SWAT Team Training, Becoming a SWAT Team Member

By Barron Nel


SWAT was first established by the Los Angeles Police Department in the late 60's to deal with extremely dangerous and often life threatening situations. While other police departments use their own acronyms for their special teams, the requirements for joining the SWAT team are pretty much the same through each of these departments. Here's what it takes to join SWAT.

You will need to have some experience as a police officer. How much experience? Well most police departments require officers to have at least 12 months of general experience as a law enforcement officer before being allowed to even apply for SWAT. Some even require a minimum of 24 months experience.

1) This requirement assures that officers are grounded in police procedure and also recognizes that when not called upon to perform their SWAT duties, officers are performing the same duties as other police officers.

2) Healthy and fit. Although all police officers must pass a physical, SWAT team members need to be in better shape than other police officers because of the rigors of their duties. Taking part in a tactical workout program of the kind used by special forces in the military (e.g. Navy SEALs) would be a suitable way to train for joining SWAT.

3) Be an exemplary officer during your time on the force.

4) Apply to join SWAT. The application process involves a written test to determine knowledge of police procedures, physical tests to determine strength, endurance and visual acuity, and an oral interview to determine mental fitness to be a member of SWAT.

5) Special Weapons and Tactics Training. All SWAT members are trained in marksmanship and the ability to handle weapons. Training may include explosives such as flash grenades and bean bags, crowd control and non-lethal weapons such as tasers, defensive tactics against snipers and terrorists, negotiation skills and first aid.

Many police departments are now giving forms of SWAT training to all police officers as a result of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 to enable them to act more quickly in situations where lives are at risk.




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