General Forums >> The Lobby >> Advice on what to do if you want to become a S.W.A.T. Officer
Advice on what to do if you want to become a S.W.A.T. Officer
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Posted 4 months ago Hi The name is Chris and as I Stated in my intro post I'm a civilian/ enthusiast. My life long dream is to become a S.W.A.T. Officer. My pasion for weapons begun at a young age as I sat and watched my father clean his 9mm Star pistol. I was never allowed to touch it. Until my 15th Birthday that my dad took me to a shooting range and let me fire of a few rounds. from there the pasion just grew. To become a LEO was thanx to some family members that served in South African police force that told me stories, and also all the neat stuff you see on TV but The thing that got me star struck on a dream of becomeing a S.W.A.T officer must be thanx to the movie S.W.A.T and all so the video clips on youtube of S.W.A.T. officers and normal patrol officers going beyond the line off duty to ensure safety for communities around the world.
So now as a Enthusiast looking to become a LEO. What would be the prefered route to take and are their any one able to give me advice on how it is to be a S.W.A.T. officer amd what it took to get there. Thanx for your time Kind regards Chris P.S. Stay safe and may the Lord be with you... :-) |
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| Posted 4 months ago Joining SWAT is tough. Usually you have to beat feet on patrol for several years,have a degree,be able to speak a couple languages etc. etc..Also you have to be in excellent shape and its not a job you just apply for and get right off..You have to go through alot to get there, im sure some more experienced backup will be here soon to help you. The saddest words I ever spoke, were "deal around me,I'm broke" |
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| Posted 4 months ago As ChadT said, you need to jion an agency with a SWAT team and work patrol for several years, stay/be in great shape, when an opening becomes available, then you try out. You would have to see what a particular agencies requirements are, but no one goes straight to SWAT. Do you know what a SWAT Officer does or are you basing your desires on a fondness for weapons and what you have seen on TV or in the movies. Evey day is just the same, I'm chasing rainbows in the rain. AWB nickname "Wiz" |
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| Posted 4 months ago Hi there Thanx for taking the time to answer my questions and listen to what i have to say. My fondness of S.W.A.T. Is not just that of movies but mostly my fondness of weapons and also tactics. I spend a great deal of time watching tactical movement video clips etc. I know that S.W.A.T is a very precise TEAM movement of men and woman who go in to some of the most dangerous situations out their and always trying to get the job done with the least amount of casualties but with maximum amount of tactical efficency, stragedy. They also need to be versitile and able to work in any situastion out their is. They can be called on for a drug bust, hostage situation, bank robbery and many more situations. Also a S.W.A.T officer needs to have a huge amount off patience and be able to think and make quick decisions on his feet. Also a S.W.A.T officer has to be able to set personal issues aside and try not to be affected by other peoples problems to much in order to do his job but at the same time show good hartedness to others. My fondness goes way deeper than movies and video shows. I have done a lot of research and everytime I grow even fonder. I did know about that you need to bi-ligual and would have to do several years of beat/ street work before you would be able to apply. I also do know that personel with previous military expiernce and/ or degree's are more likely to get a position as a S.W.A.T. officer than just a person that started off as a rookie cop. Unless he has done an outstanding job. The only reason why i asked the question in the group is to here what peoples personal expierences was on becomeing a S.W.A.T officer. And I greatly appreciate all the help that I can get. Thanx Chris
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| Posted 4 months ago swat swat swat.....everyone wants to be swat. Just concentrate on getting hired, becomming a cop, and being a good cop. And keep in mind, most police agencies dont have swat units, and rarely are those swat units full time units. Concentrate on being a cop first, thats hard enough. |
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| Posted 4 months ago PSD_TEAM_LEADER says ...
I can attest to that.........LOLOLOLOL The only thing you have to do is die. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Poor shock, just a common civillian... |
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| Posted 4 months ago PSD_TEAM_LEADER says ...
