Special weapons tactical training, known as SWAT, provides direct operational experience for officers on the SWAT team. Real-world SWAT training exercises provide officers experience in how to successfully handle crisis situations. SWAT training exercises not only focus on the physical training, but also on the assessing the tactical situation, how to achieve command objectives with minimal stress and how to create a combat mindset for maximum performance in actual emergency situations.
Combat Mindset
SWAT team members must be able to work as a unified group under pressure situations. The SWAT Combat Mindset course taught at the US National SWAT Championships provides mental awareness training that prepares an officer for the transition into a SWAT officer on a SWAT call. The course looks at how elite military teams prepare and respond to sustained combat operations. This helps the police officer learn how to make the transition when a SWAT crises call comes into the station. Teams assess how they react in a quick response situation that can become a life and death struggle.
Shield Tactics and Employment
SWAT officers often use tactical shields in riot situations as well as a variety of other combat situations. The Shield Tactics and Employment training exercises teach officers how to use the shield effectively, use of the shield with weapons, both handgun and subgun/carbine, left or right shooting, reloading while holding the shield and movement drills. Engagement techniques are taught and various engagement techniques are evaluated for their efficiency.
Advanced Sniper Class
Advanced Sniper Class is for officers assigned as snipers. The class involves tactical weapons employment, quick movement through unfamiliar terrain, precision long gun training, how to choose a field location and engagement of targets at unspecified distances. This is an eight-hour precision shooting class that requires 200 rounds of ammunition, individual shooting support equipment, field durable gear, eye and ear protection.
Hostage Rescue Operations
The Hostage Rescue Operations is a five-day course provided by Operational Tactics, Inc. The focus is on preparing SWAT team members for situations they might encounter in a hostage rescue situation. Dynamic and stealth methods of entry are examined and evaluated for their effectiveness. Other training elements include vehicle take-downs, covered pile situations, firearms training and liability concerns. Officers practice team-building exercises and learn the importance of mental and physical readiness.
Tactical Negotiations
Tactical Negotiations is a three-day course designed to teach officers how to use psychological profiling techniques and negotiating skills. Tactical commanders and their SWAT teams train together, which allows the commander to get a better understanding of the tactical negotiator’s role. The focus is on coordinating as a team in multi-lingual and cross-cultural concerns. The SWAT team learns how to handle various crisis situations including suicide by a cop, domestic and workplace violence, hostage rescue and terrorist operations. All exercises involve hands on exercises to enable the officers to practice their negotiation skills.
Sources:
Operational Tactics: SWAT Training (accessed February 20, 2011)
US National SWAT Championships (accessed February 20, 2011)
National Tactical Officers Association: Job Specific Fitness Testing For SWAT Teams (accessed February 20, 2011)
Caroline Thompson - Caroline Thompson has been a professional photojournalist since 1999. She combines writing and photography in her stories. ...
