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.
Staff Sgt. Natividad Jurado Jr., Inter-American Air Forces Academy international force protection instructor, answers questions about the armored vehicle provided by the Alamo Area Council of Governments for use in the Special Reactions Team training seminar June 15. The seminar at the IAAFA Training Center was conducted by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and covered the training the team performs and the equipment they use.(U.S. Air Force photo/Jose T. Garza III) (Photo by Jose T. Garza III)
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.”
By Jose T. Garza III,
JBSA-Lackland Public Affairs
June 24, 2015
