This article needs additional citations for
verification. (November 2009) |
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]
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (August 2021) |
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 |
This article needs additional citations for
verification. (November 2009) |
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]
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (August 2021) |
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 |