Special weapons and tactics (SWAT) training originated in the late 1960s after several major shooting incidents opened the eyes of law enforcement. Officers realized after these incidents that specialized training was needed for circumstances that involved armed combatants. One such incident was Charles Whitman's 1966 shooting spree at the University of Texas. Whitman, an honor student, shot a high-powered rifle at innocent people from the top of the clock tower, randomly killing over a dozen people and wounding many others. Because of his positioning, officers found it difficult to get to Whitman and subdue him. After the Watts Riots, officers in Los Angeles, California, put together the first SWAT training program.
Police departments generally require an officer to have several years of training before beginning SWAT training, as SWAT officers handle the most intense and dangerous incidents that law enforcement encounters. According to Brett Freeman of Policeemployment.com, SWAT officers are comparable to navy seals or army rangers in that they are the best of the best in their field.
A variety of schools across the United States offer SWAT training. These schools are generally affiliated with law enforcement and may be dedicated to teaching only SWAT techniques. The Strategic Weapons Academy of Texas, located in Ennis, offers classes that teach SWAT techniques. Classes offered include baton tactics, handcuffing, explosives, breaching, ballistics and sniper observation. The North American SWAT Training Association based out of Ohio offers basic SWAT school several times a year. Details about training dates, location, hotels and student requirements can be found at http://www.nasta.ws/Seminars.htm.
Though basic SWAT training courses vary from school to school, a typical training curriculum includes classes such as the history of SWAT, room clearing, tactical firearms, shoot-out scenarios, scouting techniques, hostages and dynamic entries. Additional courses exist for specialized training in certain disciplines, such as night moving, teamwork, instincts and victim handling. SWAT courses can be taken as part of a program lasting days or weeks, or individually.