fbpx
Wikipedia

Opposing force

December 14, 2023

This article is about a military term. For the game, see Half-Life: Opposing Force.
The term "opposing force" is occasionally used to refer to a genuine military foe. This article is concerned only with its use in simulated conflict.

An opposing force (alternatively enemy force, abbreviated OPFOR or OpFor) is a military unit tasked with representing an enemy, usually for training purposes in war game scenarios. The related concept of aggressor squadron is used by some air forces. The United States maintains the Fort Irwin National Training Center with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment serving in the OPFOR role. Fort Johnson's (formerly Fort Polk) Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) is another major training site typically reserved for light infantry units, and the OPFOR are the 1st of the 509th Airborne Infantry Regiment. The Army's Joint Maneuver Readiness Center (JMRC, at Hohenfels, Bavaria, Germany) has the 1st of the 4th Infantry Regiment as their OPFOR. Other major units include the First United States Army which consists of 16 training brigades that often also serve as OPFOR.

U.S. OPFOR soldiers playing the role of Iraqi insurgents in Fort Polk, Louisiana.[note 1]

At a basic level, a unit might serve as an opposing force for a single scenario, differing from its 'opponents' only in the objectives it is given. However, major armies commonly maintain specialized groups trained to accurately replicate real-life enemies, to provide a more realistic experience for their training opponents. (To avoid the diplomatic ramifications of naming a real nation as a likely enemy, training scenarios often use fictionalized versions with different names but similar military characteristics to the expected real-world foes.)

Units edit

China edit

Further information: 195th Combined Arms Brigade (People's Republic of China)

France edit

In the French Army, a FORAD (FORce ADverse, enemy force) is used to train the army, in both the centre d'entraînement au combat (CENTAC, Combat Training Center) of Mailly-le-Camp[1] and in the centre d'entraînement aux actions en zone urbaine (CENZUB, Urban Operations Training Centre).[2] Declassed AMX-30 tanks were used to simulate Soviet T-72s,[1] until 2018.[3]

Japan edit

Further information: Tactical Fighter Training Group (JASDF)

United States edit

 
A UH-1H replicating a Mi-24 at Fort Irwin in 1985

There are three major training centers that utilize home-based OPFOR units for the US Army:

Various US military installations or major units have their own local versions of opposing force used for training exercises. The joint Australian–US military exercise "Crocodile '03" featured an Australian-led opposing force in which soldiers from a range of Australian units worked together with a US Marine Corps contingent.[7]

Several state defense forces have served as OPFOR units when training with the National Guard. The California State Guard,[8] the Georgia State Defense Force,[9] and the New York Guard[10] have provided OPFOR services to their respective National Guard counterparts. In 2018, the Georgia State Defense Force established the OPFOR Battalion[11] to assist National Guard Soldiers with pre-deployment training.

Ranks edit

Officer ranks
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Aggressor Army
(1953–1962)[12]		                        
Marshal General of army General of corps General of division General of brigade Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Warrant officer
  Aggressor Army
(1962–?)[13]		                        
Marshal General of army General of corps General of division General of brigade Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Warrant officer
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
  Aggressor Air Force
(1953–1962)[14]		                        
Air marshal General of air General of air army General of air corps General of air division Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Warrant officer
  Aggressor Air Force
(1962–?)[15]		                        
Air marshal General of air General of air army General of air corps General of air division Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub-lieutenant Warrant officer
Other ranks


Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Aggressor Army
(1953–1962)[16]		               No insignia
Sergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior private Private
  Aggressor Army
(1962–?)[17]		               No insignia
Sergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior private Private
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Aggressor Air Force
(1953–1962)[18]		               No insignia
Sergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior airman Airman
  Aggressor Air Force
(1962–?)[19]		               No insignia
Sergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior airman Airman

Gallery edit

  •  

    A sniper from the French CENZUB opposing force. The camouflage pattern is different from the other French patterns.

  •  

    4th Infantry Regiment soldiers wearing United States Army opposing force uniform (Battle Dress Uniform in black with olive 'OPFOR' shoulder title)

  •  

    An OSV replicating a Soviet BMP at NTC, Fort Irwin, CA

  •  

    US Marines using a former Soviet MT-LB vehicle as part of the OPFOR during an exercise

  •  

    OPFOR training in 2012

  •  

    OPFOR rank insignia mimicking the Soviet style (used during the Cold War)

Notes edit

  1. ^ Photo was taken during Operation Cajun Fury with one of the many training exercises that take place at Joint Readiness Training Command (JRTC).

