SWAT operations exist in a complex and at times, unforgiving environment. Threats, department policies, effective tactics and equipment are always in changing.
It does not matter if you are a veteran or the new guy, there is always a lot to learn.
At StrongHold Tactics, you will find that knowledge that you are seeking; a conversation of all things SWAT, from the perspective of an active, experienced, and still very hungry SWAT officer.
Whether people like it or not, SWAT is a critical part of public safety that is here to stay. So, it is equally important that SWAT perform its role as effectively and professionally as possible.
StrongHold Tactics is a knowledge exchange where fellow and aspiring SWAT officers can read about another officer’s experiences in the never-ending pursuit of being better than the last SWAT call.
About J.
I have been shot at, screamed at for 2 hours straight, learned that blood is a lot slippery than I thought, and shown a calmness in the face of violence that I did not know I possessed.
I have been a police officer for nearly 15 years. 10 of those years have been on a SWAT team at a large eastern United States police department.
I have been on well over 1000 SWAT operations of all types in numerous environments. I spent several years as a sniper and two years as the provisional team leader.
Currently, I am the assistant team leader and in charge of training and operational planning.
Over the years, I have learned some lessons across a wide variety of topics like:
• Leadership
• Equipment selection
• Training
• Operational planning
• New team member selection
• Physical fitness
• SWAT professionalism
I enjoy being a SWAT officer. I like showing up to an unknown scene and working as a team to solve a problem that can very quickly become lethal.
I realize that in the current national climate, to be a police officer is difficult, never mind a SWAT officer.
However, there are those of us in blue that are not discouraged.
I have learned some hard lessons while on SWAT. I want to share them with officers who aspire to be better at their chosen specialty in public safety.
I am not going to complain about public opinion of police officers or how agencies may or may not be supporting their officers. Those problems will always exist, no matter who is in charge, where you work, or how the public feels.
Here you will learn solutions to the problems you can control.
-J.