Dec 1-3 2014, SWAT Team Leader, Richland, WA.
2015 Courses thus far –
Feb 2-3 Tactical Pistol, Kent WA
April 13-15 Carbine/Subgun User, Kent WA
May 18-20 High Risk Warrant Service, Kent WA
June 15-19 Pistol Instructor, Kent WA
Sept, 14-15, Tactical Pistol, Kent WA
I still have room in the SWAT team leader course in Richland. Contact me if you’re interested. On the note of team leading, I had in service training yesterday and one of the topics covered was leadership. Same buzz words, same traits, same qualities were discussed. They always are, if we believe it, why are there so many crappy leaders?
In the LE profession, some things are universal truths. One of those things is that crooks get younger while you get older. This mandates physical fitness for the life of your career. You have to PT until you’re 53.
Another truth is that there are some crazy people out there who would like to hurt you or others. Some of them are just mean. Either way, you should be very proficient at defending yourself and others. It’s why you became a cop, protect & serve, remember? I want to be very good with handguns, because I always have one. But the handgun does have limitations. Although I could make a 500 yard head shot with a pistol, I would prefer to do it with a rifle. So I have to be good at short ranges and long ranges with two different weapons.
With that in mind, I should be good with my personal long and short range weapons. We can debate all day about the best fighting style for LE – MMA, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling and so forth. If you are actively working on any fighting discipline then you are likely ahead of the game. I have no style, I want to be able launch decent kicks with both legs at all levels, and I want to be able to throw my hands, move my head and keep my ear muffs on. Kick, punch, defend. I guess I adhere to the KPD style of fighting.
I also want to be able to instinctively draw on TTP’s that have been proven to work. That takes more than a single class and annual FoF training. If I am spending more time thinking about what to do than actually doing, my proficiency is out of whack. I need to get my collective shit together to be successful in the worst scenario.
All of these things are a must as a SWAT team leader. I have the honor and privilege of leading men who get it. They will not suffer laziness, incompetence or fools. I demand no less from them so I must lead by example. Last but not least I need to manage risk. I need to plan to get shot at, and god forbid, to get shot. Have I done enough to ensure the planning was thorough for this specific mission? Have I instilled enough responsibility and decision making to the men so if I do get shot, there is an instant transition of leadership and continued decision making? If I can’t answer “Yes” to those questions with conviction, then I am failing as a leader. The one thing that drives me more than anything else, is fear of failing the men. So I won’t. Will you?