71-CO-8502 OPFOR Execute an Ambush

Status	Approved 25 Feb 2010
Effective Date:	11 Nov 2016
Task Number:	71-CO-8502
Task Title:	OPFOR Execute an Ambush
Distribution Restriction:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Destruction Notice:	None
Foreign Disclosure: FD1 -	This training product has been reviewed by the training developers in coordination with the HQS TRADOC DCS G2 FDO foreign disclosure officer. This training product can be used to instruct international military students from all approved countries without restrictions.

Access the instructional content from a government system here: https://www.milsuite.mil/video/watch/video/23525

Access the immersive content from a government system here: https://www.milsuite.mil/video/watch/video/13993

Conditions

The OPFOR is conducting operations independently or as part of a larger element or force and receives an operation order (OPORD) or fragmentary order (FRAGORD) to conduct an ambush at a location and time specified. The order includes all applicable overlays and/or graphics. Task organization provides the combat power capabilities to accomplish the ambush task. The OPFOR has communications with higher, adjacent, subordinate, and supporting elements. Friendly force and enemy coalition forces, noncombatants, government agencies, nongovernment organizations, and local and international media may be in the operational environment (OE). The OPFOR is not constrained by standardized Rules of Engagement ( ROE) and does not necessarily comply with international conventions or agreements on the conduct of warfare. Some iterations of this task should be performed in MOPP 4. This task should be trained under IED Threat conditions.

Standards

The OPFOR conducts an ambush in accordance with (IAW) TC 7-100.2 and/or TC 7-100.3, the order, and/or higher commander's guidance. The OPFOR observes, ambushes, and destroys the enemy element or force in the kill zone or kill zones. The OPFOR, IAW the mission order, kills the enemy and/or captures enemy prisoners, and seizes and/or exploits enemy equipment and materiel in the kill zone. The OPFOR exfiltrates from the ambush site.

NOTE

TADSS and Materiel Items quantities are based on an armor company headquarters with two armor platoons, one IFV platoon and one dismounted infantry platoon to replicate non-conventional threat. Adjust as needed based on the force size and type of unit used to replicate the OPFOR

NOTE

The Objective Task Evaluation Criteria Matrix is provided for reference only. Operational and Training Environments will be IAW the BLUFOR Commanders training plan and guidance.

NOTE

Access the Virtual OPFOR Academy at https://tbr.army.mil for electronic copies of OPFOR doctrine, references, Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE), and instructional and immersive videos on conducting this task.

Live Fire Required

No

Objective Task Evaluation Criteria Matrix

Plan and Prepare			Execute						Assess
Operational Environment		Training Environment (L/V/C)	% of Leaders Present at Training/Authorized	% of Soldiers Present at	External Eval	% Performance Measures 'GO'	% Critical Performance Measures 'GO'	% Leader Performance Measures 'GO'	Task Assessment
BDE & Above
Dynamic and Complex (All OE Variables and Hybrid Threat)	Night	Operational Environment variables and OPFOR use of L/V/C are executed IAW BLUFOR	>=85%	>=80%	Yes	>=91%	All	>=90%	T
			75-84%			80-90%		80-89%	T-
Dynamic and Complex (All OE Variables and Single Threat)			65-74%	75-79%	No	65-79%			P
	Day		60-64%	60-74%		51-64%	<All	<=79%	P-
Dynamic and Complex (<All OE Variables and Single Threat)			<=59%	<=59%		<=50%			U

Remarks

None

Notes

None

Safety Risk

Low

Cue

None

DANGER: Safety briefings should alert users to the possibility of personal injury or damage to equipment that may result from long-term failure to follow correct procedures.
WARNING: Safety briefings should alert users to the possibility of immediate personal injury or damage to equipment.
CAUTION: None

Performance Steps and Measures

NOTE: Assess task proficiency using the task evaluation criteria matrix.

NOTE: Asterisks (*) indicate leader steps; plus signs (+) indicate critical steps.

