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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.)
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]
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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.
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 |
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 |
In military organizations, a colour guard is a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental colours and the national flag. This duty is highly prestigious, and the military colour is generally carried by a young officer (ensign), while experienced non-commissioned officers are assigned to the protection of the national flag. These non-commissioned officers, accompanied in several countries by warrant officers, can be ceremonially armed with either sabres or rifles to protect the colour. Colour guards are generally dismounted, but there are also mounted colour guard formations as well.
The 2nd Infantry Division ("Indianhead") is a formation of the United States Army. Since the 1960s, its current primary mission is the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 of them stationed in South Korea, accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel. Denoted the 2nd Infantry Division-ROK/U.S. Combined Division (2ID/RUCD), the division is augmented by rotational Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) from other U.S. Army divisions.
The 1st Cavalry Division is a combined arms division and is one of the most decorated combat divisions of the United States Army. It is based at Fort Cavazos, Texas. It was formed in 1921 and served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, with the Stabilization Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the Iraq War, in the War in Afghanistan as well as Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve. As of July 2023, the 1st Cavalry Division is subordinate to III Armored Corps and is commanded by Major General Kevin D. Admiral.
Fort Irwin National Training Center is a major training area for the United States military in the Mojave Desert in northern San Bernardino County, California. Fort Irwin is at an average elevation of 2,454 feet (748 m). It is located 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Barstow, in the Calico Mountains.
The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment is a unit of the United States Army garrisoned at the Fort Irwin National Training Center in California. The regiment has served in the Philippine–American War, the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War II, the Vietnam War, Gulf War and Iraq War. The 11th ACR serves as the opposing force (OPFOR) for the Army and Marine task forces, and foreign military forces that train at Fort Irwin.
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The 28th Infantry Division ("Keystone") is a unit of the Army National Guard and is the oldest division-sized unit in the Department of Defense. Some of the units of the division can trace their lineage to Benjamin Franklin's battalion, The Pennsylvania Associators (1747–1777). The division was officially established in 1879 and was later redesignated as the 28th Division in 1917, after the entry of America into the First World War. It is today part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Maryland Army National Guard, Ohio Army National Guard, and New Jersey Army National Guard.
The black beret is a colour of beret, a type of headgear. It is commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC), and Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) and the Indian Army Armoured Corps and Indian Border Security Force. Notable non-armored military units to wear the black beret include the non-military police and non-special forces elements of the Irish Defence Forces, MOD Guard Service, Russian Naval Infantry and Russian OMON units, the United States Air Force (USAF) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members, and the Royal Canadian Navy. It was also worn by the United Kingdom's Royal Observer Corps (ROC) with their Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
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