Type Swat Operators School
Type Swat Operators School
Type Swat Operators School
Course Description
Program Overview p. 3
Funding p. 16-17
To achieve the status this 140 hour / 15 day course has obtained from D.H.S.’s Office
of Domestic Preparedness (O.D.P.), the Government Training Institute and Idaho State
University had to go through a lengthy and thorough 5 phase review process that took 6
months to complete. The 800 page student manual took time to thoroughly review.
The preparedness of state and local SWAT teams in the United States is one of the
major initiatives of the Department of Homeland Security. In 2004, the D.H.S. created a
comprehensive classification system for U.S. SWAT teams. There are three typing
classifications ranging from Type III to Type I teams. The classification system was
created to support the overall Incident Command System (ICS), allowing commanders at
an incident to quickly determine what resources are available to them based upon the
equipment, resources, and training levels of various SWAT teams.
This course creates standardized curriculum throughout the United States. Until the
creation of this course, SWAT team training varied greatly from state to state and
jurisdiction to jurisdiction, making it extremely difficult for Incident Commanders to gain
a true barometer of capabilities of the resources available to them.
Course Details_______________________________________
The Type III SWAT Operator’s Course is the most comprehensive SWAT program
ever to be offered to state and local agencies. The program covers 47 separate modules
in 15 days. Each student will be issued an 800 page training manual and a student
progress book that includes copies of all of the student’s written exams, and practical
application examinations.
Students who successfully graduate the Type III SWAT Operator’s Course will have
earned it. There are stringent standards that all students must achieve in order to pass the
course. They will be tested daily, and on occasion, several times a day. Every student
must prove that they are capable of being an operational member of a Type III SWAT
team. Student evaluation and performance measures are broken down into the following:
Student performance will be evaluated by a variety of methods. These methods include:
• Written Pre-Test
• Daily Written Tests
• Written Post-Test
• Daily Practical Exercise Evaluations
• Final Comprehensive Exercise
The student’s scores will be compiled and tallied in the following manner:
• 13 Written Daily quizzes = 25% of final score
• 1 Final Written Exam = 25% of final score
• 18 Daily Performance Evaluations = 25% of final score
• 1 Final Scenario (Culmination Exercise) = 25% of final score
Students must complete the course with a minimum of 70% average in order to receive a
Certificate of Training.
The Written Pre-Test is a thirty (30) question closed book test that will evaluate the base
knowledge of the student prior to receiving any instruction. This test will not be utilized
as a criterion for course completion and graduation; however, the results of this test will
be recorded and compared to the Written Post-Test. (The written pre-test will be handed
out to the students at the time of testing).
The Daily Written Tests are small closed book quizzes ranging from four (4) to twelve
(12) questions based homework assignments provided to the students at the end of class
the day prior to each daily written test. Most mornings will begin by the students taking a
The Written Final Exam is one hundred and five (105) question closed book test
comprised of a broad base of questions derived from each instructional module objectives
within the student manual. This test is recorded and will go towards the student’s final
grade. (The Written Exam will be handed out at the time of testing).
Daily Practical Exercise Evaluations are completed while the students are performing
practical exercises following classroom instruction on the particular topic of evaluation.
Students will be given time to watch the instructors demonstrate the exercise and will be
provided time to perform the necessary tasks in a “practice” mode before the students
will be evaluated. When the instructor(s) feel that the students have been provided
enough time to rehearse (times will fluctuate based upon the ability levels of the group),
the instructor(s) will announce to the students that practice time is over and evaluations
are beginning. These evaluations examine some or all of the following:
• Initiative
• Participation
• Tactical and strategic actions
• Adherence to directions and directives
• Safety
• Communications
• Team work
These Daily Practical Exercise Evaluations are examined first on a simple Pass/Fail basis.
If a student receives a failing mark for any category, the student will be informed of the
grade/mark, receive explanation from the evaluator of the reasoning for the grade/mark,
and provided the opportunity to correct the action. If the student fails to receive a passing
mark after three attempts (with the exception of certain safety violations further explained
below), the student will be excused from the class and provided the opportunity to retake
the class at another date and time. The Daily Practical Exercise Evaluations will also
count towards the student’s final score. For every category they are given 3 points for
successful completion after the first attempt, 2 point for the second and 1 point for the
third attempt. (The Daily Practical Exercise Evaluations will be handed to students at the
time of testing).
