(other than Myspace, got to keep in touch with the ladies :D

That could have come straight out of a comedy.

I just read your post about what you found out about your medical condition and how it affects your chances of getting into the SEALS.  I know you are disappointed, but it looks you are taking it in stride and staying positive.  With that attitude you will make a fine cop and SWAT operator.

 

The first step to become a SWAT member is an obvious one, and that is to first become a cop.  This may not be as easy as it sounds.  When I was applying for cop jobs in the early ninties, there were times when well over a hundred applicants would apply for one or two positions.  Sure, there were quite a few slugs in that group, but probably more than half were qualified, and probably two dozen or more were highly qualified.  Do the math.  It took me a year of applying before I started getting offers.  It was frustrating, but after screwing myself on a couple of interviews I learned the things I needed to do and say to set me apart from the other applicants. 

 

For any teenage police aspirant I would first recommend getting your butt into college after high school.  The agency I work for won't even grant you an interview unless you have sixty hours of college credit, which equates to roughly two years of full time college.  Most police departments do not have this requirement, but usually the only cops you will encounter that have absolutely no college are guys that joined the military right out of high school, and even most of those guys have some college.  You can't become a cop until you're twenty one anyway, so you might as well spend the time before then wisely and get a good education.  Another important and vital factor in getting hired is a clean record.  You could be as smart as a whip and a physical stud, but if you have felony convictions, a bad driving record, or really crappy credit you won't get hired.  Some agencies even have a zero tolerance policy towards drug use.  A single joint in your youth could bar you from employment, and you have a drug arrest on your record you can pretty much forget about it. 

 

Once you become a cop, you will have to work the road for probably no less than two years before you will be eligible to try out for the SWAT team.  Depending upon the agency, it may take longer than that because they may only have SWAT tryouts when they have an opening.  Most SWAT teams have pretty low turnover, and once guys get onto a SWAT team they tend to stay on for a long time.  My SWAT team was formed seven years ago, and out of the ten of us currently serving on the team, five have been members since the team was started. It is not uncommon on SWAT teams to encounter guys in their forties and fifties with up to twenty years or more of SWAT experience. 

 

There is almost always some sort of a physical test to get on a SWAT team.  Lard @$$es usually need not apply.  The tests are usually the same for male and female officers, so a female SWAT candidate had better be in excellent shape, as should most of the males.  The test will usually consist of some sort of an obstacle course with some SWAT specific tasks, such as climbing a ladder and/or a fence, a dummy drag, low crawling, etc.  Most physical tests are timed.  If an agency has tryouts every year or so at a particular date you may be able to have a couple of months to get in shape, but some agencies have tryouts only when a position opens up, which may happen on very short notice.  You may have only a matter of weeks' notice before the physical test, so it is important to stay in pretty good shape all of the time. 

 

A SWAT candidate's physical conditioning is vital, but I've known more than a few PT studs that have no business whatsoever being on a police SWAT team.  It is important that you are seen as a go getter that can make quick decisions and think on your feet.  It is also vital that you are perceived as a team player.  I've seen a number of SWAT candidates that didn't make the team because they didn't play well with others.   

 

BTW:  I know what you mean about having a hard time finding books on SWAT selection and tactics.  I found that out myself the hard way.  I had to get most of my information on tactics and forming a selection process by talking face to face with other cops. 

 

 

Myspace?!........................oh lad you dissappoint me, the only SEAL I kow who uses myspace is an uberfake........tut tut.

Would this be the Piece of sh*t who was kicked out of the Teams (now with a PMC) and has claimed numerous times to have 10 years or so experience in the Teams...and also stole the fu(king statue in front of a SEAL base in Iraq? I don't want to say his name here, but I've heard stories about this sh*t head.

 

I don't mention anything about being a SEAL/military/police on myspace, I just use it to talk to friends and get dates (actually had a blind date scheduled tomorrow my friend set me up on, but I said screw that, I'm going hiking).

OK, looking back on this, I came across very unprofessional here. I personally don't know the guy, but have talked to people who do...so I can't say for a fact that the guy I'm referring to is a piece of crap or not.. Basically, most SEALs don't have a high opinion of him.

 

Anyway mough, does the guy you know go by "Mookie"? Sorry if this is wrong of me to ask, I just find it coincidental that you mention the only SEAL you know on myspace being a fake, and the only SEAL I know on myspace being a fake. Also, I know it goes against some SOF etho's to badmouth other SOF dudes, so if you don't respond I understand.

MySpace is the emo's equivalent to Valhalla. I'm disappointed with you GOP lol.