I couldn't have said that better myself! I am not SWAT, nor will I ever be. My day begins when yours ends. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Hi guys, Thanx for the advice harsh but true. I did take the wrong approch on the subject. I know I got a lot to learn and for a civillian considering to join I speak without any experience and thats one of the reasons I turned to you guys. For me to become a cop in the US will firstly be a little difficult since I'm not a green card holder or a citizen of the US. But I am trying. I want to make a difference in the society. I know its going to be chalenging and I want to do it as best I can. Let me put it this way. My Ultimate goal would be to become a SWAT officer. But if that does not happen it wont be the end of the world for me. Looking at someone like PSD_TEAM_LEADERS profile I realize that I have loads to learn a lot of it being practical expiernce. I want to be a cop more than anything, and be a good one at it. To me thats the most important thing cause in time all will work itself out one way or another. Thanx again for everyones advice greatly appreciate it. Oh and PSD thanks for answering the Question. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Good to see you realize....you can learn alot from PSD and the other LEOs on this site. The only thing you have to do is die. |
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| Posted 4 months ago You may have to excuse some of the answers from members. But PSD is to the point. We get asked that same question all the time. The truth is you have to work in Law enforcment for years to be elgible to do the fun stuff like SWAT, K9 ,Vice ,Dectivies, Instructer, and sometimes even patrol it took me 2 1/2 years to transfer to patrol from corrections. You have to start small and every thing will happen if its going to happen> You cannot train or prepare for it untill you get hired. drink up me 'arties yo ho avast ye don't ask we be friends if 10 post we not shared AARGH ye be prepared to kiss the gunners daughter if I be crossed |
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| Posted 4 months ago I've not been a SWAT officer, but I've talked to a few, on callouts they spent almost all the time (several hours to 12 hrs) behind cover watching a buiilding. Evey day is just the same, I'm chasing rainbows in the rain. AWB nickname "Wiz" |
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| Posted 4 months ago Preach it brother MEFF..Sounds like I am heading down the same path you took..I started off in corrections a while back and hope to switch to LEO in 2 years. and oh by the way CGOUWS1702 did you advise that you are living in the United States WITHOUT a green card? The saddest words I ever spoke, were "deal around me,I'm broke" |
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| Posted 4 months ago One of the things you may want to do is consider military service....that is a faster way of getting US citizenship than waiting as a civilian. Its a hell of a thing to see people granted their citizenship in ACUs and saluting a General officer who presents them with the paperwork....seeing those men who were not citizens prior serving the USA is a manner most citizens wont even do. Just a thought..... Also, regarding SWAT, the trend in Texas LE is for the individual officer irregardless of what division he belongs to to have a level of training that used to be SWAT only. Many patrol, investigations, warrants, and otherwise special divisions to be certified and carrying patrol rifles, its the standard that every cop knows how to perform an entry stack, clear rooms, attend advanced shooting training, etc etc. In Texas we have Texas Tactica Police Officers Association which offers courses along the lines of Basic/Advanced SWAT, Hostage Rescue, Tactical Operations in Rural Terrain, Basic/Int./Advanced Sniper, etc etc etc....and the only requirement is to be a peace officer. The days of waiting on SWAT are over....waiting means 2 things, more bodies for forensics and ME to deal with, and a situation where whomever youve waited on is either getting more and more desperate with hostages OR has had time to plan and fortify. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Thanx Guys. The Info i get from you guys helps a lot. I wanted to join the South African Police reserves but was turned down. Due to racial aspects. Wich is unfortunatly a big thing in South Africa. ChadT i don't currently live in the US I still live in SA but I'm in the US now flying back tomorrow night at 8pm I came to visit some friends in Atlanta GA. and also went down to Orlando for a week or 2. Regarding the joining the military I did some research on it and I also need a green card or citizenship to be able to enroll??? Any Idea's Have a great 4th weekend Chris
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| Posted 4 months ago I have a friend on Police Link who is a LEO in South Africa. He really wants to become a US Citizen and continue being a LEO here in the States. He said it's pretty tough to gain citizenship. I"m not a LEO but you may have a ways to go. Are you wanting to enlist in the US military? Sorry if I'm confused.
CGOUWS1702 says ...
"Mother, should I trust the government?" -Pink Floyd 'The Wall' "The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can't improve your lie." -- George Deukmejian AWB nickname "Fuzzy" |
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| Posted 4 months ago SuzanneNGa says ...
