Police Background

• The Los Angeles Police Department created the first S.W.A.T. team in 1967. It was composed of police officers with specialized training and/or military experience. In 2010, military training is not a prerequisite but police experience is a must. A candidate will not be considered unless he has met the department's minimum requirement of police service. The typical minimum is three to five years.
  
  

Education

• In order to be eligible for police service, you must have at least a high school diploma or an acceptable equivalent. The police academy will provide the S.W.A.T. hopeful with the foundation for his education. A candidate will learn laws, firearms, tactics, vehicle operation, fitness training, human relations and other basics. The on-the-job education and promotions gained as a police officer will determine your chances of becoming a S.W.A.T. member. Those wishing to pursue a career as a S.W.A.T. member should continually seek professional development and volunteer opportunities within the police department, paying special attention to arrest and search warrants, hostage situations, and firearms and violence.
  
  

Fitness

• Due to the extremely demanding conditions in which S.W.A.T. members work, each member of the team must be in top physical condition. S.W.A.T. candidates undergo intense physical examinations to determine if they have what it takes. The physical tests are determined by the location and needs of each department. The requirement is usually a combination of running, swimming and strength tests. For example, the Bay County Sheriff's Office requires its S.W.A.T. members to complete a 1.5-mile run in less than 11 minutes, 41 seconds.
  
  

Training

• During the 1984 Summer Olympics, each member of the Los Angeles S.W.A.T. team underwent 2,000 hours of training. According to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, it takes an average of two years to train a S.W.A.T. member. Moreover, that's just the minimum level of training, on top of the previous years of police training. The training time for S.W.A.T. members varies, but each will be extensive, as it prepares members to handle hostage situations and operations tactics. Members must also become proficient with various types of firearms and increase both physical and psychological stamina.
  
  

Teamwork

• An important aspect of S.W.A.T. membership is the ability to work well within a team structure. The dangerous circumstances require team members to rely heavily on one another. Members are on call 24 hours a day and must be able to respond quickly to emergency calls.