What is an Operator ?

[kusai]

Pardon my noob questions but google fu is of help just in case. I have heard numerous time about some rifles being "operoators preferred rifle" so who would be defined as an operator ?
Are there any tactical course for such ? apart from army training ?
Thank you

 

[smtimelevi]

In the gun world this refers to person who is trained for use and tactics of shooting in life and death scenarios, cops, military, security, etc, possibly competition. Many times it more commonly refers to gun dorks who think they are.

 

[M. Sage]

Pardon my noob questions but google fu is of help just in case. I have heard numerous time about some rifles being "operoators preferred rifle" so who would be defined as an operator ?
Are there any tactical course for such ? apart from army training ?
Thank you

In that context, it's a commando. Army Special Forces, SFOD-D, MARSOC, SEALs, PJs, etc.

Generally, "operator" means whoever is behind the controls.

 

[wakal]

Keyboard Commando.

Mall Ninja.



Same thing



Alex

 

[M. Sage]

Keyboard Commando.

Mall Ninja.



Same thing



Alex

Yeah, I was just going to point out: "Operators' preferred rifle" and the like are just marketing hype. You ain't overseas slitting throats. What works for those guys isn't necessarily right for you and me.

Heck, just the fact that we have more of a choice over what we get means something.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

<RANT>Operator is a term that is way over-used. Quite frankly, and I'm speaking generally so this isn't directed at anyone, civilians really should stop focusing so much on all this "operator", "tactical" stuff that has flooded the industry. If someone is LE/Mil and it's relevant to their job, hey more power to you. People should be more concerned with what is relevant to them. For most of us, handguns are what is most relevant and what most people are more likely to use if they get thrown into a defensive situation. Carbine training can still be totally relevant, as it is indeed becoming more common for people to turn to AR15's and other carbines for home/property defense. Far too often, I see people looking for high speed carbine classes, looking to take a weekend warrior class so they can "live the dream" for one weekend reenacting what they saw in Magpul videos. It's all a little bit ridiculous. Hell, even actual former "operators", like some of the ones whose classes can be found in the TGT training section, are ultimately all about perfect application of the fundamentals under stress....not some showy, hollywood-looking stuff.</RANT>

 

[M. Sage]

+1, it's all about fundamentals. Travis also knows the guy who told me that they never did anything fancy when he was in Army SF; they were just really good at applying the fundamentals, whether you're talking tactics or shooting skills. There was no secret sauce; it was just that they practiced the basics until they couldn't and wouldn't screw it up.

Relevant to this discussion as it applies to gear: Why I Don’t Care if Military or Police Use Certain Items « Vuurwapen Blog

 

[Stumpy]

 

[TXDARKHORSE361]

View attachment 16189

Legit operator status lmao

 

[kusai]

Absolutely awesome clarification. Yup I would surely love to get my fundamentals right, and I have always believed its all about skills and training and not fancy tools.

 

[M. Sage]

Absolutely awesome clarification. Yup I would surely love to get my fundamentals right, and I have always believed its all about skills and training and not fancy tools.

Exhale, front sight, squeeze, reset, repeat. Much more than that is icing.

 

[Jakashh]

Exhale, front sight, squeeze, reset, repeat. Much more than that is icing.

What are your thoughts on the whole magpul "hold the rifle with your support hand elbow pointing 90 degrees away from the ground" and their "theory based" products? I've always thought that AFG's and the sideways elbow looked stupid, and feel awkward and not natural.

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[M. Sage]

What are your thoughts on the whole magpul "hold the rifle with your support hand elbow pointing 90 degrees away from the ground" and their "theory based" products? I've always thought that AFG's and the sideways elbow looked stupid, and feel awkward and not natural.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2

I throw my support hand forward, elbow up to some degree. Dunno if it's 90 degrees from the ground.

Putting your support hand forward is popular with competition shooters because it works. They weren't teaching anything new with that one. I don't bother with an AFG, but I do like the MOE pistol grip because it's a big "fatter" (front to back) than the A2 grip, and it lacks the annoying nub from same. The MOE hand guards are light and do a very good job of keeping heat off the shooter's hands while cooling the barrel. The MOE hand guards are also a nice shape, in my opinion.

At the very least, moving your support hand forward works with the hand position you're used to using with a pistol. But it goes further than that, since it gives you leverage and helps you drive the rifle. If I didn't think it was valid, I wouldn't be running a full-length floated hand guard on my rifle. In fact, if magazine well grip worked as well, there wouldn't be a reason for hand guards.

Sport aside, my upper body posture and entire stance if I can is going to be the same whether I'm fighting with shotgun, carbine, pistol, knife or empty hand. Sqared off to the target, leading slightly with my support side foot (generally), knees slightly bent, leaning forward at the waist; aggressive in my posture, my mind, and my actions.

 

[txinvestigator]

From my reading, the term "operator" came about in the late '70s as a term for Delta members. I believe it was a derevitive of the word "operative" used by the CIA. It has since morphed into a more generic term.

I also agree with Sig_Fiend, the term is way overused, as are other military terms; especially on the internet.

OPSEC, AO, etc. Use of those outside of the military context just irritates me.

 

[TheRealT-Dawg]

to me, the term "operator" simply means or refers to someone who has some training/handleing background to 'said' gun (carbine, shotgun, pistol, etc.)

at least to me anyways..... also, i feel its a certain model of 1911 the Springfield Armory puts out

 

[cleric]

From my reading, the term "operator" came about in the late '70s as a term for Delta members. I believe it was a derevitive of the word "operative" used by the CIA. It has since morphed into a more generic term.

I also agree with Sig_Fiend, the term is way overused, as are other military terms; especially on the internet.

OPSEC, AO, etc. Use of those outside of the military context just irritates me.

As I understand the term started in deta to distinguish who had been through the training and who was support. From there everyone started using it...

 

[chris211]

In the Army, there is an Operators Training Course. The term applied directly to an individual soldier, would be one that has completed this course. Things have changed in the last twenty something years and the term has become generic.

 

[Younggun]

When I was in the army, operators broke the trucks and we fixed then.


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[chris211]

When I was in the army, operators broke the trucks and we fixed then.


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I have broke more than one 5 ton bridging truck!

 

[kusai]

My assumption after reading on different websites the terms was like "a soldier trained to operate about any given weapon during combat situation with proficiency" more like jack of all trades.