US Government "SWAT" Teams?

[OzMan]

I was watching the Outdoor Life Network the other day, and they had on "US Air Force Defender Challenge", and they featured the various USAF Commands' base security teams competing in three events. Invited to attend the competition were two teams, an RAF security "regiment" team, and the Department of Energy's team, calling themselves "The DOE Boys". They were tasked with the escorting and protection of nuclear payloads and classified documents.I'm wondering what is the name of this team, and are there any other government agencies who would have an elite tactical team such as this, besides the obvious FBI Hostage Rescue Team.

The DOE took first place, and the RAF took second. The two invited teams beat all of the American hosts/competitors.

[Nondescript]

It could be NEST, kick me if I'm wrong. I'm serious.

[OzMan]

I'm not sure that it would be NEST, but then again I haven't looked too deeply into NEST's capabilities. All teams were set up in 8 man squads, with each squad carrying M4 carbines, M249 SAWs, M240Bs, and M4/M203 carbines. The three events were:

1. Obstacle course testing endurance, medical knowledge, navigation, gas mask donning, running, and pistol marksmanship with gas masks

2. Weapons testing featuring the M4 Carbine, M249 SAW, M240B, and M203 grenade launcher.

3. MOUT scenario for the 8 man team (operating under the UN flag) to infiltrate a small village held by 3 terrorists planning to shoot down overflying aircraft. Objectives were to kill the terrorists, rescue the villagers, and successfully obtain the anti-aircraft missiles. All weapons were configured with either MILES gear or blanks.

Other teams included the security teams from USAF Air Combat Command (ACC), USAF Space Command (SPCOM), USAF in Europe (USAFE), USAF Air Materiel Command (AMC), USAF Military Airlift Command (MAC), and several others. Unfortunately, AFSOC was not on the list. That would've been nice to see. Not saying that CCTs, PJs, and SOWTs would be participating, but I'd like to see what kind of people they have guarding such bases.

The DOE Boys claimed to be at a disadvantage on the weapons event, for never before handling the M203 grenade launcher system. But, they came away with first place, and successfully eliminated all three terrorists in the MOUT scenario before even entering the town, and only lost one man in the process. The RAF team had much trouble, and lost seven out of eight before the "lone wolf" entered and cleared all buildings single-handedly. But in the end, they too beat all USAF teams in their own competition, and came up runner-up to the DOE Boys.

[scm77]

The US Marshalls have ART (Arrest Response Team). woot

[JiJoMacLE45]

Department of Energy has SRTs(Special Reponse Team's) I believe they are called that are similiar in comparison to a police department SWAT team. They provide tactical options for the DOE police at DOE installations. Check out www.specwarnet.com in the taclink section under federal. Dominique has a pretty good write up

[Dominique]

The DOE maintains several full time tactical teams at its facilites. They are VERY heavily armed. They also employ contract security (WSI) at several storage and production facilities.

Things have changed since I did the initial write up, but I'm not going to go into to much more detail here.

[Jack Mehoff]

Almost all government facility have "SWAT" aka SRT team and those guys are not your average Walmart security type

[OzMan]

Are the Marshall Service ARTs anything like the SOG, or Shadow Stalkers? Or is that just a new name?

[martinexsquaddie]

the raf regiment are tasked with airfield defence and SAM use
they don't do security
thats the task of raf police
thet like to think there special forces because there the armed wing of the RAF rofl

[JiJoMacLE45]

If you want to compare, the ARTs are to SOG what FBI field office SWAT teams are to HRT. They are regionally based and handle situations within that area that require additional resources but do not warrant calling out the big boys. Hope that makes sense.

I'm not sure how many ARTs there actually are. I know the USMS office around me doesn't have one, unless they're keeping it a secret. When they have to get tactical to take down a baddy, they generally rely on the state, county, or city tac team to do the heavy lifting.

[Tane Angle]

Stay away from the DOE folks. :| On the job, the sense of humor level is low. p-)

[OzMan]

After watching that show, I was also wondering what other tactical/military competitions there are (I know of the Special Ops "Rodeo"), who attends them, who are the major players, and would it be possible for a civilian such as myself to watch them?

