FBI Basic Field Training Course
Agent Dashboard

Initiation 

You can use the following command to start a training session.

?bftc [Your-Name] [Start-Time]

If needed, you may allow FBI Supervisors, HRT operators, or Senior Special Agents to spectate/assist in the training course.

Instructor Notes

• All Academy Agents must have the Academy Agent Guide open. The guide is unclassified and open to all. If trainees do not know where to find it, instructors are allowed to share the link with trainees.

• The FBI Live Fire Training Facility is located at 9044 Lakeview Court.

• This training session is designed to be completed in under 1 hour. It should not take excessively long.

Phase 1 - Orientation & Preparation

Location: Station Parking Lot
Objective: Equipment verification & course briefing

Notes: Recommended attendance: 2 trainees, 2 instructors

Equipment Regulations

• Uniform: FBI Physical Training shirt, MultiCam G3 combat pants.

• Gear: Hat and belt required, per uniform regulations.

• Firearm: M4A1

• Equipment: Beanbag shotgun, taser, ballistic shield.

• Vehicle: FBI Training Vehicle per regulations.

• Other Requirements: Ensure all trainees have the Academy Prep Guide open.

Quickly brief the operators using the following script. The italic sections are to be read aloud.

• Greetings and welcome to your Basic Training. I’m your host [name], and you will address me as Instructor.

• During this training, you will be expected to pass shooting, combat, protocol, and driving.

• PTS / Permission to Speak is activated; if you fail to abide by PTS, you will be dismissed. 

• You will be expected to listen to every order I give you, as failure to do this will result in immediate dismissal. Is this understood?

Phase 2 - Use of Force Policy

Location: Station Briefing Room
Objective: Teach Academy Agents the fundamentals of the use of force policy.

Notes: Ensure all trainees are actively listening and fully understand the material. Please ask as many questions as you'd like to look them over.

Firstly, ensure that all trainees understand the following protocol. Read the following italic script, line by line.

• We will start by going over the use of force policy, which is to be followed at all times.

• Agents operate under strict rules of force. You must understand the four levels of the Use of Force Continuum:

  • 1. Verbal Commands – Give clear orders to gain compliance. ("Hands!")

  • 2. Unarmed Tactics – If commands fail and threat is non-lethal, use physical force. (Handcuffs, riot shields, flashbangs, your hands)

  • 3. Non-Lethal Weapons – Use tools like tasers or batons to stop threats that don’t justify deadly force (e.g. fleeing suspect).

  • 4. Deadly Force – Only justified when there's an immediate threat to life. (Guns, vehicle ramming).

  • Deadly force is not justified against a fleeing, non-threatening suspect. It may be used if an armed suspect has already used deadly force and is fleeing.

• The following are common scenarios that you may face:

  • - Suspect with knife: Give commands, keep 21 feet of distance. Use lethal force if suspect is uncompliant and closes in.

  • - Suspect with gun: Hold fire unless they are threatening life. Give verbal warnings first if safe.

  • - Trespassing suspect: Politely explain that they are trespassing and ask them to leave. Escalate only if they resist.

Phase 3 - Arrest Procedure

Location: Station Parking Lot
Objective: Ensure agents can arrest suspects while maintaining safety and following legal protocol.

Notes: Ensure all trainees are actively listening and understanding. Ask as many questions as you wish to examine them.

Direct agents to the station parking lot. You will demonstrate these procedures on one of the agents:

• All arrests must follow this procedure in full.

• After cuffing, place the suspect against your vehicle.

• Ask if they have any items that may poke, stab, or hurt anyone. Search and remove all of their possessions.

• Ensure firearms are cleared, ziplocked, and stored properly.

  • Unload using: "-clear firearm-".

  • Place the suspect inside your vehicle, and get in the driver seat to stay out of external threats.

Emphasize to the trainees that it's important to read rights while inside the vehicle to stay out of threats.

• Read the Miranda rights in the vehicle and ensure understanding:

  • "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

  • "You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you."

