Learn How to Become a SWAT Team Member

Learn How to Become a SWAT Team MemberLearn How to Become a SWAT Team MemberTheres a lot of mystery and mystique surrounding SWATgruppes around the world. These highly trained, elite law enforcement specialty units have at their disposal a host of tools and tactics to make them ready for the most dangerous and volatile of situations that may requirepolice action. You might evencall them the Navy SEALS of policing, which is why any police officer who is honest with themselves will likely admit that theyve had dreams of making the gruppe at some point in their career. So just how do you become a SWAT team member? Minimum Requirements For SWAT First thingsfirst, before you can make it to SWAT, you need to make it as a police officer.Most SWAT team members, with the exception of a few medics or other non-law enforcement functions, are cops first, so you need to make sure you meet the minimum qualifications for a police officer. To be considered for a job as a police officer, you mus t, at a minimum Be a U.S. citizenBe at least 19 years old (minimum age will vary from state to state)Hold a valid driver licenseHave a high school diploma or G.E.D. (some agencies may require an associates or bachelors degree)Have either prior military service, other law enforcement or public contact work experience If you meet the minimums, youll undergo an extensive background investigation process, and youll need to completepolice academy training. Once youve gotten hired as a police officer, youll typically need to serve for at least two years and perhaps longer before you are eligible for any specialty units, including SWAT team positions. If youve got the requisiteur experience, youll be eligible to try out when a position becomes vacant. SWAT team try-outs are intense and will require everything youve got, both physically and mentally. Physical Fitness Perhaps the biggest challenges for aspiring SWAT team members are the physical requirements. SWAT officers have to be in the absolute top physical condition in order to perform the many functions they may be called to handle. For that reason, SWAT team physical assessments measure the strength and endurance of potential new members. Specific physical requirements will likely vary among departments, but a good gauge to see if youre close to where you need to be is the FBIs Tactical Hostage Rescue Team physical requirements. Candidates for the FBIs HRT must, at a minimum, be able to Perform 12 pull-upsComplete 60 sit-ups in 2 minutesPerform 50 push-upsRun 2 miles in under 1459Climb 8 flights of stairs, wearing a 50-lb vest and carrying a 35-lb ram, in 60 secondsSwim 200 meters in 7 minutes. Keep in mind that these are only the minimum physical requirements to be considered for the team, and this is just one agency. Different agencies may have slightly different requirements, but the fact remains that you will need to get in shape and stay in shape to make it in SWAT. Additional Requirements Most of the emphasis for SWAT team tryouts and selection is placed upon physical fitness, but there are other considerations, as well. SWAT members must be an expert marksman, able to think quickly on their feet, take and give orders,communicate effectively with others, have a strong sense of teamwork, and be mentally tough. In many cases, an officers priorwork history and performancewith the department will be taken intoconsideration when choosing SWAT members. Becoming a SWAT Team Member SWAT team members are considered to be elite within the ranks of law enforcement agencies. These units are highly cohesive teams in which every member plays a vital role in advancing the mission of the group. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication, determination, and hard work, but if you have a strong sense of team and self-sacrificeand you think you can muster the mental and physical strength needed to make it on the SWAT team, then you may just find it to be the perfect criminology career for y ou.