How to become a member of the FBI’s SWAT team

When talking about Special Weapons and Tactics or SWAT teams, it must first be established that an agent will not simply be assigned to it. An aspiring FBI SWAT agent must apply, take the FBI exam, and get chosen to be a trainee. They must then go to Quantico, Virginia to train rigorously for 12 weeks at the FBI academy.

Since SWAT members are specifically trained to intervene in high-risk situations such as hostage and barricade situations, the selection process is both complicated and delicate. After an agent has served and proven themselves highly effective in different concentrations—essentially meaning that the agent has gained much experience and a good track record in the field—they can be picked or consciously apply for the SWAT team when there’s an opening. The exam for potential SWAT team members is different from the one given for FBI acceptance. It can be taken from an agent’s local field office.

The number of agents comprising an FBI SWAT team varies, with some reaching to as much as 42 members. Sometimes the size can swell more, depending on the scale, severity, and volatility of the situation. SWAT teams from other field offices or regions may even get dispatched to aid local ones.

It’s important to note, too, that the bureau itself has the so-called Tactical Recruiting Program or TRP in place, established in 2006 to recruit individuals with tactical know-how from both the military and various law enforcement agencies, specifically to add them to its specialized SWAT Hostage Rescue Team or HRT.

Adam Quirk obtained a degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s from Boston University. He worked with both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. More FBI-related reads here.