STEP/MEASURE	GO	NO-GO	N/A
Plan
+ 1. Plan
+ a. Identify enemy element or force capabilities and limitations to be ambushed.
+ b. Conduct analysis to determine the type [point or area] ambush or ambushes to be conducted.
+ c. Identify ambush kill zone or kill zones.
+ d. Analyze action and enabling functions that must be performed to achieve mission success, and consider tasks to deceive, disrupt, suppress, fix, contain, defeat and/or destroy.
+ e. Determine the functional tactics to be applied by action and enabling elements.
+ f. Identify situational understanding requirements for collection and analysis.
+ g. Task organize elements or forces for the ambush task by function IAW TC 7-100.2/TC 7-100.3.
+ h. Determine how and when functional elements act or enable the ambush, and/or transition to other tasks-subtasks.
Prepare
+ 2. Prepare
+ a. Conduct continuous reconnaissance and surveillance to provide situational understanding of enemy and operational environment required for OPFOR success.
+ b. Conduct continuous counterreconnaissance to prevent the enemy from obtaining situational understanding of OPFOR intentions.
+ c. Conduct mission and task rehearsals.
+ d. Execute information warfare (INFOWAR).
Execute
+ 3. Infiltrate
+ a. Conduct undetected and sequenced movement by security elements through and/or into an area occupied by enemy elements to occupy a position(s) in order to fix enemy security or response elements.
+ b. Conduct undetected and sequenced movement by support elements through and/or into an area occupied by enemy elements to occupy a position(s) in order to isolate the kill zones(s).
+ c. Conduct undetected and sequenced movement by support elements through and/or into an area occupied by enemy elements to occupy an indirect fire position(s) in order to suppress, disrupt, or contain enemy at the kill zone(s).
+ d. Conduct undetected movement by an ambush element(s) through and/or into an area occupied by enemy elements to occupy a position(s) in order to ambush enemy and/or enemy materiel in the kill zone(s).
+ e. Determine if current tactical conditions require an adjustment to the raid.
+ 4. Isolate
+ a. Conduct security tasks to provide early warning and/or protect the action, support, and security elements. [Other tactical tasks may include but are not limited to: block, canalize, contain, delay, destroy, disrupt, fix, interdict, suppress, or neutralize.]
+ b. Position support elements or forces.
+ c. Deliver and adjust lethal and/or nonlethal suppression effects on enemy elements or force to be isolated that prevent contact with other enemy elements.
+ d. Degrade designated enemy elements or force to temporarily prevent those elements or force from assisting the isolated enemy element or force.
+ e. Maneuver security elements to a position or positions in order to deny the enemy freedom of movement along designated ground or air avenues of approach (AA) that can reinforce enemy elements in the intended kill zone, or otherwise interfere with the tasks of the ambush action and other enabling elements.
+ 5. Contain
+ a. Use surprise, limited visibility, complex terrain, emplaced obstacles, and camouflage, concealment, cover, and deception (C3D) and fires to restrict and channel the enemy into the kill zone or kill zones.
+ b. Stop, hold, or surround enemy elements in the kill zone or cause enemy elements to center their activity to a given front and prevent them from withdrawing any part of the element for use elsewhere.
+ 6. Ambush
+ a. Ambush with massed direct and/or indirect fires into the kill zone or kill zones to destroy the enemy.
+ b. Assault to seize the objective in the kill zone—when designated in the mission task and intent.
+ c. Support the ambush with appropriate enabling functions that may include but are not limited to: deception, breach, fix, disrupt, and/or employment of reserve elements.
+ d. Exploit the objective site for enemy prisoners and enemy equipment and materiel—when designated in the mission task and intent.

+ e. Consolidate the objective or kill zone area for its temporary occupation and defense while the site is being exploited by OPFOR elements.
+ f. Reorganize OPFOR elements to minimize the impacts of combat losses and functional capabilities.
+ 7. Exfiltrate
+ a. Distribute the reorganized OPFOR elements quickly into small elements for exfiltration along designated exfiltration lanes.
+ b. Conduct undetected movement from the kill zone and/or objective area by stealth and deception to a designated rally point.
+ c. Continue the mission.
Assess
+ 8. Performance Measures
+ a. Unit moves to and occupies ambush site without detection - (Yes/No)
+ b. Unit isolates kill zone from assistance - (Yes/No)
+ c. To execute ambush - (Time)
+ d. Enemy in kill zone during projected time window - (Yes/No)
+ e. Enemy contained in kill zone - (Yes/No)
+ f. Friendly forces available to continue mission - (Percent)
+ g. Combat effectiveness of enemy force - (Percent)

TASK PERFORMANCE / EVALUATION SUMMARY BLOCK
ITERATION	1	2	3	4	5	M	TOTAL
TOTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES EVALUATED
TOTAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES GO
TRAINING STATUS GO/NO-GO

ITERATION

1 2 3 4 5 M

COMMANDER/LEADER ASSESSMENT

T P U

MOPP 4

Sometimes

MOPP 4 Statement

OPFOR will conduct operations in an NBC environment based on the training objectives established by the BLUFOR Commander.

NVG

Sometimes

NVG Statement

OPFOR will conduct night time operations based on the training objectives established by the BLUFOR Commander.

Prerequisite Collective Task(s)

None

Supporting Collective Task(s)

None

OPFOR Task(s)

None

Supporting Individual Task(s)

None

Supporting Drill(s)

None

Supported AUTL/UJTL Task(s)

