"Role-players who train US troops" Topic
6 Posts
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 Editor in Chief Bill   | 19 Nov 2025 6:55 p.m. PST |
Photographer Claire Beckett captured the soldiers and civilians who dress up as Afghans and Iraqis in military bases across America. They play everything from insurgents to shoppers in mocked-up firefights The Guardian: link |
 Sgt Slag  | 19 Nov 2025 7:14 p.m. PST |
A good deal more like re-enactors, I would say. [;-)] Cheers! |
| TimePortal | 19 Nov 2025 8:15 p.m. PST |
I know a number of civilians and trainers at Fort Benning who conduct training with the troops. Some focus on writing operational manuals. Other write training plans.
It has been a long practice. Back in the 1970-80s, I worked with trainers who portrayed Soviet forces. They were called OPFOR. Since I was the S4 of the MI battalion. I was signed for all of the Soviet equipment including the tanks. |
 Legion 4 | 20 Nov 2025 7:39 a.m. PST |
Yep, my Bn in the 101 were issue brown shirts & trousers, Vacu-formed Russian helmets to put over our helmet liners and even AK-47s with blanks. To play OPFOR vs other Bns in the Div. Good training for all involved … |
| TimePortal | 20 Nov 2025 8:20 a.m. PST |
At Fort Hood they built a replica Soviet stongpoint with multiple bunkers and trenches. At Fort McClelan in Alabama, they built a actual Vietnam style POW compound. By the 1980s, every post had a town built for urban training. I still
Remember the tests, helmet monitors and target panels for vehicles in the 1970s. Laxer beams would set off alarms. Fun but never was a fluid exercise. |
| Major Mike | 20 Nov 2025 2:00 p.m. PST |
I have been role playing for the military for 20 years after retiring from the military. I have played a myriad of roles. Sometimes I'm a bad guy, sometimes good and also an unknown. Sometimes the training is rather easy and sometimes very intense (which can be way more of an experience than people think it might be). I have done it as a volunteer and paid. Most often, the training goals of the unit drive what the role players will do or not do. On rare occasions are we allowed to take our "gloves off" to really challenge a unit. I have worked with foreign language speakers and they have been a great asset to get trainee's to use their language skills. |
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