SWAT Team Manual

Rating:
Summary: An old friend..
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: I'm Very Pleased
Review: 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...

Rating:
Summary: My first SWAT training book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: It is what it is
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: I'm Very Pleased
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Worth the $$$$
Review: 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.