U.S. Army Europe Soldiers, multinational partners play opposing force for first Full Spectrum Training Environment

Images taken inside the RTOC, the location where plans and operations are made and controlled for the opposing forces or "OPFOR" mission during the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team's Full Spectrum Training Event being held at Hohenfels Germany. Here, PFC Erik Milkie (left), 1-4 Infantry, talks with Major Emil Pandov (right), Bulgarian Special Forces, about an upcoming operation between OPFOR and the Bulgarians. US Army Europe Public Affairs photo by Richard Bumgardner.

HOHENFELS, Germany -- Almost like a scene from a movie, insurgents sit in a small dark room, planning an assault on a target.

But unlike a movie, or reality for that matter, these insurgents are U.S. Army Europe Soldiers role-playing opposing forces for the first Full Spectrum Training Environment held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center here.

The OPFOR, comprised of U.S. Army Europe’s 1-4 Infantry Regiment, along with Bulgarian Special Forces, are conspiring to attack their target, Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

Knowing the trails and back roads of the training area makes getting around checkpoints and roadblocks much easier, but playing OPFOR is a tough job.

“It has its ups and downs,” said Pfc. Ted Simpson, a rifleman with 1-4 infantry, and a native of Montrose, Colorado. “Some of the ups are explosions, and firefights and attacks, and riding on the ATVs is cool. But the weather and pulling guard duty in the rain, long hours and getting captured and having chow taken away are some of the rough times at OPFOR.” 

As the scenario unfolded, U.S. forces carefully made their way down the pine and moss covered woods, walking carefully to avoid cracking branches and making noise. Once the 173rd traffic control point and observation post were located, the team broke into two separate groups, each with their own objectives and firepower.

“We’ve got one vehicle down there, one guy in the actual turret but we can’t see any dismounts yet,” whispered Sgt. Mike Chesser, squad leader with 1-4 infantry, while walking through the woods. “So, we are trying to creep up to them as close as we can and surprise them.”

Even though this was only training, the tension in the air was thick as every sound was given a harsh look from someone on the team and whispers were the only way to communicate. 

Finally in place, after hours of preparation and physical effort to get to the location, the target was in sight and it was time to attack.

With a single call on a walkie-talkie, the forest suddenly filled with the cracks of small arms fire and the booms of a M-240B machine gun, deafening to anyone within earshot.  Insurgents shouted; Soldiers ran in the field below, and what looked like chaos in a controlled manner, ensued. 

As rain started to fall, members of the OPFOR scrambled back to their vehicles, knowing they had given the 173rd Soldiers some value-added training.
“It’s pretty cool, and I wouldn’t change jobs,” Simpson said. “At the end of a rotation, looking back, it’s a pretty good time.”

Check out US Army Europe’s Flickr.com site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyeurope_images/sets/72157627823931722/ for photos and visit YouTube for videos of today’s story and more.