SWAT Team Training

 Special Weapons & Tactics | SWAT

Special Weapons and Tactics teams (SWAT) are special operations units in civilian law enforcement agencies such as County Police Departments, Sheriff Departments, US Marshall service, the FBI etc. The SWAT team of a given agency may be called the Special Response Team, Emergency Response Team, Emergency Services Unit, Tactical Response Team among others.

SWAT Teams - Role & Training

The exact duties differ depending on the agency and jurisdiction involved although all SWAT units can be characterized as being roled with carrying out high risk operations that would normally be outside of the regular law agency's capabilities.

• active shooters
  (dealing with shooting sprees)
• dealing with barricaded suspects
• hostage rescue scenarios
• counter terrorism scenarios
• protection of VIPs
• high-risk arrests and searches
• riot control

Civilian SWAT units are analogous in role and tactics to military policetactical teams such as the USMC Special Reaction Team and Air Force Emergency Services Team.
SWAT officers undergo a number of training courses which may include close quarters combat (CQC), explosive entry, sniping, dog handling, negotation techniques and rapelling / fast roping.

SWAT Team - Organization

Size and composition of a SWAT team varies. SWAT teams are typically formed by Law Enforcement Officers serving regular duties who are also on call for SWAT tasking. Many SWAT teams deploy 2 distinct elements on an operation - an entry team tasked with entering and clearing an objective and a sniper / oberserver team that provides overwatch.

SWAT Team - Weapons & Equipment

SWAT team weapons vary from unit to unit. Entry Teams are typically armed with:

• assault rifle carbines
  AR-15 variants like the M4a1, CQBR, Colt Commando
  Sig Sauger 551 / 552
  HK G36K / G36C
  
  
• sub machine guns
  9mm HK MP5
  10mm MP510
  .40 / .45 HK UMP
  5.7mm FN P90
  
  
• semi-automatic pistols
  Glock and Sig Sauer 9mm and.40 S&W pistols are common, as are
  H&K USPs and
  Beretta 92F 9mm
  Colt 1911 .45acp pistols.

SWAT weapons are often fitted with tactical accessories such as flash lights, laser pointers, foregrips and various optics.
Tactical gear carried by SWAT teams includes flashbang stun grenades, battering rams, haligan tools, ballistic shields, tactical radios and flexi-cuffs. Clothing includes body armor, protective helmets and eye wear, assault webbing for holding magazines, knee pads, gloves and rappeling harnesses.

FBI SWAT Team enters and clears a building during training. more info: FBI SWAT teams

U.S. DoD photo