Subject: Defeating Force XXI Capabilities Observations Some observations from the OPFOR side of the hill associated with fighting Force XXI-equipped units here the past 4 years. Lots of positive change ongoing at Irwin. The Regiment is becoming more unpredictable, more flexible, and relavent. Received 15 of 128 OPFOR Surrogate Vehicles this past month. Finally a BMP-2 capability-M 1 13A3 chassis with Bradley stabilized turret and the old M6OA3 TTS-30mm cannon and AT-5 on each. That is sending shock waves through FORSCOM! We've modernized the OPFOR! Probably most important, it gives ability to conduct mounted night operations with both BMP-2 and T80. Accordingly, beginning last rotation, 50% of the missions are conducted under night conditions. Lot of discussion ongoing now about reverting to, the training model used years ago. With the continuing decline in knowledge, skill, and capabilities of leaders and units at every level, coupled with the fact that damn few units are training above company/team level in the field these days, maybe NTC should return to the building block approach. Instead of jumping straight in to brigade operations, maybe it makes sense to gain proficiency at battalion task force level first, then pull the brigade back together at the end of the rotation. Performance levels are probably at an all time low at NTC. Subject: Defeating Force XXI Capabilities-OPFOR Observations NTC OPFOR has been fighting and adapting tactics and techniques in response to Force XXI capabilities at the National Training Center since Spring 1994. What follows is a short compilation of OPFOR observations, deductions, conclusions, and opposing tactics/techniques the past 4 years, associated with defeating Force XXI technology, capabilities, and units. *Technology is worthless in the hands of commanders, staffs, and soldiers who have not mastered the fundamentals of battle command, planning operations, setting conditions for synchronization of the combined arms team, getting every dog in the fight at the right time and place. and the ability of soldiers and units to perform individual and collective tasks to established performance standards. You can't fight fast with precision until you learn how to fight. Mastery of fundamentals at every level-blocking and tacklingmust be achieved first before Force XXI capabilities can make any difference at all. *Units/command and staff teams trained predominantly in virtual and constructive simulations are much less effective than those who trained not only with simulations, but extensively in the field under tough, realistic conditions, particularly through battalion task force level. From our point of view, there appears to be no effective substitute for training the combined arms team as one team under realistic, field conditions. *The first step towards defeating a Force XXI-equipped unit is to gain information dominance. Focus lookers and shooters to find and destroy/disrupt critical communications systems upon which the flow of information depends; MSE nodes and command posts. Take these stationary and easily acquired systems off the battlefield and the ability to maintain situational awareness/execute precision fires evaporates. The screens go blank. At the same time, find and jam critical FM command and fire direction nets. Work hard to stop the flow of electrons/digits across the battlefield. If achieved, units appear to have serious problems reverting to analog capabilities. *Active and passive force protection measures are vital to preserving combat power, such as: protect the force from observation by targeting radars, thermal optics, and other acquisition systems which can precisely locate our forces: protect the force from the effects of direct/indirect fires through dispersion, obscuration, terrain masking, speed, and agility. Additionally. a force equipped with a vast array of intelligence collection systems, STARS, UAV. LONGBOW, KIOWA WARRIOR, etc, is more susceptible to deception, and places a premium on our ability to deceive. Deception equipment, positions, thermal signatures, obstacles, march units, and deceptive communications are critical to preserving our combat power and neutralizing Force XXI capabilities. Through deception, aimed at HUMINT observers behind the camera lens, surprise can be achieved. *Find and strike enemy high payoff targets (critical capabilities) simultaneously through the depths of the battlefield; it 'mposes paralysis. *Move the high payoff targets frequently, move dispersed, move fast. concentrate rapidly. disperse quickly after striking a decisive blow. The ability to do this is critical to preserving combat power and defeating an enemy with real time intelligence. *You can defeat a Force XXI-equipped force by being more flexible and agile. Agility and I lexi bill ty -produced by our disciplined deliberate planning process, detailed wargaming of courses of action, our ability to establish HUMINT observers through the depths of the battlefield, and troopers and leaders who have mastered tactical fundamentals and understand the commander's intent-have been the source of success. Back to Dispatch Jan. 99 Table of Contents Back to Dispatch List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by HMGS Mid-South This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com