References edit

  1. ^ a b "CENTAC/5e régiment de Dragons" [CENTAC/5th Dragoon Regiment]. Batailles & Blindés (in French). No. Hors Série 24. 2014. pp. 52–55. ISSN 1950-8751.
  2. ^ "Dans la ville fantôme de Jeoffrécourt, les armées étrangères simulent la guerre" [In the ghost town of Jeoffrécourt, foreign armies simulate war]. Le Point (in French). Agence France-Presse. 8 May 2016.
  3. ^ Lagneau, Laurent (17 October 2018). "Le 5e Régiment de Dragons se sépare de ses derniers chars AMX-30 Brenus" [The 5th Dragoons Regiment separates from its last AMX-30 Brenus tanks]. opex360.com (in French).
  4. ^ "Brave Rifles OPFOR dominates at NTC".
  5. ^ "Paratroopers refine war fighting skills at the Joint Readiness Training Center".
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  7. ^ Wellfare, John. "Exercise Crocodile '03: You win some, you lose some". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper.
  8. ^ . 1st Battalion (MP), 2nd Brigade (Civil Support), California State Military Reserve. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  9. ^ Seay, Howard. "Operation Roughrider Cold". Heads up. Georgia State Defense Force. 11 (1): 3. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  10. ^ Mendie, Ubon (31 March 2009). "N.Y. Guard 'Brings the Fight' to Fighting 69th". Guard Times Magazine. p. 36. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  11. ^ "OPFOR Battalion". Georgia State Defense Force. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  12. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9-23-1959. Department of the Army. 1959. p. 13. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  13. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor: the Maneuver Enemy. Department of the Army. 1962. pp. 10–11. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  14. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9-23-1959. Department of the Army. 1959. p. 30. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  15. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor: the Maneuver Enemy. Department of the Army. 1962. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  16. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9-23-1959. Department of the Army. 1959. p. 21. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  17. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor: the Maneuver Enemy. Department of the Army. 1962. p. 30. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  18. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9-23-1959. Department of the Army. 1959. p. 31. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  19. ^ FM 30-101 Aggressor: the Maneuver Enemy. Department of the Army. 1962. p. 30. Retrieved 5 August 2021.

Further reading edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Opposing forces.
  • (discusses the United States Army OPFOR units and post-Cold War changes to OPFOR.)
  • The Circle Trigonists (Aggressors), a summary of the opposing force Aggressor used by the United States Army from ca. 1946–1978

