Training center tries to keep focus on future fights.

• Author: Pappalardo, Joe
• Position: URBAN COMBAT

FORT IRWIN, CALIF. -- Officials at this isolated training center are trying to maintain the balance between preparing troops for current guerilla battlefields while practicing for large-scale engagements.

The danger, according to officials at Fort Irwin's National Training Center, lies in the chance that the next war might be the opposite of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, against a foe armed with the full array of modern armor, artillery, reconnaissance platforms and communications.

"There's kind of a double task here," said National Guard Maj. Scott Cunningham, operations officer at the NTC.

Cunningham is in charge of the opposing force, or OPFOR, during training. His job is to teach the U.S. units, called BLUFOR, by running them through hell in the desert.

Cunningham said Pentagon officials shared the view that the fights of the moment--and the need to prepare the troops heading into harm's way--are the centers of attention.

"We've seen no focus (on high-intensity conflict training) coming out of Washington," Cunningham said. "I don't think there is a lack of desire; there are limited resources. The biggest limit is time ... The problem is you have must-do's and want-to-do's."

The obvious musts include training foot soldiers to survive counter-insurgency operations. Keeping a sophisticated red team running full scale tank battles is a less pressing need.

"We need to maintain the capability to operate in a high intensity environment," asserted Cunningham, adding that the U.S.' military clout in any scale of fight serves as a deterrent to aggressive moves by potential foes.

In late May, the training center was abuzz with activity as the Nevada National Guardsmen from the 221st cavalry, who play the OPFOR role, prepared for an upcoming tank-on-tank high-intensity conflict, referred across the base as "hick."

The 4th Infantry Division begins its rotations at the NTC this month to slug it out with the OPFOR units. The training center will host four HICs in a row to accommodate the full divisions. Training here involves a single brigade at a time.

Cunningham pointed out that Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, who commands the 4th Infantry Division, once served as the top officer at the NTC. That experience, Cunningham said, gives Thurman an appreciation for the full training potential at Fort Irwin.

The OPFOR will field about 40 combat vehicles, plus a slew of support platforms, while visiting armored divisions will sport three or four times...