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SWAT Team Tactics
SWAT Team Tactics
SWAT Team Tactics
TWO-MAN
TEAM
TACTICS
BUILDING ON INDIVIDUAL SKILLS
“Good morning, men. My name is Max Joseph, and I’ll be your
primary instructor for the day.”
T
his is how Max Joseph began each day of
training during the Two-Man Team Tactics
course. It brought a smile to my face to
hear Max say this each day prior to training,
because it is a testament to his professionalism
and his Marine Corps background.
The class I attended was held in Abilene,
Texas, in March of 2005. This was just eleven
months after I first met Max. While attend-
ing the 2004 Texas Tactical Police Officers An-
nual Convention in Houston, I took the one-day
“Dignitary Protection” class instructed by Max.
It was a great class, but like most tactical sub-
ject areas, you obviously can’t cover the subject
Officers practicing shooting area in one day’s time. What I learned that day
on the move. was that I wanted to attend a more in-depth
training session with Max. Looking over that most officers are only taught indi- neuvered and defeated their opponents,
the TTPOA website training calendar, I vidual skills during their basic acad- who often possessed far greater num-
found the Two-Man Team Tactics course emies. Only if officers are lucky enough bers of men and equipment. The key
and quickly sent in my tuition payment. to become part of a SWAT team do they is effective training and coordination
Max began with a brief personal biog- become versed in team tactics. Due to of movements (TFTT Two-Man Tactics
raphy. He spent seven years in the Ma- the fact that most SWAT teams are part Handbook).
rine Corps, serving in Reconnaissance time, a huge void is left in the officers’ Finally, it was now time to move onto
Companies and obtaining the rank of training as they spend a majority of the range and get some trigger time.
Sergeant. While stationed in California, their time serving as a patrolman on Prior to leaving the classroom, we were
he began working on a protective detail the street. Max asked the class, “How given the daily safety brief. We were
for a very wealthy local resident. Even many times do you find yourself with taught The Three Safety Rules for Two-
though he was just working the protective one other officer searching a building or Man Team Tactics: 1. Muzzle control
detail on the weekends, he earned much handling domestic disturbance calls?” 2. Finger Straight 3. Mechanical Safety.
more than his military pay. Like so many The smallest that a unit can be broken The students heard these three rules a
other military personnel who discover down into and still effectively retain the hundred times over the next three days.
that the civilian sector pays better, Max tactical advantages of unit cover and Don’t think for a second that I’m going
decided it was time for a career change. support is the Two-Man Team. Two men to go into detail about all the shooting
Upon leaving the military, he founded can effectively manage much greater drills and tactics that were taught. If
Tactical Firearms Training Team. For the mission outlines and objectives, than you want this information, you need
last twenty-one years, Max has been in- separate individuals can. to attend the class yourself. However, I
volved in training and working in special Two well disciplined and trained men think this is an excellent class to attend
operations in and out of the CONUS. If can accomplish greater tasks than much and a brief overview is in order.
you have any questions about his quali- larger units of lesser trained troops. Most of the first morning was spent
fications, please check out his website. Throughout history, small units of high- on individual skills. All the basic shoot-
After the introduction, Max explained ly trained, select fighters have outma- ing drills were covered: stationary turns,
SOURCE:
Tactical Firearms Training Team
(TFTT)
Dept. S.W.A.T.
16835 Algonquin Street, Suite 120
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(714) 846-8065
www.tftt.com