Welcome to the Selection
DATES
Sat 19th – Sun 20th Feb
Overnight
LOCATION
YMCA Kaitoke Outdoor
Education Centre
184 Marchant Road,
Kaitoke, Upper Hutt 5372
CLICK TO SEE ON MAPS
TIME
Sat 19th Feb 07:45am arrival
Sun 20th Feb 15:00pm finish
he OPFOR two day Selection Event will cover classroom and physical activities and training.
The purpose of the selection is to expose candidates to the physical and mental requirements of working with OPFOR or Opposition Force.
The Selection Event will be both fun and challenging. It is not expected that candidates have prior experience or training, but a moderate level of fitness will make the event more enjoyable and easier to complete tasks.
The Selection Event utilises highly trained instructors at no cost to candidates other than the willingness to participate. On successful completion, you could be considered for paid work helping to create OPFOR sceanarios with our clients.
EXAMPLE SCHEDULE
The OPFOR Selection Event will run to a strict schedule.
This is ensure we cover all activities and allow sufficient time for you to get the most from your time with us.
Due to staffing, location, weather or number of candidates, the schedule may change without notice.
INTRODUCTIONS & ADMIN
SATURDAY MORNING
OPFOR Instructors will make introductions and complete a roll call. You will be provided information on OPFOR as a job and cover off on selection protocols and safety requirements. We will discuss our expectations, how you are assessed and why along with ensuring any health and safety questions are fully answered. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and complete the final paper work.
GENERAL FITNESS
SATURDAY MORNING
General fitness exercises and assessments.
APTITUDE TESTING
SATURDAY MORNING
This phase will present individuals with a range of problems, role-plays and tasks to see how well you fit the theatrical role of the OPFOR.
ENDURANCE EXERCISE
SATURDAY MIDDAY TO EVENING
The activity will commence with a timed walk up a track to an area designated for a night location. This area will have marked zones for ‘syndicates’ or groups and is where you will spend the night. During the evening, each syndicate will have tasks to complete and will be managed by the syndicate commanders. You may be asked to complete tasks late at night or even very early in the morning.
FOCUS EXERCISE
SUNDAY MORNING
Starting from 7:00am, each syndicate will leave camp and be given different activities while returning to base camp. This will be designed to test your ability to focus on tasks provided and will involve ingenuity, creativity and problem solving.
INTERVIEW
SUNDAY MIDDAY – AFTERNOON
On return to base camps you will have a brief interview with the selection manager to answer any questions and gain feedback. You will now understand the expectations of OPFOR and can relax and enjoy the surrounds while the rest of the group return.
FAQ'S
Here are our most FAQ's - feel free to email [email protected] if you need more information!
Is this a job?
Yes! We want to train you to help us provide realistic training scenarios to military, law enforcement and security professionals.
You will be be paid and the more training and experience you get, the more valuable you are to the team.
What are the hours?
At the beginning of your training there will be no regular hours. Once you have completed additional training courses you will have more roles you can play.
We will provide as much notice as possible to help you organise your usual schedule to join us on a contract with a client.
How much do I get paid?
The more valuable you are to OPFOR, the more you will be paid.
As a valuable member of the team, the remuneration is above minimum wage. You will need to undertake selection training (unpaid) but from there we will pay for your time while you are learning.
As the training is comprehensive, you will be asked to make yourself available on completion of your training.
The more training and contracts you join on, the more you will be paid.
How do I apply?
Click here to fill out the initial application form - allow about 10 minutes to complete.
If we would like you to attend a selection, we will call and email you. This is a great chance to ask questions and speak to our team about what is expected.
The selection process will be either one or two days in length and you will be sent information on hours, locations etc closer to the time.
The locations for the selections will occur near either Christchurch or Wellington. More details will be made avalible closer to the time.
What will I be doing?
We customise our training depending on our client needs. You may end up playing a soldier patrolling a building, or a civilian in an emergency crisis.
Can women apply?
Absolutely! Some of our most valuable role-players are female.
Will becoming an OPFOR help me become a soldier?
Not really, to be a soldier you must complete many months of training. You will get an appreciation of what soldiers go through, but not at that level of training.
What does a normal contract look like?
Very difficult to answer, OPFOR could be completely different from one contract to another. One day you could be engaging infantry soldiers, the next you could be playing a role as a partner nation doing training together. The OPFOR needs to be flexible and respond to our clients' requirements.
How long will a contract be for and is it weekday / weekend work?
Again, like the previous answer, it could be a morning, a day or a week or longer! Usually, we have found contracts lasting on average 2 – 5 days but largely depends on the tasks. You can expect weekend work but most work is done during the week.
Will I need to sleep outside?
From time to time, you may need to sleep outside but for the most part you will stay in accommodation. That being said, you could be working in the evenings and come back to your accommodation to sleep.
Why run a selection?
The selection process is twofold; Firstly, we need to make sure our staff are capable of physical activity but also to expose potential staff what it could be like during a contract. We will be investing time and money into the training and want to make sure our staff are aware of the level they are expected to do. The selection is not run like a military selection process, but it will be physically challenging.
Do I need any experience?
No. While some famililarity with military, law enforcement or security professionals is desirable, it isn't required.