JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO- LACKLAND, Texas –
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office SWAT unit conducted a
Special Reactions Team training seminar with Inter-American Air Forces Academy
students from six different countries June 15 at the IAAFA Training Center.
The students – who were from Panama, Colombia, Chile,
Uruguay, Paraguay and Honduras – were allowed to interact with the SWAT team
and experience how they are trained and equipped, in addition to touring the
SWAT team vehicle.
The SRT course is part of a revamped training course,
covering introduction to terrorism, human rights, use of force, weapons
training, pre-planning and tactical considerations, intelligence gathering,
handgun, rifle, vehicle assault, cylindrical
vehicle assault, exterior movement, containment and entry,
building clearing and close quarter combat, active shooter and concepts of
operations.
“The priority goal and mission of an SRT is to save the
lives of hostages, suspects and police officers,” said Capt.
Roberto Cornier, IAAFA International Force Protection
Flight. “The members got to see what types of equipment and techniques other
countries SWAT teams use and how the team forms.”
Sgt. Jerry Garza, BCSO SWAT Team, was impressed with the
students’ questions during the Q&A.
“They asked if what we do is full time and it is not; we do
civilian work and gang unit work,” he said. “They also asked about the kind of
ammunition we use, why we use it and what other weapons we have.”
The IAAFA students can apply their knowledge of civilian
police tactics such as “house to house maneuvers into their missions,” which
occur mostly in the open field, Garza said .
Garza looks forward to BCSO continuing its relationship with
IAAFA, noting plans for the unit to train with them on tactical weapons
maintenance and usage.
Cornier revealed the training is scheduled for the next six
weeks at either the Medina Training Annex or Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis
with the goal of exchanging weapons and firing techniques between the two
organizations.
“This is an important step for the BCSO because their
mission set is currently expanding beyond city operations as they continue to
support neighboring cities,” he said. “The IAAFA team is very excited to work
with local law enforcement organizations in order to exchange tactics and
techniques. This joint training allows each respective team to improve
operational procedures in order to save lives otherwise in danger.”