Safety Evaluations will be performed every day, including the day of the final scenario.
Certain safety violations will be addressed immediately by the instructors/evaluators.
These violations, depending on severity, may be grounds for dismissal from the class.
The safety violations are split into three categories, minor (category I), moderate
(category II) and major (category III). If a student conducts any safety violation the
offense will be recorded on a daily safety violation sheet. Category I offenses can be
violated 3 times before the student is called before the Safety Review Board. Category II
offenses can only be violated twice before the student is called before the Safety Review
Board and category III offenses are called before the Safety Review Board on the 1st
offense. Category III offenses are as follows:
The Final Comprehensive Scenario (Culmination Exercise) will test the participants’
knowledge, skills and abilities obtained from this course. Participants are evaluated as
individual members of a team and as a consolidated team during this exercise. The
exercise will consist of a high-risk SWAT Operation that will require the students to
perform the following actions (which they will be rated on):
• Receive initial intelligence briefing
• Establish perimeter / containment
• Complete threat report / analysis
• Arrange for CBRNE materials testing and air sampling
• Form Deliberate Assault Team
• Form Scouting Team
• Conduct preliminary scene assessment
• Conduct the following scout missions:
o Intelligence Scout
o Map / Route Scout
o Area Scout
o Target Scout
o Daytime Scout (if applicable)
o Nighttime Scout (if applicable)
o Time of Operation Scout (if applicable)
o Update Scout (if applicable)
All students must participate in the Final Scenario (Culmination Exercise) in order to
receive a Certificate of Training.
For the Final Scenario (Culmination Exercise), students will be graded on several
categories evaluating their performance as individual operators and as members of a team
on a scale from 1-5 with 1 being the lowest possible score and 5 being the highest. The
scores will be tallied and the each student must have an average score of 3 or better to
receive a Certificate of Training. (A copy of the Final Scenario Evaluation Sheet will be
handed to the students at the time of testing).
Module Thirty Two – Slow and Deliberate Clearing Techniques Practical Exercise
In this module students will experience first-hand tactical considerations and challenges
performing slow and deliberate entries in and out of PPE. Students will encounter
increasingly more difficult scenarios including mock CBRNE environments coupled
with mock IEDs that require them to don PPE and utilize a slow and deliberate
technique.
Students must successfully complete all modules of the course to receive a certificate of
training. Throughout the course, they will be required to wear their PPE Suits several
times while training. It is important to know that students will not be able to don their
PPE Suits if any of the following conditions exist:
Four college credits from Idaho State University can be purchased by those who
successfully complete the course of instruction.
Funding______________________________________________
State and local law enforcement agencies can utilize Department of Homeland Security
Grant Program (HSGP) funds to pay for the course. Of the six programs making up the
HSGP, agencies can utilize funds from the following programs:
• State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
• Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP)
• Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)
It is important to note that although this training and the use of HSGP Funds is approved
by DHS, the agency’s state POC must approve the use of the funds to attend the course.
2004, and 2005 funds can be used for the program. 2006 funds will be available
sometime after January.
Grantees and sub-grantees are allowed to drawdown grant funds 120 days prior to
expenditure. 2004 fund draw downs are limited to 3-5 days.
Performance periods for DHS grants, unlike DOJ grants, are 30 months. The
performance period for FY 2004 funds ends on 31 March 2006. However, the FY04
expenditures have been extended to May 2006. The FY 2005 performance period is 1
October 04 through 31 March 2007.
Tuition for the Type III SWAT Operator’s Course is $3,900 per student and includes
the student manual, student progress book, over $250,000 worth of equipment for use in
the course and an instructor to student ratio of no greater than 1/10.
The first step towards attending the program for most jurisdictions will be to contact the
state’s administer of Homeland Security Programs. The state POCs can be found at
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/contact_state.htm
• Sarah Hutchinson
o Institute of Emergency Management (Idaho State University) – Program
Coordinator
o 12301 W. Explorer
o Boise, ID 83713
o (208) 373-1763
o [email protected]
o http://www.isu.edu/idiem/