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Soldiers plan opposing force

  • Published
  • By Courtesy Story
  • 203rd Public Affairs Detachment
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  For a military force to be successful in their mission, they must receive proper training so they know how to react to an opposing force.

The OPFOR is an important training enhancer which allowed soldiers to see how the enemy may attack them during Warrior Exercise 2014 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 8 - 21, 2014.

"The injects to be implemented are passed down from First Army, then we decide which injects are to be implemented," said Capt. Catherine Hand, commander for Golf Company of the 3rd Support Battalion under the 78th Training Division in Horseheads, N.Y.

Injects are the scenarios that are performed during a training exercise. Small arms fire, ambushes, and peaceful demonstrations are some examples of injects that require different levels of reaction, according to Capt. Ethan Plater, assistant operations officer for Golf Company of the 3rd SB under the 78th TD in Horseheads, N.Y.

"Injects are planned based on the mission of each unit and their purpose," said Plater. "These injects help prepare soldiers for possible scenarios that may occur in a wartime environment."

Planning what the enemy does is nonstop as there are many factors to take into account, according to Plater.

Training and troop movements need to be determined as well as manpower and equipment requirements for each exercise.

"Getting the missions relevant to time and space is our biggest challenge," said Plater. "We have to look at movement tables and what each is capable of doing and tie it back to the OPFOR mission."

The OPFOR for WAREX 2014 is comprised of 257 soldiers and civilians from seven units outside of the 3rd SB under the 78th TD, according to Plater. The units involved are the 680th Engineering Company from Canandaigua, N.Y., 357th EC from Asheville, N.C., 352nd Military Police Company from Rockville, Md., 362nd MPC from Ashley, Pa., 340th MPC from Fort Totten, N.Y., 479th Forward Support Company from Watertown, N.Y., and 174th First Army Brigade from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"We find the soldiers for OPFOR by sending the requirements needed to each unit and they provide us with soldiers with the military and civilian backgrounds needed to create a realistic situation in the OPFOR role," said Plater.

Injects are made realistic by ensuring OPFOR personnel are trained in their skills to provide a proper training environment according to Plater.

"Each team leader for OPFOR has attended a Hybrid Threat course that teaches them what OPFOR's role is and how to create a realistic training environment," said Hand.

The soldiers playing the OPFOR role were issued smoke grenades, improvised explosive device simulations, and blank rounds to assist in providing a realistic environment.

The purpose of OPFOR is to ensure soldiers receive training necessary to maintain readiness levels according to Plater. This training allows soldiers to come together and work together as a team.

"The training taking place here at WAREX 2014 is going well," said Hand. "Soldiers are engaged and practicing good techniques such as ambushes and proper radio communication."

Having a good OPFOR in place during a training exercise is a great way to ensure that soldiers are receiving the training required to keep them alive.