Opposing force

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U.S. OPFOR soldiers playing the role of Iraqi insurgents in Fort Polk, Louisiana.Template:Refn

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.

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.)

UnitsEdit

CanadaEdit

The Canadian Armed Forces has OPFOR units from the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ChinaEdit

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FranceEdit

In the French Army, a FORAD ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, enemy force) is used to train the army, in both the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (CENTAC, Combat Training Center) of Mailly-le-Camp<ref name="5eRD"/> and in the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (CENZUB, Urban Operations Training Centre).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Declassed AMX-30 tanks were used to simulate Soviet T-72s,<ref name="5eRD">Template:Cite magazine</ref> until 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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:

The National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California—home unit is the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (the Blackhorse)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Johnson, Louisiana—home unit is the 1st Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment (the Geronimos)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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The Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC)—formerly known as the Combat Maneuver Training Center (CMTC)—at Hohenfels, Germany<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Several state defense forces have served as OPFOR units when training with the National Guard. The California State Guard,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the Georgia State Defense Force,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and the New York Guard<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> have provided OPFOR services to their respective National Guard counterparts. In 2018, the Georgia State Defense Force established the OPFOR Battalion<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to assist National Guard Soldiers with pre-deployment training.

Opposing force

UnitsEdit

CanadaEdit

ChinaEdit

FranceEdit

Republic of KoreaEdit

JapanEdit

United StatesEdit

RanksEdit

GalleryEdit

NotesEdit

ReferencesEdit

Further readingEdit