SWAT Full Form

The  SWAT team full form is Special Weapons And Tactics. In the United States, a SWAT team is a general term used for a police force that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although it was created to manage riot control or intense clashes with criminals, the number and usage of SWAT teams increased in the 1980s and 1990s during the war on drugs and later in the consequence of the September 11 attacks. 

SWAT units are often furnished with automatic and specialized firearms including assault rifles, riot shotguns, sniper rifles, riot guns, riot control agents, smoke, flashbang,  submachine guns. Although they may use specialized equipment including suit/ coat of armor, entry tools, ballistic shields, armored vehicles, night vision devices, and motion detectors for determining the position of hostage or hostage takers, inside confined structures. 

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What is SWAT?

SWAT Full form, Special Weapons, And Tactics. The SWAT team is highly trained and provides 24/7 response to:

• Active Shooting Scenes.

• Barricade Persons.

• High-Risk Search Warrants..

• Terrorism Threats.

• Snipper Incidents.

• Crowd control during extensive disturbance or riots.

SWAT also supports other units and agencies. The SWAT is shouted out to support.

• SPD’s Hostage Negotiation Team.

• Investigation or patrol on high-risk situations.

• Security and protection for visiting VIPs and heads of the state.

• Regular law enforcement agencies that do have SWAT-trained officers on work.

What is the Full Form of SWAT?

Special Weapons And Tactics is the full form of SWAT.

SWAT Definition

The United States National Tactical officers Association SWAT definition is defined as:

SWAT : A designated police officer whose members are trained, recruited, equipped, selected, and assigned to resolve complicated incidents including a threat to public safety which would otherwise exceed the competence of traditional law enforcement aid providers and/or investigative units.

A Brief History of SWAT

SWAT full form Special Weapons And Tactics, established in 1964 as a 100 man specialized unit by Philadelphia Police Departments in response to an alarming increase in bank robberies. This unit aimed to react quickly and decisively to bank robberies while they were in progress, by making use of a large number of specialized trained officers who had a huge amount of firepower at their disposal. The strategy worked and soon started resolving other types of incidents including heavily armed criminals. 

Los Angele Police Department (LAPD) inspector Daryl Gates has stated that he first visualized “ SWAT” as a short form of “Special Weapons And Tactics” in 1967 but later accepted “ Special Weapons and Tactics” on the instruction of his deputy chief, Edward M.Davis.

SWAT Equipment

SWAT teams use equipment designed for different specialized situations including close-quarter combats in urban environments. The specific pieces of equipment may vary from unit to unit, but there are some persistent trends in what they wear and use. Much of these equipment are identical to that delivered by the military.

SWAT Weapons

Although a wide range of weapons is used by SWAT team members, the most common weapon includes carbines, submarine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and shotguns.

SWAT Training

The SWAT Team uses specialized equipment and technology during critical situations to help with achieving the objectives of a specific mission. The SWAT team continuously trains throughout the year to maintain the skills necessary to maximize the possibilities of a peaceful resolution in emergencies. SWAT Training also helps ensure the safety of the community, the officers, and the offender(s). Training objectives are designed to evaluate and examine the ability of a SWAT team to mentally and physically perform during stressful and/or dangerous situations. 

SWAT Clothing

SWAT team members wear similar battle dress uniforms to the diplomatic uniform worn by the military. Many police departments have deviated from the original standard black or blue uniform, and SWAT uniform now includes plain military green and camouflage patterns.

Originally the SWAT units were furnished with fiberglass motorcycle helmets or WW-II surplus steel helmets. Whereas, modern SWAT units generally use the standard US Military helmet. 

SWAT Minimum Requirements

The first important thing before you can make it into SWAT is that you need to become a police officer. Most SWAT team officers, excluding a few medics or other non-law enforcements, are police officers first. To apply for a job as a police officer, you must, at a minimum:

• Be a U.S.Citizen first.

• Be at least 19 years old ( minimum age varies from state to state).

• Hold a valid driver’s license.

• Candidate should have a secondary school diploma or GED Certificate.

• Have either former military service, other law enforcement history, or public contact work officers.

If you meet the above-mentioned requirements, you will need to undertake an extensive background investigation process, and also you need to complete police academy training. Once you are selected as a police officer, you need to give your service for at least 2 years, before you are eligible for any special units, including the SWAT team position.

Once you achieve the required experience, you will be eligible to apply as a SWAT team member. Be informed:  SWAT team examinations are intense and will require everything you have got; both physically and mentally.

SWAT Additional Requirements

Most of the importance for SWAT team testing and selection is based upon physical fitness, but there are other considerations as well. SWAT team members must be professional straight shooters,  able to think rapidly on their feet, take and give orders, effective communication, have a strong sense of teamwork, and be mentally tough. In most cases, an officer's previous work history and performance with the department will be considered when selecting SWAT team members.

SWAT Elite Team

The team members of SWAT are considered as an elite within the ranks of law enforcement agencies. These units are highly tenacious teams in which every member plays an important role in enhancing the mission of the group. It takes an immense amount of dedication, determination, and hard work. If you have an intense feeling of team and self-sacrifice and you think you can mobilize the mental and physical strength needed to make it on the SWAT team, then you may just find it to be the ideal criminology career for you.