Fuzzy. PSD advised him to enlist , check out the post a few up. When my life has ended..And my time has run out
-Johnny Cash
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| Posted 4 months ago Thanks Scarface, sometimes I get a little ahead of myself heheehehehehe
LP_MD says ...
"Mother, should I trust the government?" -Pink Floyd 'The Wall' "The difference between golf and government is that in golf you can't improve your lie." -- George Deukmejian AWB nickname "Fuzzy" |
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| Posted 4 months ago What S.W.A.T. Teams are looking for are good solid cops who have a lot of street experience that have proven that they are trainable and can follow instructions. KL076 |
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| Posted 4 months ago man if your looking at this job just for the guns you need to rethink. the stuff on tv is no where near the real thing. but if your set on SWAT then the way you need to go is become an LEO for a few years apply for swat then if your lucky and good at what you do and have a few more things on your resame than a fast food joint then you'll be in good shape.it also helps to let them know that you realy want it. but as i said before if your doing it for the guns go to the army or be a gun smith not a LEO if you dont love every part of your job you'll end up hateing it best of luck when i say"stop"you better,my dog cant wate for me to say"go"! |
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| Posted 4 months ago PSD_TEAM_LEADER says ...
Lol... Mind if I quote you on this? You are clearly better than everyone, our safety and the laws should be of no concern to you. MODERATOR #6 |
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| Posted 4 months ago Not a problem, go right ahead. everyone in the military, when they find out Im a cop, asks me about SWAT or tells me that they want t be cops but want to go right into SWAT. Every teenage boy or tomboy female citizen who talks to me about being a cop mentions SWAT. It gets old.....in fact, it got old the first 5,000 inquiries.... |
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| Posted 4 months ago Check my sig... Only funny because it's so damn true. You are clearly better than everyone, our safety and the laws should be of no concern to you. MODERATOR #6 |
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| Posted 4 months ago PSD_TEAM_LEADER says ...
Hey man....I never brought up SWAT.....lol There are a couple of us that exist who just wanna be LEOs...lol The only thing you have to do is die. |
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| Posted 4 months ago shockusmc87 says ...
No one's blaming you, Shock. I get the same question all the damn time. You are clearly better than everyone, our safety and the laws should be of no concern to you. MODERATOR #6 |
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| Posted 4 months ago LOLOL.....I know, just sayin...........SWAT has never interested me, maybe cause I got all burnt out on the whole tactical thing in Iraq, but who knows down the road But as Will said, Its hard becoming an officer(as Im sure u know, lol) and thats all I want and am focusing on, Ill worry about the rest of the stuff later down the line when Im qaulified and its feasible The only thing you have to do is die. |
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| Posted 4 months ago I just think there is a serious misconception about law enforcement, what we do, what it takes to get into it, and the progression of a career, and definately a misunderstanding of even basic principles such as what each individual agency offers and the heavy decentralization of law enforcement, even down to each agency in a major metropolitan area...let alone statewide, or even nationwide. "I wanna be SWAT, or DEA, or FBI" (shakes head) But seriously though. The last case was a guy in my Guard unit, mid 20s, E5 who doesnt have a job outside of the Guard (something that is actually quite common as odd as it sounds to me) field artillery mos (13B) was going on about how he wanted to be SWAT in LE and that was the only thing he wanted to do and make the comment around me and my 1SG (a deputy in washington state) about how it wouldnt be a big transition to LE because he "already had the training." My 1SG and I looked at each other and shook our heads......
So back we go....SWAT SWAT SWAT, everyone wants to be SWAT. Honestly, I think the people who go on about that are not the types who would make it out of the academy (with the heavy emphasis on studying and book learning) let alone the FTO program. |
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| Posted 4 months ago You have your priorities in line...you will go far. You are clearly better than everyone, our safety and the laws should be of no concern to you. MODERATOR #6 |
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| Posted 4 months ago What is the reason for tons of people wanting to be on a SWAT team? |
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| Posted 4 months ago DrHämmie says ...
Because they watch to many movies The only thing you have to do is die. |
