Customer Reviews

The Swat Team Manual

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wrote the manual and believe it is what it is. The manual was published in the early seventies (Not a lot of high tech, sophisticated graphic design available back then). The illustrations were decided upon by the publisher. They are line drawings, yet extremely clear in their meaning, for anyone with at least some sense. This manual was used to train countless police departments when it first came out. This was during a time when our law enforcement agencies began to find themselves outgunned and tactically unprepared to meet the threats posed by an increasingly violent faction of lawbreakers. It was meant as a first generation training regimen. I expected, and hoped that more and better material would be published on the subject. It was!

As time continues, all things change and hopefully improve. This was the Model "T". It got things started. The tactics and procedures in this manual are relevant today. The highly evolved equipment availble today (weapons, personal protective gear, pyrotechnics, vision enhancers etc.) makes adaptations to some of the manual's content necessary.

If I had never studied mathematics and needed to learn it quickly, I doubt that I would start with Trigonometry. I'd probably get the basics down first, and build from there.

It did the job in its time. Ask the police departments that used it... It is what it is!

I am not in a law enforcement related vocation. I purchased this book to try to get an understanding of what our police departments might use in preparing them to do some of the more dangerous tasks associated with their jobs.

This book was extremely clear and insightful in explaining the uses of special teams, describing in-depth, step by step tactics, outlining training procedures, and exposing me to many other great to know items.

I have always had a great respect for our police officers. Knowing that they have this type of reference material available to them, makes me feel all the more confident in their abilities to handle situations that occur over and above their normal, already dangerous daily operations.

I'm glad that I bought it...

This book is completely out dated in terms of the production quality and the information it presents. I read the author's own review: "It is what it is," true enough, it's a 1970s style manual. It does outline some basic tactics, dos and don'ts etc about moving under fire in an urban environment. It has these tactics on an individual and team level. So, there is quality stuff in here, timeless basics even. However the presentation is so archaic that you will be left wondering what you paid for. I would recommend a more modern manual. There are probably better purpose built SWAT manuals out there or most of this information can be found in military FMs with better production quality. A lot of the individual and small team stuff is in Gabe Suarez's tactical advantage.

"It is what it is" indeed. In the early 80s it was a beginners SWAT manual. Today it is Paladin Press trying to turn a cheap coin.

The book is an in depth primer for the training of a Special Unit/SWAT Team. It answers questions, provides sound tactical guidance, and addresses in a step-by-step fashion several key segments of special unit's operational duties (sniper use and defeat, barricaded gunmen, building and room clearing, movement, stairwells and halls, ambush drills, hostages etc.)
I was pleased with my purchase and have recommended it others.

I have been involved in training teams for 7 years. This manual is an invaluable primer for any team in the beginning stages of training. Many of the tactics; room clearing, stairwell operations, large building clearing, and team selection, are timeless. They are excellent. Some of the procedures; like the use of mirrors for viewing around corners and overhead areas were first described in this manual. The military has adopted much of the content in their tactics for operating in a built up areas.
This is a great reference source, and was way ahead of its time when it was first written,

I liked this very much. The tactics were presented in a step by step "how to" manner. Easy to follow. It is organized and clear.

This is a good tactical book. Explains very clearly tactical techniques and shows some diagrams. The diagrams are "football playbook" like. They do the job. This book is more like a manual that is given while training to be in SWAT. Not something you pick up and become SWAT. Being because the techniques shown already require some kind of knowledge such as moving in formations. Such as "V formation". Tells you to use V formation not how to move in V formation. I aspire to be in SWAT one day and this book will be very helpful.

If I had buy this book in the 80:s I should for sure give this book 4-5 stars. The SWAT Team Manual was good in the early 80:s but it is out of date today. The book give you basic on how how to train SWAT and clearing/enter room and stairs. I think for sure the book was good in the 80:s but today the tactics are out of date (well not everything but almost).
If you are interested in SWAT training and tactics there is better books today. Remeber I have not yet seen one book that cover everything from room combat too search a stair (this book actually cover it, but littlebit out of date) you have too buy at least 4-5 or more books too cover all these subjects. One book that cover "clearing" of these subjects are Tactical Advantage by Suarez.

Don't be fooled! This book looks like it was written by a fourth grader with a $3.00 budget and a 2 day deadline! The pages seem to be xeroxed, and the illustrations were apparently done by a child. The "tactics" described are hideously superficial. (As an example, I just now flipped open to a random page. Here is what the book explains with regard to the subject of hand signals): "They are extremely effective as long as everyone knows what they mean and can see you giving them."

That's it. That's all it says. Does it give specific examples of hand signals? No. Does it go into any detail whatsoever? No. The rest of the book is equally informative. Man, I really wish you could see these illustrations. Seriously guys, save yourself some money. Don't buy this book. You'll be sorry.

During the period that this book was in the process of being written I had the pleasure of knowing Capt. Cappel. This was the first book of its kind at the time published. Capt. Cappel was also kept busy helping local police forces start up and train their teams. As a Viet Nam Vet who earned the Silver Star, he knew from experience what he wrote.