December 14, 2023
opposing, force, this, article, about, military, term, game, half, life, opposing, force, term, opposing, force, occasionally, used, refer, genuine, military, this, article, concerned, only, with, simulated, conflict, this, article, needs, additional, citation. This article is about a military term For the game see Half Life Opposing Force The term opposing force is occasionally used to refer to a genuine military foe This article is concerned only with its use in simulated conflict This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Opposing force news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message An opposing force alternatively enemy force abbreviated OPFOR or OpFor is a military unit tasked with representing an enemy usually for training purposes in war game scenarios The related concept of aggressor squadron is used by some air forces The United States maintains the Fort Irwin National Training Center with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment serving in the OPFOR role Fort Johnson s formerly Fort Polk Joint Readiness Training Center JRTC is another major training site typically reserved for light infantry units and the OPFOR are the 1st of the 509th Airborne Infantry Regiment The Army s Joint Maneuver Readiness Center JMRC at Hohenfels Bavaria Germany has the 1st of the 4th Infantry Regiment as their OPFOR Other major units include the First United States Army which consists of 16 training brigades that often also serve as OPFOR U S OPFOR soldiers playing the role of Iraqi insurgents in Fort Polk Louisiana note 1 At a basic level a unit might serve as an opposing force for a single scenario differing from its opponents only in the objectives it is given However major armies commonly maintain specialized groups trained to accurately replicate real life enemies to provide a more realistic experience for their training opponents To avoid the diplomatic ramifications of naming a real nation as a likely enemy training scenarios often use fictionalized versions with different names but similar military characteristics to the expected real world foes Contents 1 Units 1 1 China 1 2 France 1 3 Japan 1 4 United States 1 4 1 Ranks 2 Gallery 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further readingUnits editChina edit Further information 195th Combined Arms Brigade People s Republic of China France edit In the French Army a FORAD FORce ADverse enemy force is used to train the army in both the centre d entrainement au combat CENTAC Combat Training Center of Mailly le Camp 1 and in the centre d entrainement aux actions en zone urbaine CENZUB Urban Operations Training Centre 2 Declassed AMX 30 tanks were used to simulate Soviet T 72s 1 until 2018 3 Japan edit Further information Tactical Fighter Training Group JASDF United States edit This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2021 nbsp A UH 1H replicating a Mi 24 at Fort Irwin in 1985There are three major training centers that utilize home based OPFOR units for the US Army The National Training Center or NTC at Fort Irwin California home unit is the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment the Blackhorse 4 The Joint Readiness Training Center or JRTC at Fort Johnson Louisiana home unit is the 1st Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment the Geronimos 5 The Joint Multinational Readiness Center or JMRC formerly known as the Combat Maneuver Training Center or CMTC at Hohenfels Germany 6 home unit is the 1st Battalion 4th Infantry Regiment Separate the Warriors Various US military installations or major units have their own local versions of opposing force used for training exercises The joint Australian US military exercise Crocodile 03 featured an Australian led opposing force in which soldiers from a range of Australian units worked together with a US Marine Corps contingent 7 Several state defense forces have served as OPFOR units when training with the National Guard The California State Guard 8 the Georgia State Defense Force 9 and the New York Guard 10 have provided OPFOR services to their respective National Guard counterparts In 2018 the Georgia State Defense Force established the OPFOR Battalion 11 to assist National Guard Soldiers with pre deployment training Ranks edit Officer ranksRank group General flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet nbsp Aggressor Army 1953 1962 12 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Marshal General of army General of corps General of division General of brigade Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Warrant officer nbsp Aggressor Army 1962 13 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Marshal General of army General of corps General of division General of brigade Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Warrant officerRank group General flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet nbsp Aggressor Air Force 1953 1962 14 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Air marshal General of air General of air army General of air corps General of air division Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Warrant officer nbsp Aggressor Air Force 1962 15 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Air marshal General of air General of air army General of air corps General of air division Colonel Commandant Major Captain Lieutenant Sub lieutenant Warrant officerOther ranks Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted nbsp Aggressor Army 1953 1962 16 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaSergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior private Private nbsp Aggressor Army 1962 17 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaSergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior private PrivateRank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted nbsp Aggressor Air Force 1953 1962 18 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaSergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior airman Airman nbsp Aggressor Air Force 1962 19 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp No insigniaSergeant major Staff sergeant Senior sergeant Platoon sergeant Section sergeant Corporal Senior airman AirmanGallery edit nbsp A sniper from the French CENZUB opposing force The camouflage pattern is different from the other French patterns nbsp 4th Infantry Regiment soldiers wearing United States Army opposing force uniform Battle Dress Uniform in black with olive OPFOR shoulder title nbsp An OSV replicating a Soviet BMP at NTC Fort Irwin CA nbsp US Marines using a former Soviet MT LB vehicle as part of the OPFOR during an exercise nbsp OPFOR training in 2012 nbsp OPFOR rank insignia mimicking the Soviet style used during the Cold War Notes edit Photo was taken during Operation Cajun Fury with one of the many training exercises that take place at Joint Readiness Training Command JRTC References edit a b CENTAC 5e regiment de Dragons CENTAC 5th Dragoon Regiment Batailles amp Blindes in French No Hors Serie 24 2014 pp 52 55 ISSN 1950 8751 Dans la ville fantome de Jeoffrecourt les armees etrangeres simulent la guerre In the ghost town of Jeoffrecourt foreign armies simulate war Le Point in French Agence France Presse 8 May 2016 Lagneau Laurent 17 October 2018 Le 5e Regiment de Dragons se separe de ses derniers chars AMX 30 Brenus The 5th Dragoons Regiment separates from its last AMX 30 Brenus tanks opex360 com in French Brave Rifles OPFOR dominates at NTC Paratroopers refine war fighting skills at the Joint Readiness Training Center Army mil Archived from the original on 2018 03 26 Retrieved 2020 04 26 Wellfare John Exercise Crocodile 03 You win some you lose some Army The Soldiers Newspaper OPFOR 1st Battalion MP 2nd Brigade Civil Support California State Military Reserve Archived from the original on 18 January 2016 Retrieved 16 November 2015 Seay Howard Operation Roughrider Cold Heads up Georgia State Defense Force 11 1 3 Retrieved 16 November 2015 Mendie Ubon 31 March 2009 N Y Guard Brings the Fight to Fighting 69th Guard Times Magazine p 36 Retrieved 22 December 2018 OPFOR Battalion Georgia State Defense Force Retrieved 2019 12 10 FM 30 101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9 23 1959 Department of the Army 1959 p 13 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor the Maneuver Enemy Department of the Army 1962 pp 10 11 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9 23 1959 Department of the Army 1959 p 30 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor the Maneuver Enemy Department of the Army 1962 pp 28 29 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9 23 1959 Department of the Army 1959 p 21 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor the Maneuver Enemy Department of the Army 1962 p 30 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor The Maneuver Enemy 9 23 1959 Department of the Army 1959 p 31 Retrieved 5 August 2021 FM 30 101 Aggressor the Maneuver Enemy Department of the Army 1962 p 30 Retrieved 5 August 2021 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Opposing forces Validating the Enemy discusses the United States Army OPFOR units and post Cold War changes to OPFOR The Circle Trigonists Aggressors a summary of the opposing force Aggressor used by the United States Army from ca 1946 1978 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opposing force amp oldid 1182441417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.