OPERATOR READINESS TEST - ORT
Description:
The Operator Readiness Test was designed and developed by Jason Falla, Special Operations Combat Veteran and Director of Training at Redback One. The ORT was developed as a benchmark assessment used to grade participants in their ability to apply the techniques and procedures of close quarters combat shooting. The ORT is an assessment that contains ten assessable combat shooting competencies which are drawn from the Redback One Combat Shooting System and integrated into a single realistic drill to best simulate a close quarters engagement. Participants must be trained in each of the ten competencies in order to be deemed safe and develop proficiency prior to undertaking the ORT assessment.
The ORT is not to be used as a training drill or shot repeatedly in order to gain a better result. The ORT is to be used as an enabling assessment or terminal assessment in close quarters combat shooting and participants are to receive the initial test followed by one retest if required. If a retest is required, the participant is to be given a revision period in order to work on areas of deficiency prior to retaking the test. Once the assessment has been completed the participants time is to be recorded and target scored for an official result. If a participant is to be retested, the best score is to be used as the final result.
Assessment Criteria:
The ORT assessment is designed to assess the shooter in three separate areas of combat marksmanship:
1. Engagement Speed (All rounds must be fired under 20-seconds).
2. Surgical Accuracy (100% accuracy is to be maintained).
3. Weapons Handling (Weapons handling and safety must be IAW RB1 Range Safety Policy.
Time Limit:
The ORT has a twenty-second time limit in order to complete the assessment. The twenty-second time limit has been determined as the baseline standard for qualified operators to achieve a successful result without prior training. For qualified operators, the ORT is to be attempted cold and on demand. For students taking initial training, the ORT can be taken at the completion of the days training evolutions.
Weapons Handling and Safety:
In order to achieve a successful result on the ORT, the participant is to ensure that all weapons handling performed during the assessment is maintained IAW the Redback One Combat Shooting System. All participants are to ensure that weapons safety is maintained throughout the assessment IAW the Redback One Range Safety and Safety Violation Policy.
Distance:
The ORT is to be fired from a distance of 7-yards from the target.
Accuracy and Scoring:
In order to receive a successful result on the ORT, users are to maintain 100% accuracy with all 24 rounds placed inside the scoring areas of an authorized target.
Equipment Requirements:
In order to record a validation in this assessment, users must comply with the equipment standards and constraints outlined in these guidelines. The ORT must be completed wearing the following minimum equipment:
• Body Armor,
• Ballistic Helmet,
• Shooting Gloves,
• Retention Holster,
• Carbine pouches must have retention, and
• Pistol pouches can be open top
Specialist equipment:
Any specialist equipment such as Low Visibility Equipment, Night Fighting Equipment or CBRN is to be incorporated into the ORT per job description and completed within the same time frame.
Magazine Load Out:
Once you have your equipment set up correctly you can load up your magazines for the assessment. You will require the following ammunition load out:
• 1 Pistol Magazine of 10 rounds (loaded first)
• 1 Carbine Magazine of 10 rounds (loaded first)
• Two full spare pistol magazines on the belt.
• Three full carbine magazines on the armor.
Authorized Targets:
The following three targets are authorized for use for the assessment.
• The RB1 Skeleton Target,
• The RB1 Zero Target, or
• The RB1 Standards Target.
Weapon Restrictions:
The ORT has been designed to be completed using standard military weapons. The following weapon enhancements are not permitted when validating on the ORT.
• Muzzle compensators or muzzle breaks that assist in recoil control.
• Bad Levers or similar devices
• Triggers must be Mil-Standard or have an NSN and authorized for service.
• Ported pistol barrels or pistol compensators that assist in recoil control
Ammunition:
Ammunition used during the assessment must meet factory requirements, no reloaded ammunition; competition loads or other hand-loaded ammunition are allowed. The following minimum ammunition standards apply:
• Minimum requirements for pistol: 124gr Ball 9mm Ammunition or M882 9mm.
• Minimum requirements for rifle: 55gr Ball 5.56mm or M855 5.56mm.
Night Firing the ORT:
The ORT can be fired at night using white light or using NVG’s and IR Lasers. When conducting the ORT at night, the following standards apply:
• Head target remains the same.
• Body target increases to an 8” circle.
• Time limit remains the same.
• Distance remains the same.
In order to record a result in the ORT at night, the assessment must be conducted on an indoor range with no direct lighting or on an outdoor range on or after Nautical Twilight.
Nautical Twilight:
Nautical twilight is the time when the center of the sun is between 6° and 12° below the horizon. At the beginning or end of nautical twilight, under good atmospheric conditions, vague outlines of ground objects may be distinguishable, but details are not likely.
Ready Positions:
The high ready position is to be used to begin the assessment. The high ready is detailed so that the barrel of the weapon is at a 45-degree angle and master hand on the pistol grip touching the body armor. Alternatively, the low ready can be used to start the drill and the low ready is detailed with master hand pistol grip touching the body with the barrel angled down at 45-degrees.
Conduct:
While wearing full assault order and with a 10-round magazine loaded on the pistol and the carbine and standing at the 7-yard line and facing up range, the firer upon hearing the signal to commence firing is to complete a 180-degree turn and present the primary weapon. The firer is to engage the head target (or the top 6” circle if using the zero target or standards target) and fire all ten rounds from the initial magazine until incurring a natural empty magazine stoppage. The firer will then apply safe to the rifle and change over to pistol. The firer will then fire all ten rounds from the initial magazine to the aiming mark on the body (or the lower 6” circle if using the zero target or standards target) until incurring a natural empty magazine stoppage. The firer will then perform a combat reload of the pistol and fire two more rounds to the body (lower) target. The firer will then holster the pistol, reload the carbine and fire two final rounds at the head (top) target to complete the course of fire. The firer is to complete the post engagement scan and assess at the completion of the assessment.
Conclusion:
The ORT is a great validation of individual combat shooting skills and is an excellent way to assess students, officers, military personnel in baseline standards of weapons handling, speed and accuracy. Once you have successfully completed the ORT the time limit can be lowered in order to increase the level of difficulty or the distance can be increased to achieve a more challenging test or the target can be modified in order to increase difficulty. Go out and give it a try! Be safe and have fun.