• Transport the suspect to jail, police station or hospital, depending on medical status (injured suspect to hospital)

• Complete booking with a mugshot and written report (FD-006).

Proceed to ask if the trainee has additional questions. Once all questions have been answered, order the trainee to demonstrate the full process on you (1 by 1) while you roleplay as a suspect (no use of force/resistance training, start in cuffs).

Phase 4 - Field Tactics

Location: Station Briefing Room
Objective: Ensure agents can arrest suspects while maintaining safety and following legal protocol.

Notes: Ensure all trainees are actively listening and understanding. Ask as many questions as you wish to examine them.

Explain the following to trainees and ensure understanding:

• We will now be going over 4 common field tactics that will help you in a scene.

• 1. Contain the threat inside a safe area.

  • Lock down area first, remove any civilians.

  • If pursuing, avoid going solo. Use containment or box-in.

• 2. Maintain cover at all times.

  • Always move with cover, never advance without cover.

  • If cover is needed during a foot pursuit, agents may drive their vehicle as a mobile shield for units on foot.

• 3. Distance and Threats

  • Keep 21 feet from armed suspects.

  • If a deadly threat closes distance or breaks cover after verbal commands - engage with lethal force.

  • Use less-lethal only if lethal coverage or strong physical cover exists.

• 4. Communications

  • Keep both team and radio communication short and simple.

  • Announce your use of less-lethal beforehand so your teammates can cover.

Phase 5 - Firing Range

Location: Firing Range (High Rock Park, Postal 1202)
Objective: Ensure agents' familiarity, operational readiness, and efficiency with standard issue firearms.

Notes: Clear the range of all bystanders.

Agents will line up their vehicles and drive to the firing range with the M4A1. Order trainees to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as you explain the following to them:

• Welcome to your firearms course. In this course, you will prove your proficiency with your standard-issue firearms.

• Ensure your M4A1 is ready. Each agent will perform three drills and be graded.

• Focus on accuracy over speed.

• You must also have basic knowledge of your issued primary:

  • - The M4A1 is a US military rifle firing 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.

  • - Note: “AR” means Armalite Rifle, the brand behind the AR-15 adopted as the M4; it does NOT stand for Assault or Automatic Rifle.

  • - The standard issue sidearm is a Glock 17, firing 9x19mm rounds.

• When firing with a weapon-mounted light, use the light to identify the target, confirm the threat, take your shots, and turn the light off immediately. 

• Be prepared to be called up for drills.

Call each academy agent up one by one. They shall conduct the following drills with a 80% or higher hit rate.

Shooting Drills:

1. Automatic Fire: Automatic firing with the M4A1, 90 rounds.

• Start at 40 yards (full length).

• Trainees should fire at the targets while stationary on full auto.

• Use 90 rounds maximum.

2. Reload Under Cover: Reloading under cover while firing.

• Park your vehicle at the 20 yard point (half length). (example)

• Order the trainee to fire fully automatic on the target.

• When the magazine is empty, instruct the trainees to duck back behind cover, reload, then fire while maintaining cover.

  • Once they grasp the idea, instructors should stand down range while firing at the trainees.

  • Trainees are to return fire on the metal targets.

  • The trainees are to only peek and return fire when the suspect (instructor) is reloading.

  • Fire at the trainees as best as you can so they are familiarized with the reloading time window.

• All remaining ammunition may be used for this drill.

Phase 6 - Tactical Emergency Vehicle Operation Course

Location: Station Parking Lot
Objective: Examine agents on their ability to maneuver an emergency vehicle.

Notes: Notify other law enforcement units the presence of training and a simulated felony stop.

Please quickly brief the agents on the following:

• Welcome to TEVOC — Tactical Emergency Vehicle Operation Course 

• This course will prepare you to operate and be tested on emergency vehicles.

• To start with, you will learn about code 5/felony stops. Please spawn a vehicle, and I will pull you over to demonstrate.

Demonstrate a felony stop Explain these procedures to the trainees.

