From friendly to enemy

Published Jan. 29, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Daniel Yarnall
103nd Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Sometimes, the best way to keep military personnel alive is to attack them with rifles and improvised explosive devices.

Of course, simulations training can get anyone's attention when it's loud and has the feeling of being realistic.

For Army Support Activity - Dix, on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., that responsibility falls on the opposing forces cell of 2nd Battalion 309th Regiment, 72nd Field Artillery Brigade. These Soldiers have been assigned to attack mobilizing forces troops with mock IEDs, mortars, and small-arms fire, training them to react before the threats are real.

"We want to train up the Soldiers by giving them as much realistic training possible to prepare them for the different scenarios," said Master Sgt. Daphne Angell, opposition forces non-commissioned officer in charge. "We want the Soldiers to get experience from it and walk away with knowledge that can enhance them and their abilities."

Soldiers mobilizing thru Dix also agree that the training value added by the opposition forces is immense.

"The opposition forces add the realism to the training which makes them very valuable" said Sgt. 1st Class John Jamison, 1128th Finance Detachment non-commissioned officer in charge, Tennessee Army National Guard. "I wish there were more of them."

The training to become opposing-force instructors is substantial. The individuals must learn and become familiar with current enemy tactics, techniques and procedures in order to simulate a realistic hostile environment.

"Most of us had to go though the strenuous Operation Warrior Training Academy at Camp Shelby, Miss., before we started here," said Sgt. Gary Ward of the opposition force cell. After completing that course, they are limited in how long they can train Soldiers at the ASA.

In order to insure up-to-date information about the enemy is being taught, OWT orders are typically one-year with the possibility of a second year extension, Ward said.

"The enemy is always adopting new tactics, techniques and procedures - so after two years there are new Soldiers coming back from theater that have fresh experience and know the new tactics," he said.

Most Soldiers who have played the role of an opposing force will agree that it is an enjoyable and rewarding job.