Opposing Forces program prepares Air Commandos for battle

Published June 24, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Xavier Lockley
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Preparing for battle is an essential part of mission success.

One tool used to prepare these brave men and women is the Opposing Forces program at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

OPFOR was designed to enhance training capabilities for Air Commandos.

"OPFOR provides Airmen with dynamic training environments that mimic current and future operational battlefields," said William Baird 27th Special Operations Support Squadron OPFOR chief.

Airmen who have a desire to join OPFOR will play a key role in training Air Commandos for deployments which may include a full range of special operations missions.

"No day is ever typical," Baird said. "Some days we are operating all-terrain vehicles and employing explosives, weapons, ammunition and threat simulators; other days we are skillfully maneuvering high-powered watercraft on the lake."

Members of OPFOR have to be high-speed in order to meet the training demands of Cannon's current evolution.

"OPFOR is very challenging," Baird said. "We are striving to keep pace with the rapid growth of the 27th Special Operations Wing. Cannon's OPFOR team supports a large mission with a small force."

To keep Air Commandos ready for anything, the OPFOR team has to be at their best every day.

"The OPFOR program continues to challenge our warriors with the unexpected, ensuring our forces are primed for combat," Baird said.

Click here for link to OPFOR slideshow.