How to Join SWAT
Becoming a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is not for the uninitiated. SWAT members are generally considered the elite law enforcement team within their respective departments. As such, there are requirements to become a SWAT team member that go well beyond those of standard police officers. Along with these additional responsibilities however, are generally higher salaries (though, this depends on the department), in addition to a measure of respect shown by fellow officers and associates. Median salaries for SWAT team officers, according to the Law Enforcement Preparation Center, is $61,000 annually.
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Instructions
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Begin the process for becoming a SWAT team member by first completing the steps necessary to become a police officer. SWAT team members, generally consisting of the most highly trained police officers on the force, are required to spend time as an officer before they can apply for SWAT team membership. The length of time needed as an officer or sheriff is dependent upon the specific department, but it is usually a necessity to complete a minimum of 1-3 years of service.
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Complete the required years of service as an officer, while maintaining outstanding reviews before applying for the SWAT unit. Not only are there requirements relating to years of experience, but those years generally need to include outstanding reviews from peers and senior officers, as well as an exemplary record as an officer. SWAT teams consist of the finest of the finest, and as such only those officers that have proven themselves to be at or near the top of their respective departments are considered.
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Decide which level of SWAT you are interested to determine which to apply for. There are SWAT teams at the local, state and federal level. The federal level SWAT team is usually associated with an elite force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). As with each department, the level chosen will determine the specific requirements relating to experience, accomplishments and testing.
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Complete the application process upon completion of the required years of experience. While these will change somewhat based on departments and levels (city, state, federal), most will include written exams to test mental aptitude. Also, oral exams are generally required to be satisfactorily completed before admission to the SWAT program. There are also psychological tests to measure how a person will react in a given situation, and other measurements as a means of ensuring a person has the mental fortitude needed for such a demanding position.
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Maintain excellent physical conditioning, before and after becoming a SWAT team member. SWAT teams are called into highly charged, often dangerous situations that require members to be in optimum physical condition. There are also requirements to complete advanced weapons, assault and hostage rescue type training to become a SWAT team member, and on-going training after completing the required steps. Because SWAT teams are called in when needed, most are required to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Becoming a member of this elite team, with all the requirements needed, takes extreme dedication in addition to experience, and the physical and mental capabilities.
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References
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