CHAPTER 1: OPFOR Structure and Task Organization Principles

1-6 COMBAT FORMATION.

    Mission requirements and the commander’s concept determine the tactical alignment of forces at division and below. The OPFOR term for this is combat formation. Combat formation describes how any tactical-level combat element organizes and deploys its forces for combat. Thus, it is the tactical-level equivalent of the operational term operational formation.

    The combat formation of a division, brigade, or battalion is the grouping created for the conduct of a particular battle. It normally includes a first echelon, a second echelon, a combined arms reserve, and other reserves. For a division or brigade, it would also include an artillery group and perhaps a forward detachment.

    When preparing for combat, the OPFOR will have a set amount and mix of military forces from which it will select the appropriate force to accomplish a given mission. These forces are organized according to a table of organization and equipment (TO&E) which provide the basic building blocks within a force structure. They typically include maneuver forces, combat support elements such as artillery, antitank, and combat engineer units, and combat service support elements such as maintenance, transportation, and medical units. These TO&E structures provide the optimal organization for maintaining and managing the equipment and personnel within these units. TO&E organizations are found at the army group level down to the maneuver platoon. The largest TO&E unit is the maneuver division.

    However, the OPFOR seldom, if ever, employs its military force as structured in the TO&Es. Instead, the TO&E organizations go through a process, commonly referred to as task organizing, that transform the organizations into combat formations. Created to perform a specific task, the OPFOR will reorganize these combat formations at any time, either upon completion of the initial task or receipt of a new mission.

    The OPFOR determines specific combat formations, with particular attention given to the factors of Mission, Enemy, Troops, Terrain and weather, and the Time (METT-T) available. The combat formation of a division, brigade, or battalion is the grouping created for the conduct of a particular battle.