None

TADSS

TADSS ID	Title	Product Type	Quantity
L 20-STAR-L	OPFOR Vehicle Marker (Large)	TA	40
L 30-06L-FSH	OPFOR Uniforms Large	TA	33
23-26	M2K Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 (MILES 2000) M2 Machine Gun Kit	DVC	18
T 20-005	RPG7 Anti Grenade Launcher with Round	DVC	10
L 30-06M-FSH	OPFOR Uniforms MED	TA	69
L 20-STAR-M	OPFOR Vehicle Marker (Star) Med	TA	6
L 20-STAR-S	OPFOR Vehicle Marker (Star) SM	TA	36
L 30-06S-FSH	OPFOR Uniforms Small	TA	33
23-102/B	Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), (SLM), RPG7 VISMOD	DVC	10
23-106	Instrumentable Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (I-MILES) Tactical Vehicle System (TVS)	DVC	18
23-94	MILES XXI (STRYKER) Common Kit	DVC	0
T 07-115	Machine Gun, PKM	DVC	0
T 07-116	Pistol, Makarov, Plastic	DVC	0
T 07-117	Pistol, Tokarev	DVC	0
T 20-006	AK-47 Assault Rifle Model	DVC	16
T 20-007	RPK Squad Machine Gun	DVC	2
T 20-008	PM-50 Pistol	DVC	2
23-85	Soft Cap Man Worn Laser Detector (MWLD) (MILES) PR0 Model	DVC	153
GTA 08-11-014	Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) Casualty Cards	GTA	6
23-67	Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System Individual Weapons System (MILES IWS) M16/M4 Rifle Kit, Instrumental	DVC	113
23-22	M2K Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 (MILES 2000) M249 Squad Automatic Weapon Kit	DVC	6
23-23	M2K Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 (MILES 2000) M24/M40 Sniper Weapon System Kit	DVC	6
23-25	M2K Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System 2000 (MILES 2000) M240 Machine Gun Kit	DVC	10
23-92	Main Gun Signature Simulator (MGSS) (MILES 2000)	DVC	10
23-96	M1A1/A2/System Enhanced Package (SEP) Tank, (MILES XXI)	DVC	10
T 20-018	SVD Sniper Rifle	DVC	2
23-95	M2A2/M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, (MILES XXI)	DVC	8

Equipment (LIN)

LIN	Nomenclature	Qty
No equipment specified

Materiel Items (NSN)

NSN	LIN	Title	Qty
1305-00-166-6371		Cartridge, 7.62 Millimeter Blank, Linked: M82 (DODIC:A111)	320
1005-00-893-0902		Firing Attachment, Blank Ammunition, M14 Rifle	6
1370-00-752-8124	T56265	Simulator, Hand Grenade: M116A1 (DODIC:L601)	108
1005-00-118-6192		Firing Attachment, Blank Ammunition: Rifle, 5.56 MM, M16, M16A1	42
1005-01-091-7510	F87237	Firing Attachment, Blank Ammunitin: M19 for Caliber .50 M2 Machine Gun	10
1330-00-289-6853	J79818	Grenade, Hand, Violet Smoke: M18 (DODIC:G955)	6
1330-00-289-6854	J79955	Grenade, Hand, Yellow Smoke: M18 (DODIC:G945)	6
1005-01-480-0289		Chamber, Blank Firing: Machine Gun, 7.62MM, M240B	8
1005-21-912-8997		Firing Attachment, Blank Ammunition: M249 SAW	6
1305-01-078-4879	D31944	Cartridge, Caliber .50 Blank: M1E1 (DODIC:A598)	2000
1305-00-005-8005		Cartridge, 5.56 Millimeter Blank, Single Round: M200 (DODIC:A080)	8400
1330-00-219-8511	J79681	Grenade, Hand, HC Smoke: AN-M8 (DODIC:G930)	12
1330-00-289-6852	J79133	Grenade, Hand, Red Smoke: M18 (DODIC:G950)	6
1305-00-008-8894		Cartridge, 7.62 Millimeter Blank, Single Round: M82 (DODIC:A112)	1600

Environment

Environmental protection is not just the law but the right thing to do. It is a continual process and starts with deliberate planning. Always be alert to ways to protect our environment during training and missions. In doing so, you will contribute to the sustainment of our training resources while protecting people and the environment from harmful effects. Refer to the current Environmental Considerations manual and the current GTA Environmental-related Risk Assessment card. Consult range control office for specific environmental considerations for the training area(s) being used.

Safety

In a training environment, leaders must perform a risk assessment in accordance with ATP 5-19, Risk Management. Leaders will complete the current Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet in accordance with the TRADOC Safety Officer during the planning and completion of each task and sub-task by assessing mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available-time available and civil considerations, (METT-TC). Note: During MOPP training, leaders must ensure personnel are monitored for potential heat injury. Local policies and procedures must be followed during times of increased heat category in order to avoid heat related injury. Consider the MOPP work/rest cycles and water replacement guidelines IAW FM 3-11.4, Multiservice Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Protection, FM 3-11.5, Multiservice Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Decontamination

Supporting References

Step Number	Reference ID	Reference Name	Required	Primary
	TC 7-100	Hybrid Threat	Yes	Yes
	TC 7-100.2	Opposing Force Tactics	Yes	Yes
	TC 7-100.3	Irregular Opposing Forces https://armypubs.us.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/d r_aa/pdf/tc7_100x3.pdf	Yes	Yes
	TC 7-100.4	Hybrid Threat Force Structure Organization Guide	Yes	Yes
	TC 7-101	Exercise Design	Yes	Yes