text: Introduction
  This manual is part of the FM 7-100 series, which describes a contemporary
  Opposing Force (OPFOR) that exists for the purpose of training U.S. forces
  for potential combat operations. This OPFOR reflects the characteristics of
  military and paramilitary forces that may be present in the contemporary
  operational environment (COE). Like those real-world threats, the OPFOR
  will continue to present new and different challenges for U.S. forces. The COE is
  constantly changing, and it is important for U.S. Army training environments
  to keep pace with real-world developments.
  CONTEMPORARY OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
  The DOD officially defines an operational
  Contemporary Operational
  environment (OE) as “a composite of the
  Environment (COE)
  conditions, circumstances, and influences
  that affect the employment of military forces
  The operational environment
  and bear on the decisions of the unit
  that exists today and for the
  commander” (JP 1-02). The contemporary
  clearly foreseeable future.
  operational environment (COE) is the
  operational environment that exists today
  and for the clearly foreseeable future. There are some “constants” or common
  threads that define the general nature of this COE:
  • The United States in not likely to have a peer competitor until 2020 or be-
  yond.
  • However, nations will continue to field armed forces and use these forces
  as a tool to pursue national interests.
  • As nations use their armed forces (or other instruments of national power)
  in pursuit of national interests, their actions may cause U.S. intervention,
  either unilaterally or as a coalition partner, with or without United Na-
  tions mandate.
  • Nations that believe the United States may act to counter their national
  interests will develop diplomatic, informational, economic, and military
  plans for managing U.S. intervention.
  • Nations will continue to modernize their armed forces within the con-
  straints of their economies, but in ways that may negate U.S. overmatch.
  • Advanced technology will be available on the world market for a wide va-
  riety of nation-state and non-state actors.
  • Non-state actors will play an important role in any regional conflictas
  combatants or noncombatants.
  • All combat operations will be significantly affected by a number of vari-
  ables in the environment beyond simple military forces.
  Thus, one of the constants is that there are variables. Those “variables” in the
  COE result in a number of different OEs that can occur in specific circumstances
  or scenarios.