About Strategic Operations, Inc.

Since 2002, Strategic Operations, Inc. (STOPS) has been providing training services and products for the military, law enforcement, first responders, and other organizations responsible for Homeland Security. STOPS is committed to excellence through state-of-the-art live action training support – employing “Hollywood” style special effects, role players, props of all kinds, 3D targets, the re-locatable habitat unit (RHU), and the conversion of shipping containers to create immersive training environments that are the most unique in the industry.

STOPS calls this type of immersion training - Hyper-Realistic® and defines it as “such a high degree of fidelity in the replication of specific conditions in a training environment that participants so willingly suspend disbelief that they become totally immersed and eventually stress inoculated” - all their senses tell them, emotionally and intellectually, that the scenarios are real. It is the ultimate in Theater Immersion Training.

STOPS continues to introduce innovative solutions to overcome the challenges of limited budgets. We are adept at creating real-life training situations/environments or providing safe, sound, and reliable housing for disaster response.

Summary

There are many types of roles to be played in live action training. As such, there are multiple categories of role players required: generic, foreign language speaking, opposing force (bad guy), and casualty (to include Cut Suit and Amputee). Normal shifts are generally between eight (8) and twelve (12) hours (day and/or night). Individuals must be comfortable and willing to be “handled” and “touched” by Special Effects Make-up Artists (applying wounds) and members of the Training Audience (rendering aid or detaining).

Role players should be accustomed to working in adverse and austere conditions. Role players have supported training exercises in the desert during the summer months and the mountains in the winter months. Individuals should be professionals that pride themselves in doing what is necessary to ensure the Training Audience is as prepared as possible for any contingency during a traumatic event or an operational deployment.

Foreign Language Speaking (FLS) – A key component to Hyper-Realistic® training is the incorporation of language skills, customs, and culture into the training scenarios. FLS role players incorporate a dynamic, interactive cultural awareness component to the urban training exercise. Often, FLS role players are called upon to play the role of an Interpreter.

Opposing Force (OpFor) – On many occasions the Training Audience requires an OpFor to be integrated into the scenario to be able to stress participants and practice the standard operating procedures of the unit. Individuals playing the role of OpFor (bad guy/girl) must be familiar and proficient with weapons (rifles, handguns, knives, etc.) and tactically savvy. Weapons may fire blank rounds or simulation (less than lethal) rounds.

Casualty – STOPS pioneered the integration of casualty role players into military training. Using Special Effects Make-Up Artists and an in-house, cutting-edge production facility; STOPS has the organic capability to produce a multitude of wound effects that can be applied to a casualty role player.

Job Duties

Specific duties will take place at the STOPS Tactical Training Laboratory in San Diego, CA, but on occasion travel to a client’s location (throughout the United States and possibly Internationally) will be required. Individuals must be able to follow the direction of the STOPS Project Manager during training scenarios - geared towards the accomplishment of the Training Audience’s mission - military, law enforcement, and 1st responder/medical provider personnel.

The role player will be able to assume the role assigned by the Project Manager.
The role player may be in the vicinity of Special Effects Pyrotechnics – IEDs, RPGs, IDF
The role player may be in the vicinity of blank firing and marking round firing weapons.
The FLS role player will be able to play the following roles: Village Elder, Villager, Merchant, Religious Leader, Tribal Leader, Government Official, Interpreter, Criminal, Casualty.
The OpFor role player will utilize a weapon (rifle, handgun, knife) and may be subject to receiving fire (blank and/or simulated rounds) and being detained.
The role player may be required to be interview/interrogated.
The casualty role player will be proficient in acting out the type of wound assigned.
The role player may at any time switch from one role to another.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge and experience of specific role.
Ability to act out specific roles.
Ability to work under stressful conditions – weapons, explosions, smoke, faux blood.
Must be able to tolerate tight spaces, the dark, and all-weather conditions.
Ability to stand, sit, lay in position for significant periods of time.
Ability to walk, jog, run up to a kilometer at a time.
Ability to lift 20 pounds.
Must enjoy working with people and understand the importance of this position.

Qualifications

The ability to, read, write, and speak English is required.
Specific role player qualifications are dependent on the required role.
If the customer requests a specific culture/language – the individual will need to be able to read, write, and speak the required language and be familiar with the specific culture.
Prior role-playing experience with military, law enforcement, and first responders/medical providers is preferred, but not necessary.

The pay range for this role is:

18 - 19 USD per hour(San Diego)

Strategic Operations, Inc.

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