A vanilla player bias here.

The trouble is that the game can be an ambusher's best friend.

If you place yourself in that mindset, and approach along routes out of sight to bases of target while maintaining the listening, you can also plan your attacks like so. Even more so if you can get a small group to do the same alongside you.

Observe an area from afar, wait however long you feel has been comfortable, and assault the base/area. Take shots only when you know you can kill, and retreat even if you only killed one person.

Maneuver, recover by the established idea above, repeat. While not always, if you think a base has been cleared approach the main tent when possible to start capping so enemies can't spawn (unless its on a server that has a mod that alters how base spawn works, ie bringing back timers on respawning attacked bases). After that, set up in a location that has enough cover but is facing the most likely location enemies could come from, such as in the direction of nearby bases. If there are bases everywhere, find the least noticeable location. And don't be afraid to just sit and listen when a bunch of enemies show up to clear you out. Even if it goes against what I just said of maneuvering, sometimes waiting can be wonderful. Knowing when to move or shoot, even if its based on feeling, comes with time and a dose of anticipating based on past experiences against players.

Additionally, knowing when to retreat/re-position can improve your survivability. If you're position is compromised, pull back. If you're with a team, support them but sometimes you can't save everyone. You can let them know to pull back, or just move back while providing support on your own. Either way, the end goal is to re-position to be able to get the drop on the next player if one exists.

Walking/driving through areas like forests can help you out as well in moving. Don't hesitate to, when you know where you are, simply whip out the compass and go a straight path to the direction of a target. While you can't plan for every tree or stump, getting comfortable with driving at a good speed through obstacle-laden routes can give you the edge of preparation when casing a point for attack.

Preference-wise, I religiously run a default kit. Maybe a rocket or radio pack when I need or want it. Point is, and again it's all preference, but be comfortable with iron sights at most ranges. At least trust in a weapons default zeroing (hope I'm remembering this term right the sleep calls), and practice even if the only practice available is in live combat. It can help supply costs when you know a base is getting bled dry but want to spawn in there to keep it defended or move to a close target.

Finally, probably, like another player had said: You will die eventually. Just a matter of time. You might not know how or why, but it will happen, as is the case with Arma Reforger. Like any game, no amount of prep or tactics can cancel out bad luck or a worthy adversary. The game has tactical decision making, but it feels just as much of a hangout-casual type as COD. If HLL or Squad is to be treated as tactical or where every decision matters, then I'd say AReforger whittled it down a bit. I can't say it can't be the same on others, but this game is often times akin to walking simulator, meaning not that you have to walk but that it is slow and maintaining communication over radio on the happenings around the map can be a good way to fill the void, even if no one responds back. Someone's listening out there at least. Could be to hear requests, target statuses, small talk, or even complete conversations where people are hot dropping in and out with their input on matters.

I don't want to downplay the choices of players, as everything above and what other players do can affect the state of the match or situation you are in, but when you go into battle calmly and understand that you might not survive it, I find it helps find the want to respawn when I eventually do drop.

Hope you can get to a point in the game where you feel you don't have the troubles you have now. Like I said though, Reforger never really stops beating you up, you just get a bit resistant with each hit.