US Army Explores New Adversarial Unit for Realistic Wargames

The US Army is considering creating a new unit, known as OPFOR (Opposing Forces), to simulate the role of an adversary during military exercises and wargame training. The plans are currently under discussion and await final approval from the Army hierarchy.

The concept of OPFOR is not new, with countries like the US already employing it extensively. The idea was discussed during the Army Commanders' Conference last month, where top officers decided to explore its feasibility. The new unit will be raised from existing ones and will employ weapons, operating methods, and tactics of one or more adversaries to create a realistic wargaming experience for regular troops.

Why this matters: The creation of OPFOR will significantly enhance the combat preparedness of the US Army, allowing soldiers to train in more realistic and challenging scenarios. This development could have far-reaching implications for national security, as a better-trained military can respond more effectively to emerging threats.

Currently, the Army teaches courses on adversarial forces' organizational role and tactics, but these are largely restricted to officers. There is also a REDFOR (red forces) unit under the Army's training command, ARTRAC, which vets exercises and plans for wargames on paper and sand model exercises. Additionally, commands have war centres that test computer-generated models of different scenarios using artificial intelligence.

The implementation of OPFOR will strengthen the concept of adversarial forces by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of participating formations during on-ground military exercises. This will provide all participating troops with first-hand experience during exercises, going beyond the current restriction to officers and select ranks.

The Army's Special Operations Command has also released a haunting new video, "Ghost in the Machine 2," to attract recruits to its psychological warfare soldiers. The video, released on May 2, 2024, is the second provocative recruiting ad in two years, showcasing the kind of work psyop soldiers do to influence public opinion and wage the war of words overseas.

The Army major who created the video, a member of the 8th Psychological Operations Group based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, aims to attract soldiers with a creative mindset. "Someone who watches it and thinks, 'Wow, that was effective, how was it constructed?' That's the kind of creative mindset we're looking for," the major said.

No specific timeline or budget has been mentioned for the implementation of OPFOR. However, senior officials are confident that the new unit will enhance the combat potential of the Army by providing a more realistic and challenging training environment. As the Army explores innovative ways to strengthen its forces, the creation of OPFOR marks a significant step towards preparing soldiers for the complex challenges they may face on the battlefield.

Key Takeaways

• US Army considers creating OPFOR unit to simulate adversary roles in wargames.
• OPFOR will enhance combat preparedness by providing realistic training scenarios.
• Unit will employ weapons, tactics of adversaries to create realistic wargaming experience.
• OPFOR will strengthen concept of adversarial forces, providing hands-on experience for troops.
• Army aims to attract creative recruits with new psychological warfare video.