Law Enforcement Specialties >> Special Units (K9, SWAT, etc.) >> SWAT Snipers
SWAT Snipers
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Posted 6 months ago Wondering if there is any SWAT Snipers on the board. I plan on going into LE and plan on joining the SWAT team but was debating on being a Sniper. I was wondering what some of your opinions are, SWAT Sniper or a SWAT Member. And what kind of training you did to become prepared for the Sniper role and exactly what you do as a Sniper on a SWAT call out. Also what rifle(s) do you use? Thanks in advance. Matt
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| Posted 6 months ago Here are some facts... You can apply for SWAT usualy after 2-5 years of Patrol duty, then you try out and if accepted you go through Basic SWAT school you probably (depending on the dept) will act on a entry team until once again you have proven your abilities, you will again try out for a position such as Sniper... be accepted and again start off as a spotter for a Sniper until a position is open. At some point you will go to Advanced SWAT School and Advanced Training.. the main weapon for SWAT "Snipers" is the 308 rifle.. most departments are to small to have dedicated snipers and there are usualy a couple folks picked for those positions based on time and service,, Sit... Wait and Talk is what normaly happens.. TV has over glamorized the job of SWAT in my opinion but there are some realy High Speed Teams through out the US. |
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| Posted 6 months ago Thanks for the information. Anyone else want to voice there opinions? I will agree with you that TV has over glamorized the role SWAT plays. And this is not my only reason to be on SWAT. I live in a fairly large county and I believe they have about 3 or so snipers on there SWAT team. I am only 20 y/o and have attended two Teen Academies, one by my county department, Prince William County, and then my state department, Virginia State Police. I enjoyed both of those experiences. I have also watched and slightly participated in an actual SWAT training exercise that lasted several hours. Once again Thank You SARspecialist. |
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| Posted 6 months ago SARspecialist said: I agree with SAR. Normally one does not jump right in to a "Precision Long Rifle" slot, and must be operational for a time before becoming eligible. It's a long road... I would focus on becoming a certified officer first, then take everything in steps. Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil. |
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| Posted 6 months ago In order to be on my regional tactical unit, you need to be a full-time police officer of three years before you can apply. Once you go through the selection process, obstacle course and firearm qualification, then it is through S.W.A.T. 1 and S.W.A.T. 2 which allows you to be on the entry team and then after the FTO you may apply for sniper school. Now this is my preference.......I'm the type of member who wants to specialize in breaching. I like to break things...doors and windows. There are swat operators that like to reach out and touch someone that needs a little "love". |
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| Posted 6 months ago Thanks all. I understand I am going to have to become a Police Officer first then a SWAT Officer/Operator and work my way through to become a sniper. I understand the reasoning behind it also.
Matt
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| Posted 6 months ago I recently made the SWAT team on my department after a year and a half on. In my opinion I am the exception. I started off in the military as USAF Security Forces and while doing so was a member of my base's Emergency Response Team which is similar to a dept's SWAT team. My department's policy requires 3 years of LE experience before you can even try out for SWAT but military experience will suffice. I said all this to say build your resume first. You will have a very hard time going SWAT with little experience. If for some reason you dont get picked up by an agency think about the military. It will make it much easier for you to get on once you've got some experience under your belt. "Some people were meant to dial 9-1-1, others were meant to be 9-1-1" |
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| Posted 5 months ago LOL I agree with a lot of you! I would not mind being on SWAT but heres the thing, it takes a lot to be in SWAT. A lot of dedication and training, I agree with GTS, your first step would be to become a police officer first. I think it is great for you to want to be in SWAT. Usually the snipers, if you dont know, are the eyes. at least for a time being untill they get ground units into the area or building. because you have to remember, the negotiator and the captian dont have any idea or sight as to what is going on unless using a camera which may not be there ALL the time. So you have my support and good luck! |
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| Posted 5 months ago Many departments vary in the amount of time you need to be on the job before you can even apply for SWAT. We have to complete probation first before we even think about it. After then it's 1 year before we can be on the "entry" team. Most don't even get by the obstacle course. It's a pass/fail test. You just have to show heart and complete it. I have been Sniper Team Leader since 1999 and I put my sniper prospects through a tryout like no other. For the time they are on the enrty team they are being evaluated. There is much more that "lying behind the rifle, looking through a scope and pulling the trigger". (That's a quote from one of my administrators) Best of luck to those who try out and if you you need any advice feel free to contact me. Any Sniper Team leaders out there that would like to share some information (qual courses, training, etc...) please contact me. |
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| Posted 4 months ago I have been used in that capacity for a few years, and its not all its cracked up to be. If you dont have good commmand (I do) you can be the forgotten step child that is laying out in the cold or the heat. |
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| Posted 4 months ago Sniping/sharpshooting is not for everyone. It takes a certain type of person to be able to look through a high power scope, be able to clearly see your target and realize that you may have to kill that person. It is one thing to return fire when you're being shot at, it is another to take that first shot. Also keep in mind that even in the heaviest of situations, a sniper may not shoot at all, they may just observe and report. I think the best thing for you right now would be to go out, buy a rifle, join the NRA and start competition shooting. You'll get all the trigger time you want and if in the future you do make it as a SWAT sniper, you'll have plenty of practice. Right now just focus on getting hired as a LEO first, then look at taking the next step. Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
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| Posted 3 months ago Get used to watching paint dry, it'll pay off. |
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| Posted 3 months ago On LASD SEB you will start out as backup gas man.. move to gas man.. then spotter then long rifle,, by that time you will have been on the team for several years then off to long rifle school(s)
By the time you see a scope youll have been on for 10 plus years on the department minimum... and thats the way it should be... every position has more responsibility |
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| Posted 3 months ago I was the SWAT leader in my old dept., as said before, SWAT members are a special breed, SWAT snipers a VERY special breed. Good luck, you will need it. |
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| Posted 2 months ago Frannycakes said: Absolutely correct. While my long gun responsibilities and duty positions certainly differ from those of a SWAT marksman, I can tell you that as a sniper, you will spend the most time and exert the most effort to do what you are there to do and you will see the least action in the process. |
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| Posted 2 months ago I agree with all.Most people see S.W.A.T. as very glamerious,it takes a lot of dedication (constantly training,being physically fit) from you and YOUR FAMILY.Many here will tell you of canceld plans,days off,ect. And as far as being a sniper, you may sit in a field/woods for hours upon hours(it may be hot as hell or cold as shit--been there done that) just observing,providing intel before the entry team ever goes in,plus you have to account for every round you shoot in practice( you may need it for court).It takes a very special person to do this.My dept. is small,so our members is not full time.I still work as a police officer (on shift) unless called out. Good luck. |