OPFOR creates realistic battlefield sights, sounds

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Under a light mist of rain, a convoy of Humvees trundles along a peaceful muddy Ghanesia jungle road when gunfire erupts around them. From several positions, insurgents attack with small arms fire while blasts rock the airwaves, engulfing people and weapons in a fog of war.

Yellow smoke begins to pour from underneath the lead vehicle. There are several casualties.

This seemingly volatile scene is happening in the mountains of Oahu, the capital island in the Hawaiian chain. It's part of a joint field training exercise, or FTX, to provide realistic sights and sounds training for Tactical Air Control Party and Radio Operators, Maintainer and Driver Airmen preparing to deploy with the Army.

The opposing forces, or OPFOR, in the scene are what make the sights and sounds as realistic as possible. By setting roadside improvised explosive devices, hiding at ambush points to choke forward progress, the Airmen and Soldiers of OPFOR bring this simulated hostile environment to life. It's their job to help train U.S. servicemembers to prepare for deployments by relying on their experiences to play the part of enemy insurgents.

"The OPFPR players have extensive experience in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Staff Sgt. Mike Crabb, 25th Air Support Operations Squadron Joint Terminal Attack Controller and field training exercise NCO in charge. "Having those guys out here from OPFOR, setting up the IEDs, helps these guys. They are going to make our training as realistic as possible for everyone."

With blank brass flying in all directions, the Airmen in the convoy returns fire, react to the opposing forces attempting to thwart their mission, and care for their wounded while under hostile fire. This four-day FTX is designed to help prepare TACP and ROMAD Airmen for situations they may find themselves in while deployed in an austere environment.

"It makes it very real. The sound an explosion makes is surprising," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ramsey Alquist, a fire support NCO, 25th Infantry Division, Bravo Company, 114th Infantry, Scofield Barracks, Hawaii. "It helps to put pressure on the leaders to make the right decisions."

The concept of OPFOR doesn't just begin and end with attacks throughout the training experience. Passing on the knowledge and wisdom that comes with battlefield experience is another essential part of being an OPFOR member. After the complex series of attacks on the training field, they share what their experiences have been on the battlefield.

"You have to share your experiences," Sergeant Crabb said. "It helps them out in preparing their minds and gets them in perspective for going down range."

In the scenario, the imaginary country of Ghanesia has been a hot spot for terrorist activity, including terrorist training camps for the past two months. After the insurgents complete their training in the area, they are sent to the Middle East. On a patrol, they encounter insurgent scouts that engage their convoy.

The attack begins with small arms and at least one explosion placed by 15th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal specialists. After the first attack, the groups gather with OPFOR and the other trainers and conduct an after action review.

"If they are new to it, you don't want to hit them with everything you got because it will cause mass confusion," said Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Wehr, a fire support NCO, 25th Infantry Division, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 114th Infantry. "They will not get any training value out of (the exercise). "

During the review, they answer questions about the things they did right, wrong and the areas they could improve on.

"We bring stuff to their attention they are not really seeing because they are in the heat of the moment," he said. "The OPFOR side of it is you have to give these guys a good picture. You can't start shooting at them. You have to give them a picture of what they are going to see when they go to country."

Then, they reset the battlefield and do it again with a more complex attack with multiple explosions.

Though OPFOR and exercise controllers can't duplicate the environment and the precise elements they will encounter during a deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan -- especially in Hawaii -- OPFOR works with what they have to train the Airmen. OPFOR players push the envelope to maximize the stress level, forcing trainees to make their mistakes.

"I would rather them make their mistakes here, rather than in combat where people lose their lives," Sergeant Wehr said.

The Airmen of the 25th ASOS live, train and deploy with Army units under dangerous field conditions to coordinate, de-conflict and execute air-to-ground missions within the Army's area of operation. Their chance for survival begins and ends with the Airmen and Soldiers who "shoot" at them during their training exercises -- the OPFOR.