• A felony stop is a high-risk vehicle intervention to arrest violent or fleeing suspects.

• Felony stops are the only stops FBI may conduct standardly, used during high-risk arrests.

• Start by always notify dispatch first. Run the plate and describe the vehicle, for example:

  • “FBI-02, felony stop, 1205 Freedom Ave., brown sedan, 1 white male driver, 1 black male passenger.”

• Stop the car safely out of traffic and use takedown as well as vehicle cover. Park one car length behind the suspect; other units park beside you.

• Order the driver out of the vehicle first, with his hands in the air.

• Direct the suspect walk backward towards you into a covered area (e.g. behind your vehicle).

• Proceed to apply cuffs. Other units should not lower their gun until the suspect is in cuffs.

• Maintain cover from both the suspect and vehicle as best as you can during the encounter.

Order the trainees to demonstrate a felony stop on your vehicle, from stopping to arrest. Fix any mistakes they make after the arrest is complete. 

• We will now continue with code 3 responses.

• Never drive while ignoring traffic laws. Stay in your lane, stop for other emergency vehicles, and slow at signals.

• Use sirens and lights to clear intersections only if the path is safe.

• Do not overtake other vehicles; use the horn/manual signals to have them yield.

• Maintain safe speeds, yield to pedestrians, and stay on the road.

One by one, order trainees to respond to different places while code 3. Ensure that they drive accordingly. You may monitor them through bodycam or in person in their vehicle.

Phase 7 - Live Use of Force Assessment

Location: Station Parking Lot
Objective: Examine agents on their understanding of the use of force policy.

Notes: Brief other law enforcement and station personnel that training is underway.

Roles & Setup

• Trainees: Operate as the primary agents. All should participate together to assess teamwork.

• Assisting Instructor(s): Control scenario progression, safety officer, and evaluators. Note adherence to policy, communication, commands issued, escalation decisions, and medical/aftercare actions

• Suspect(s) (role-players): You (the instructor) will play the suspect and may simulate a range of behaviors: compliant, non-compliant, aggressive, fleeing, armed, hiding, surrendering, or taking hostages. At any part of the simulation, instructors may mix scenarios to make them as dynamic as possible. For example, a scenario may turn from a code 5 vehicle stop into a barricaded suspect inside a building, or, a suspect may hop into a vehicle and take off, requiring trainees to pursue and initiate a code 5 stop.

Scenario Variants

• Barricaded suspect: Suspect locks themselves in the sheriff’s lockers, holding a firearm in a non-threatening manner. Key test: containment, negotiation, threat assessment, not rushing to forced entry unless immediate life-threat exists (e.g., hostages).

  • Possible actions:

    • Firearm is raised/shots are fired: Trainees should immediately use deadly force.

    • Firearm is dropped, fleeing: Pursue on foot while maintaining cover and holding deadly force at all times. If another deadly weapon is pulled out/used by the suspect, trainees should use deadly force.

    • Fleeing with a firearm: Trainees should pursue while maintaining cover, actively trying to contain the suspect.

    • Suspect is compliant: Trainees should order the firearm to be dropped, then walk backward towards them behind cover while keeping hands up. Trainees should apply cuffs and then follow the standard arrest procedure.

    • Closing distance between trainees slowly: When closing in distance, the trainees should hold down their cover and not retreat unless they can safely do so with cover. If they can not retreat to another position with cover, they should use lethal force.

• Knife (simulated) suspect: Suspect walks with a knife or simulates slashing property. Key test: clear verbal commands, use of distance, containment, and escalation to less-lethal options before lethal force - evaluate threat perception and justification.

  • Possible actions:

    • Slashing property/vehicle: Trainees should maintain 21 feet while having cover. Continue verbal warnings, or use non-lethal force if they have a partner.

    • Closing distance between trainees slowly: When closing in distance, the trainees should hold down their cover and not retreat unless they can safely do so with cover. If they can not retreat to another position with cover, they should use lethal force.

