footage 426 Productions could preserve, the event powerfully connected our different eras through the classic BF2 experience.
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The Hierarchy
After the ~2015 expansion, the Hierarchy transformed from being the entirety of Squad 426 into its experienced governing council and strategic core. They guided the larger organization, upheld its values, managed its complex operations, and remained active participants, embodying the group's history while navigating its evolution, potentially even considering mechanisms to integrate exceptional new leaders into their ranks in later years.

Original Seven Founders
Steven Seagondollar and six childhood friends who formed Squad 426
Strategic Guidance
Setting vision and approving initiatives across gaming and production divisions
Cultural Guardians
Maintaining standards through membership oversight and value preservation
Active Participants
Hands-on involvement in gaming, productions, and community events
Squad 426 Airsofting
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Tactical Operations
Weekend-long excursions to SC Village transformed digital teamwork into real-world tactics. Squad cohesion and communication were paramount.
Base Camps
Members' homes became operation centers. Dillon's Norco residence hosted gear prep and post-game celebrations.
Documented Adventures
GoPros and cameras captured intense firefights and memorable moments. The footage became treasured archives of 426 hangouts.
Something for Everyone
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Gaming
Whether you wanted to get sweaty on a competitive team or just hop online for fun game nights with the crew, there was always something happening.
Airsoft
We had sponsored airsoft teams. It meant good comms and actually working together during planned operations out in the field.
Media
Through 426 Productions, we filmed pretty much everything – gaming sessions, airsoft matches, trips, parties – turning it all into VLOGs and videos so we could actually look back on it later.
Events
Lots of excuses to hang out offline –parties, road trips around SoCal, local meetups, or just kicking back. It was all about building those real connections.
The Transition to REISENDE
The chapter of Squad 426 as a formally operating entity concluded in June 2019. This was a conscious, strategic evolution undertaken by the core members. Over time, the very success and growth of the group, expanding to encompass over 50 diverse individuals with varied interests, presented significant operational challenges. Managing internal communications, maintaining consistent engagement across different cohorts (gamers, airsofters, creatives, social members), preventing cultural friction, and coordinating increasingly complex events and projects required substantial administrative effort.
This decision culminated in a dedicated planning session known as 'Project Mayday'. During this critical meeting, the most committed members charted a clear path forward, choosing focused continuation over stagnation or simple disbandment. The immediate result was the launch of 'REISENDE' (German for "Travelers"), a new collective built upon the foundation of approximately 15 veteran Squad 426 members. REISENDE deliberately adopted a leaner organizational structure and a highly specific, narrowed mission compared to its multifaceted predecessor. Its entire focus became channeling the group's collective energy and established production skills into creating high-quality, typically monthly, VLOGs that documented shared travel experiences and adventures, primarily exploring destinations across Southern California. This transition ensured the enduring friendships, creative passion, and spirit of collaborative adventure fostered within Squad 426 continued seamlessly under a new, revitalized, and more manageable banner.
The Dogtags
Symbol of Unity
Custom-designed dog tags became cherished emblems instantly recognizing membership in this close-knit community
Daily Reminder
Steven still wears his dogtags daily as a tribute of the connections forged and the community that followed him
Creative Tributes
Members honored the symbol in various ways, such as Jared Costa's motorcycle stickers
These tags represented commitment, unity, and the collective story of Squad 426 – a tangible piece of the group's spirit worn with honor.
The Legacy

Community
A vibrant ecosystem of creativity, healthy competition, and unwavering support
Growth
An unparalleled incubator for personal development and skill acquisition
Friendship
A catalyst for relationships that continue to stand the test of time
Memories
An incredible archive of unforgettable experiences documented through collective passion
Here's to Squad 426 – a remarkable journey defined by incredible people, shared passions, and memories that truly last a lifetime! Thank you to everyone who was part of it.
Explore More & Connect
Watch Our Content
Explore the Official Squad 426 YouTube Archive with over 160 videos documenting our journey
Connect with the Founder
Check out Steven Seagondollar's current projects through DropShock Digital
Share the Legacy
Help preserve the Squad 426 story by sharing this archive with friends and former members
A Celebration of Squad 426 | Site by Steven Seagondollar, DropShock Digital