GOP,

 

I started our part-time SWAT team a little over seven years ago, so I'll try to answer your questions one by one. 

 

1) What kind of selection process would I undergo after I apply for SWAT (I believe I have to be a cop for around 4 years)? How long do they usually last? What is the wash-out rate?   The number of years of service required varies from department to department.  Some require as many as four or five years while others (such as mine) require only two years of experience on the road before you are eligible to try out for SWAT.  A young officer with only two years on the job might make it on the team, but he (or she) had better be a stud and at the top of their game.  For obvious reasons most SWAT teams prefer experienced officers.  The selection process also varies.  Some departments have very extensive processes that combine a variety of physical and mental exercises that could last for days, while some select members based upon which officers happen to be in the good graces of police administration.  Fortunately most departments require some sort of physical test and at least an oral board review.  The wash-out rate depends upon the size of the department.  On a large department you may have dozens of officers trying out for one or two openings.  Obviously this means only the best candidates will make the final cut.  Smaller teams will have fewer officers try out for an opening (we currently have one opening on my team, and only three guys are putting in for it), but the process is still very competitive.  Most SWAT officers tend to stay in SWAT for a long time, and openings may be few and far between, so you'd better be in good shape in case there is a sudden opening and you don't have time to prepare.

2) What are the typical Fitness tests that have to be passed to gain entrance?   Again, it varies.  Most teams will have some sort of a physical fitness test.  Ours is timed and set up around a quarter mile track and includes climbing railings, climbing stairs, dragging a dummy, holding a shotgun for a set period of time, lowcrawling, crawling through a window, running on a balance beam, climbing up and down a ladder, going over a fence, crawling through a pipe, and running to the finish line.  Some teams' tests are much harder, some require only push ups, sit ups, and a run.  The physical fitness tests on big departments and federal agencies would give many military SOF aspirants a hard time. 

3) What is a typical day for a SWAT unit?   The vast majority of SWAT teams in the country are part-time, so the typical day of most SWAT officers is to work as a regular patrol officer or detective.  They respond to call ups as they arise.  On full time teams most SWAT officers work special details or assignments, such as patrolling high crime areas or acting in a support role for investigative units.  They usually dedicate a lot of time to training, and in many cases the first hour or so of their work day is dedicated to working out and staying in shape.  They will respond to call outs during their shift, and on big departments will rotate which teams will be on call.  It's been my experience that big city narcotics tactical teams (such as Kansas City's Street Narcotics Unit Tactical Team) get a lot of action because they are serving search warrants almost daily.  Those teams tend to focus primarily on search warrants and do not usually perform other tactical operations, such as barricaded parties.  Most smaller departments cannot afford to specialize.  My unit has to train for almost all contingencies. 

4) What kind of training does a SWAT unit undergo on a regular basis?  Of course firearms training is a vital part of SWAT training, but most firearms training involves training to shoot while moving and getting rounds on the target quickly and transition drills.  You also have to learn to shoot with people shooting right next to you.  Most regular never do this on the range for safety reasons.  Firearms training is only a small part of a SWAT team's training.  Most of time SWAT teams train on the tasks they will perform the most.  Most of the call outs I have been on have been high risk search warrants, so that's what my team spends most of its training time on.  That involves hitting a building dozens of times until it becomes automatic.  You change up the scenarios to deal with different contingencies.  We also spend time training on perimeter operations and/or barricaded parties.  Other scenarios might include tracking fugitives, high risk surveillance, and "buy/bust" operations.  Snipers do their own thing, so th

Hang tough, kid.  And as others have said don't assume you can't....have them tell you that first.  And there are tons of other avenues where you can serve.  Ever thought of fire fighting?  Smoke Jumping? 

Hey, there is always the Legion!

 

>>I could lie to the MEPS doctors, but it's not worth it...<<

 

If you get caught you'll get a medical discharge.  That's not "honorable" or "dishonorable" it's just medical.  Despite the grief they claim will occur, I've never known anyone to find themselves in jail for trying to get into the military with some curious medical history.  I'm with the guys who've already said put the burden on them to tell you no, don't quit before you even start.

Mough,

 

good advice. I am going to continue to try to get in the military, but probably not in the Navy. The reason being that I'm not much of a swimmer, and I don't have the time/ability to swim without overdoing it (I have a huge workload right now, with all of the calisthenics/weight training/running/MMA). I have just kind of gotten unmotivated with the idea of being a SEAL, so I am just going to keep my options open. There are so many options out there, and I shouldn't be tied down to one yet. I still hav to finish high school and go to College, so I have plenty of time to decide where I am going to serve. Also, no offense mean't at all, but I am absolutely not giving up. I have never given up, and never will...I am just honest with myself and refocus my goals accordingly.