    • Rushing at trainees/people: Trainees should immediately use deadly force.

    • Suspect is compliant: Trainees should order the weapon to be dropped, then walk backward towards them behind cover while keeping hands up. Trainees should apply cuffs and then follow the standard arrest procedure.

• Vehicle disabled: Suspect’s vehicle becomes disabled. Key test: do not immediately attempt risky apprehension; maintain containment, call for resources, and keep channels secure.

  • Possible actions:

    • Suspect is compliant: Trainees should follow the standard code 5 stop procedure.

    • Uncompliant suspect, refusing to exit vehicle: Trainees push up with a firearm and shield if possible, drag the suspect out of the vehicle, then apprehend.

    • Fleeing suspect: Trainees should pursue while maintaining cover, actively trying to contain the suspect.

    • Firearm is presented and used: Trainees should immediately use deadly force.

Training Focus Areas (what trainees must demonstrate)

• Legal and policy knowledge

  • Cite and apply the agency use-of-force continuum and proportionality principles.

  • Demonstrate awareness of when force is authorized and when to transition to less-lethal or non-force options.

• Threat assessment & decision-making

  • Identify credible, immediate threats to life vs. property.

  • Make fast decisions, but not rushed, reckless approaches. Containment and assessment are safer than immediate forced action.

• Verbal control and de-escalation

  • Issue clear and audible verbal commands first when safe to do so.

  • Attempt de-escalation and negotiation techniques where feasible.

• Containment vs. immediate action

  • Show ability to contain a suspect area and hold position.

• Team coordination & communication

  • Use clear radio/plain-language comms, designate roles (contact/cover), and maintain a common operational picture.

  • Coordinate backup, medical response, and evidence preservation.

• Weapon control & safety

  • Safe handling and control of issued weapons. Avoid premature or unnecessary draws/firing.

  • Emphasize weapon retention and transitions to less-lethal options when appropriate.

• Medical care & casualty handling

  • Provide immediate lifesaving first aid to injured civilians or suspects when safe.

  • Treat injuries as incident-critical, even if inflicted by role players.

• After-action tasks

  • Securing the suspect, weapons, and assisting any affected civilians.

  • Able to explain and justify their choice to use force.

Phase 8 - Grading and Ending Training

Location: Station Briefing Room
Objective: Examine agents on their understanding of the use of force policy.

Notes: Evaluate trainee performance during session and determine pass/fail status.

Grading Criteria:

Trainees will be evaluated based on six core competency areas. Each is rated on a 1–5 scale:

• 1. Legal & Policy Adherence: Proper application of the use-of-force policy, understanding of proportionality, and justification of actions. Must demonstrate clear understanding and correct application throughout the scenario.

• 2. Tactical Decision-Making: Judgment under pressure, use of cover, containment, and safe movement tactics. Must make sound tactical decisions without unnecessary risk.

• 3. Communication & Coordination: Radio discipline, clear verbal commands, and team coordination. Must maintain effective, clear communication and show teamwork.

• 4. De-escalation & Control: Ability to attempt de-escalation and recognize when to escalate or disengage. Must attempt de-escalation when safe and avoid premature force.

• 5. Weapon Handling & Safety: Safe handling, discipline, and accuracy. Zero tolerance for unsafe handling or negligent discharges.

• 6. Medical & Post-Incident Care: Proper casualty care, scene security, and transition to medical aid. Must recognize the need for care and secure suspects correctly.

Scoring System:

• 5 = Exceptional – flawless execution, leadership under pressure

• 4 = Proficient – meets all standards confidently

• 3 = Satisfactory – meets minimum standard; minor errors acceptable

• 2 = Needs Improvement – multiple tactical or procedural errors

• 1 = Unsatisfactory – failed to demonstrate understanding or acted unsafely

Passing Requirements:

• Trainee must receive at least “3” (Satisfactory) in every category.

• Any unsafe discharge, policy violation, or negligent handling results in immediate failure and mandatory retraining.