OPERATOR DRILL
A lethal training tool for LE, MILITARY and Badass civilians.
I created this challenge based on my training in a SMU. It's my way of giving back to the shooting community and I hope it can be of use in Law Enforcement, Military or prepared civilians in their training and to save lives by ending others. Be advised that the Operator Drill isn't about shooting paper for a nice hit factor or cool B8 bullseyes, it's about ending human life. This is a great responsibility and should be taken seriously.
The science is simple, when in contact with a target, you have to shoot fast to an area that you CAN hit, regardless of the conditions. But what's better than that, is to set the conditions for success from the first shoot.
Unlike the movies, the head moves quite a lot especially if the target is not stationary. In the interweb everyone double taps a paper target in the head, but in reality, what if you miss and hit an innocent bystander?
And at what distance/speed do your wheels fall off and shots are not 100% accountable anymore?
A Professional doesn't spray bullets. Every shoot needs to be accounted for or you can, and should end up in jail.
For that reason, the focus is beyond just the center mass. Operators improve on that by aiming not only at the center, but at the THORACIC VERTEBRE. If not armored and depending on the caliber, the target's threat can cease immediately as the round will sever the spine. If armored, the sheer force of the shot will stop the target for a split second allowing the Operator to shoot the second shot at the CERVICAL VERTEBRAE. If the round hits here, in the least the target will become tetraplegic, unable to move and press the trigger but most probably will die on the spot. Finally the Operator shoots the CRANIAL CAVITY inducing FLACCID PARALYSIS deactivating and terminating the target permanently. Basically this drill sets the Operator for success with a predictable and repeatable course of fire, minimizing collateral damage and saving ammo. The shooter needs to regard the three shots as a map to the goal. The first shoot sets the stage for second, and the second sets the third. For this reason, the first shoot NEEDS to be on point otherwise you don’t follow the map and will get lost. THE MAP READS: SPINE, SPINE, FACE.
If the Operator drill is Mastered, in a real situation the training takes over and the shooter will search for the map automatically, find it and shoot. Ex, the shooter will look for buttons on a shirt/drawing in a T-shirt, then the exposed neck (the skin makes easy to distinguish from clothing), and then the face.
Shot the map and its done, on to the next threat.
Caution: when firing to a target on its side, the shooter needs to consider other variables like arm position.
If this drill is properly executed, the shooter will witness the threat fall like a stone, stiff and part of the past.
"but isn't this like a body, body, head?"
No it is not. The fail to stop drill won't do much if the target has body armor and the third shot hits somewhere in the head (not the cranial cavity). Even if you explode the heart and lungs with a .308/7.62mm NATO round, as long as the brain has blood (which carries oxygen) the target will still be able to shoot. Those 10-20s will look like a life time if the threat is shooting at you and you thought you did the job.
"this drill is slow, I'm much faster than that. I can do a bill drill and end the threat!"
No, you will shoot six shots in the same place producing the same result and the threat will still be able to shoot some rounds before it dies, meaning you will probably get shot too. Remember, in a fight for life or death, both shooter and target will be full of adrenaline and maybe even drugs. With the Operator drill the fight can end in the first shot as the shooter favors placement over sheer speed. If the shooter sees the target falling stiff there's no need to keep shooting saving ammo and getting the shooter ready for the next target.
Also the Operator drill first shot is usually bellow 1s. Try to do a bill drill bellow 1s, good luck.
Is the Operator drill the best thing ever?
No, the more distance you have from the target, the harder it gets and the longer you need to "draw the map".
I wouldn't use it for more than 25/30m. Shooters with LPVO Rifles will have it easier.
Ultimately, it's called the Operator drill, but could also be called the terminator or deactivator drill as this is the best way to effectively deactivate a human. For this reason this Challenge is shoot always the same way.
Three shots, in those three areas (center mass, neck and face as if in a line) again, again and again.
Use it with caution as once shot, there's no need to call an ambulance but instead the coroner.
Unlike most drills that teach precision, speed, both, etc, the Operator drills have just one goal, to end human life as efficiently and as fast as possible with the least amount of rounds. With that said, this drill is a lethal training tool and should only be used by more advanced and older shooters. A conscientious instructor shouldn't use it in a beginners class as this drill is designed to kill. It is it's only purpose. I dont even think Mastering this drill will make you a better shooter by itself as it's not super-fast or ultra precise (sniper), it's just the best way to defeat a close threat predictably and every time with the least collateral damage.
VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS
THE DRILL
Set 3 targets, 1 meter/1.09 yards apart from each other. From left to right, target on the left (first target) is T1. Middle or second target is T2. Target on the right/third target is T3.
For clarification, you need to shoot one shot in the BOTTOM VERTICAL RECTANGLE, one shot in the TOP VERTICAL RECTANGLE and one shot in the DELTA/TRIANGLE.
Using the same targets as the Operator Challenge, the time standards are more lenient.
Using the following calculation the shooter can do whatever combination of drills he wants:
Pistol - always 3s per target regardless of the distance. Reloads included.
Rifle - always 2.5s per target regardless of the distance. Reloads with Rifle add 1s.
Example of the time limit:
Pistol - 2 targets 6s
Pistol - 2 targets with one reload in between 6s
Rifle - 2 targets 5s
Rifle - 2 targets with one reload in between 6s
FULL OPERATOR DRILL:
PISTOL
SET 1: Engage T1 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
3 METERS/3.3 YARDS in 3s
SET 2: Engage T1 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot, CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, one shot CRANIAL CAVITY, slide lock reload and engage T2 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot, CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
5 METERS/5.5 YARDS in 6s
SET 3: Facing away from target, 180° turn and engage T1, T2 and T3 with one shot in THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
7 METERS/7.7 YARDS in 9s
RIFLE
SET 4: Engage T1 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
10 METERS/11 YARDS in 2.5s
SET 5: Engage T1 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, one shot CRANIAL CAVITY, slide lock reload and engage T2 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
12.5METERS/13.7 YARDS in 6s
SET 6: Facing away from target, 180° Turn and engage T1, T2 and T3 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot, CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
15 METERS/16.4 YARDS in 7.5s
HYBRID
SET 7: Using the Rifle engage T2 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE, one shot CRANIAL CAVITY, transition to pistol, go to kneeling position and engage T3 with one shot THORACIC VERTEBRE, one shot CERVICAL VERTEBRAE and one shot CRANIAL CAVITY.
10 METERS/11 YARDS in 5.5s
1 MISS = FAIL. OVERTIME = FAIL / NO JOKERS, NO SECOND CHANCES, NO MAKEUPS, NO MULLIGANS
If the shooter can do this drill in the conditions above, go for the OPERATOR CHALLENGE!
EQUIPMENT & RULES
EQUIPMENT: Rifle, Pistol.
RULES: Line breaks must be definitive, meaning the actual bullet must have clearly passed through a portion of the scoring zone. No grease rings, or close calls. These are pass or fail drills. Any shot that is missing the scoring area designates the run as a failure. This means that no additional rounds can be fired to make up any missed rounds. The Drill can be run with any pistol (minimum of 9mm or greater caliber) and belt setup (concealment, open class, duty rig). Hands don't touch pistol for draw. Rifle also minimum of 9mm or greater caliber.
TARGETS
Shooter MUST use target bellow and it MUST be printed in A4 or Letter format.
