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Since May of 2007, members of the 973rd COB have functioned as an opposing force (OPFOR) or civilians on the battlefield (COB) for 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, 41st Enhanced Brigade, Oregon National Guard.

To play our roles as accurately as possible, we have equipped ourselves with the same weapons and equipment as is currently in use by insurgent elements inside Iraq. We have acquired clothing, headbands and identity cards that match exactly what the Mahdi Militia carries in Iraq as of 2008. We have also acquired Sunni Iraqi civilian clothing as well as Shia clothing. Additionally, we have constructed full Iraqi Army uniforms and Iraqi Police uniforms so that the 2-162 can interact with Coalition Forces during drill weekends.

When on the training range, we have two missions. First, we interact with the 2-162’s infantry squads as Local National (LN) civilians. For training purposes, this allows the Oregon National Guard the opportunity to teach its soldiers how to conduct patrols, gather information and win the hearts & minds of LN’s in their area of operations. Depending on what the Guard requires, we will behave as either friendly civilians, hostile but unarmed, or neutral and suspicious. The Guardsmen must then work with us to accomplish their assigned tasks.

Second, when needed we will go force-on-force with the infantry, operating as either an Al Qaida-like Sunni cell, or as a Shia Militia cell. We have studied current tactics in use by insurgent forces in Iraq and have tailored our own tactics, techniques and procedures to what is currently employed on the streets in Iraq. To support this mission, we have purchased or built training devices that include simulated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s), suicide vests, professionally upgraded airsoft AK-47 assault rifles and airsoft machine guns, such as RPK’s and M249 SAW’s. These are then employed during training weekends during force-on-force simulated firefights.

To support night operations, we have acquired Generation One night vision and have employed airsoft tracer ammunition to simulate real 7.62 x 39 tracer ammunition utilized by hostile forces in Iraq.

Our role as OPFOR saves the government considerable amounts of money. The 973rd COB is self-sustaining and has refused a training contract with the battalion so that the Oregon National Guard can use those funds to purchase additional weapons and equipment for its soldiers. Additionally, without our support, the OPFOR for every drill weekend would have to be derived from within the 2-162 itself, since there are no other local OPFOR companies available to use. This was the case prior to 2007, and the 41st Brigade found this very unsatisfactory for several reasons. First, pulling soldiers out of their units to serve as OPFOR harms the unit’s cohesion since those soldiers serving as OPFOR will miss out on the training they need to perform their jobs in Iraq. Second, that training must be made up at some point in the pre-deployment work-up cycle, which places and additional cost/time burden on the brigade. Third, when soldiers serve as OPFOR, they function within their known tactical envelope. They do not employ known insurgent tactics. This compromises much of the training value of an OPFOR.

Lastly, the 2-162 Infantry does not own any simulated training devices, including simulated, remote-detonated car bombs, suicide vests, remote-detonated and command detonated IED’s, etc. The battalion possesses a total of five airsoft AK-47’s (Classic Army SLR-105A) assault rifles. By alleviating the burden of purchasing these items, the 973rd COB has materially affected how the 2-162 can spend its available funds on necessary equipment for its soldiers in this pre-deployment period. To date, members of the 973rd have spent well over $15,000 on equipment, construction of training devices, and airsoft training weapons. Had the 2-162 been forced to purchase these things, the cost would have been significantly higher since they would have had to have purchased expensive, professionally-produced training aids.

It is our intention to continue to support the 41st Brigade in all facets of its field training operations until such time that the brigade no longer needs our services. In the months to come, we will continue to purchase equipment and gear that allows the 973rd to better serve the soldiers as they prepare for their next Iraq deployment.