Conventional warfare
Infantry tasks such as vehicle and foot patrols, holding defensive positions and operating in urban areas.
The adversary your training is missing
An OPFOR, or opposition force, is a team of role players trained to mimic a common enemy. Military, law enforcement and security professionals then practise their skills and techniques against a realistic, thinking opponent instead of a script.
Many countries dedicate hundreds of trained personnel full time to replicating an enemy army or enemy team. The cost of training and retaining a full-time OPFOR is significant, and not feasible in staffing, capacity or realism. OPFOR bridges the gap between a client's training personnel and a full-time opposition force.
Here in New Zealand, OPFOR provides the only trained opposing force that can deliver an in-depth, realistic and challenging adversary for a range of operational scenarios.
What can OPFOR portray?
Scenarios are customised to each contract, from a single role player to a trained section.
Unconventional warfare
Insurgent tactics and bespoke scenarios, including shoots, sabotage, informer networks and logistics operations.
Terrorism
Replicated terrorist threats, from active shooter to covert cell, that test clients with novel, complex problems.
Mentoring operations
Embedded training teams, insider attacks, joint patrolling and joint training with partner forces.
Domestic response
Realistic threat scenarios for policing and security services, wherever they are needed.
What makes OPFOR different
Realistic scenarios
Designed by a team that has trained across the globe, to maximise the outcomes each client needs from the training.
Hand-picked role players
A one-of-a-kind recruitment and training process, and a selection event every role player must pass.
Customised immersion
Props and equipment, from the largest to the smallest, customised for each contract wherever possible.
Intelligence-led threats
A management team of trained intelligence analysts who study current trends to build a realistic common enemy.
All weather, any terrain
Real adversaries operate in any conditions, so does OPFOR, at any time, without sacrificing training for convenience.
Cost-effective
A realistic opposition force without the cost of training and retaining a full-time one in house.
How are OPFOR role players prepared?
Every role player goes through the same stages before working with a client.
- Application A short initial application, followed by a call from the team.
- Selection event One or two days of classroom and physical activity that tests motivation, character and commitment.
- Phase 2 training Modular training for each type of role, theoretical and practical.
- Contracts Vetted role players deploy to client exercises, with first aid and safety training behind them.
Ethics, security and safety
Ethics
Apolitical, inclusive and strongly against discrimination. Themed scenarios replicate behaviour only as far as the training needs, and anyone can opt out.
Security
A vetted team: background checks, references and continued good conduct. Role players never have access to real firearms.
Safety
First aid, hostile-climate and trauma training for every role player, with hearing protection and PPE whenever projectiles are used.
Plan your next exercise
Tell us what you need the opposing force to do, and when. Keep operational detail general in a first message.
- Phone
- (+64) 22 656 4116
- Location
- Lower Hutt, Wellington, NZ
Want to become a role player? No prior experience is needed. Join OPFOR