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Opposition Forces Add Realism and Success to Force Protection Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071116-06
Release Date: 11/16/2007 2:32:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Coleman Thompson, Nassau Strike Group Public Affairs Office

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Nassau Strike Group (NASSG) successfully completed its strike group force antiterrorism/force protection certification exercise (FPEX) Nov. 1-2, certifying the strike group's security capabilities prior to deployment.

That success wouldn't have been possible without the service members and civilians who volunteered to play the 'bad guys,' or opposition forces (OPFOR).

OPFOR's primary goal is to give the Sailors standing watch realistic scenarios by "attacking" their posts in ways that have previously been used by our enemies. Using asymmetrical and unconventional tactics also tests the security forces' abilities to react to unknown situations.

During the recent FPEX, OPFOR consistently attempted to undermine each round of guards with acts of deception designed to draw their attention away from possible fake bombs being planted on the gates or the six strike group ships themselves.

"A lot of the scenarios were based on prior attack attempts or on intel of possible attacks that could happen," said Chief Warrant Officer Tracy McIntyre, (NASSG) antiterrorism/force protection officer. "The types of drills go from any type of land surveillance to water surveillance. They also try to stop people trying to get through the gates with fake ID cards, anybody placing IED's in vehicles or on personnel, as well as swimmer attacks or small boat attacks."

The full FPEX is 36 hours long and involves 15 different sets of scenarios. In order to achieve full certification, each ship in the strike group must find success in at least 12 of those scenarios. The strike group's six ships, USS Nassau (LHA 4), USS Nashville (LPD 13), USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Ross (DDG 71), and USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) were all certified.

According to officials with Commander, 2nd Fleet, the NASSG became the first deploying strike group to have all units successfully pass all of the requirements during the FPEX since the program's inception three years ago. In the process, Nassau and Philippine Sea earned perfect scores of 15, becoming the first deploying units to ever do so.

"What this does is ensure that all the ships are prepared to deter, detect and counter any type of terrorist attack in any non-U.S. controlled port," explained McIntyre.

Being a member of OPFOR meant being ready at any time during the 36-hour period to test the vigilance of the guards and the ships involved. Volunteers came in from multiple commands to ensure that the training ran smoothly.

"It's more realistic when you use real people vice using pictures," said McIntyre. "The watchstanders are more apt to react more realistically. We often try to get people that none of these ships know so it's not a familiar face."

"One of the interesting things about being OPFOR is that you can run these simulations with little to no training with marginal success," said William Cohen, an engineering technician with Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic. "What's scary is that the terrorists do have training."