Some more two cents . . .
OPTEC = Operational Test and Evaluation Command and it is the OLD NAME for the directorate that test experimental and threat equipment for the U.S. Army.
The "new" name is ATEC = Army Test and Evaluation Command.
You will find a big ATEC sign if front of the gate to the Biggs AAF hangar where they keep the Ft. Bliss, TX based 3 x Mi-24, 1 x Mi-8, 1 x Mi-17, 1 x Mi-2, an AN-2 Colt, and an inop KA-32 "Double Trouble", and inop naval Mi-8. There also is a glider like the one John Denver died in (they use it to simulate UAV threats). The inop birds are inop because the threat inventory is run by a contract agency under ATEC and there is no "customer" for KA-32 and naval Mi-8 threat requirements, so they sit unused. The Ft. Polk based fleet is a little smaller.
There was a cost analysis done to see if a third fleet could be established at Ft. Irwin, CA. the idea wasn't approved so we are stuck with a bunch of goofy hueys made up to sorta look like Hinds at the National Training Center. Bummer.
These aircraft are the BEST maintained Russian helicopters in the world and the American mechanics and pilots that fly and maintain the fleet are just salt of the earth people and simply awesome Americans. You will see the Mi-24 F (P) variant in the Harrison Ford movie "Air Force One."
By the way, I just purchased the Flight Simulator 2004 Mi-2, Mi-17, and Mi-24 ADDONS made by the Nemeth brothers. If you want to learn how to crank these birds and fly them as close as the real deals, check out the addons. It took me almost 10 minutes to crank the Mi-24 because the start-up procedures are accurate to the real aircraft. If you dont switch the right switches according to the start up procedures, etc. the bird won't fly. Once you get it up, you can fly around El Paso, Biggs AAF, etc. just like the real ATEC pilots do!
Higg