[Dominique]

If you want to compare, the ARTs are to SOG what FBI field office SWAT teams are to HRT. They are regionally based and handle situations within that area that require additional resources but do not warrant calling out the big boys. Hope that makes sense.

I'm not sure how many ARTs there actually are. I know the USMS office around me doesn't have one, unless they're keeping it a secret. When they have to get tactical to take down a baddy, they generally rely on the state, county, or city tac team to do the heavy lifting.

Only the LA district office team is called ART. The other Marshals teams are SRT. THey had one in Puerto Rico, and one in Chicago. After 9/11 they started forming one in Houston and one for NY.

As far as the SOG goes, it's been bus. They upgraded their training facilities, went down to PR (along with several FBI SWAT teams) to remove the protestors from Vieques Island (and rotated personnel to help secure the perimeter), and conducted a joint op with INS/BP to remove criminal aliens after 9/11.

[Dominique]

Almost all government facility have "SWAT" aka SRT team and those guys are not your average Walmart security type

He's partially correct. Just about every government with some type of LE/security funtion either has it's own tactical/SWAT unit or contracts it out.

Beleive it or not the NASA security and SWAT teams oare contract security guys. For those of you we dreams of fast roping from helicopters and kicking in doors, don't think you can stroll in straight out of high school.

Most teams require some type of military, LE, corrections, a lot of years working armed private security, or a degree before they will even hire you to check ID's at the gate.

[Dominique]

After watching that show, I was also wondering what other tactical/military competitions there are (I know of the Special Ops "Rodeo"), who attends them, who are the major players, and would it be possible for a civilian such as myself to watch them?

A lot of SWAT associations and LE agencies sponsor tactical competitions.

The DOE's used to called the Security Police Officer Training Competition (SPOTC). Now its called something like "Top Gun". DOE teams, WSI contract guards, USAF Security Forces, a CQB instructors from the MSFB Training Co., and the UKAEA all competed (it is not open to the public, but they do publish the results and at one time you could download video.)

SWAT Round up is open.

The Law Enforcement and Fire Games are open , but he SWAT comp is closed unless you have a pass.

The Mock Prison Riot is open to the press.

Parts of the Southeastern SWAT comp are open.

These are the only ones I've delt with so I'm not sure how others go.

[JiJoMacLE45]

Thanks for clearing up my post on the USMS Dominique. You're the expert, I just work here.

[Dominique]

Thanks for clearing up my post on the USMS Dominique. You're the expert, I just work here.

I wouldn't say "expert", but I do know a little more than joe blow on the street.

Just for everyone's info, here's a list of government teams that I know of:

FBI HRT
FBI SWAT (including 9 enhanced SWAT teams)

USMS SOG
District SRT (inluding the LA ART)

BOP SORT

BATF&E SRT (including 1 full time team)

INS regional SRT
INS IRT (it's their national level team. It mostly operates along the border)
USBP sector SRT (the San Diego team is called REACT)
USBP BORTAC

USSS UD ERT
USSS UD Counter Sniper Team (CST)
USSS Counter Assault Team (CAT)

US Customs Service SRT

US Mint Police SRT

VA Police - LA has an SRT

Federal Protective Service SRT
Pentagon Force Protection Agency SRT
National Guard Bureau Police SRT

NASA Security Services SWAT (contract)

CIA SPS SRT

NSA Police SRT

DOE Office Of Safeguards and Security (OSS) SRT
DOE Office of Transportation Safety Standards - Special Reaction Force
plus the contract guys from WSI

DHS Police have a tactical team.

US Capitol Police _CERT

Dept of State. MSD

US Park Police SWAT

A lot of the DOD Police have teams (SRT, SOU, EST)

[James]

After watching that show, I was also wondering what other tactical/military competitions there are (I know of the Special Ops "Rodeo"), who attends them, who are the major players, and would it be possible for a civilian such as myself to watch them?

Check http://worldswatchallenge.com/.

[JiJoMacLE45]

Is the Pentagon Force Protection Agency the same as the DOD Police? I've gotta buddy who was a tac-teamer for the DOD police.

[JiJoMacLE45]

Forget that last post, I didn't see DOD at the bottom of list.