Advanced SWAT
Upcoming Courses
printable pdf
06/23/2025 - 06/27/2025
Westlake Police Training Building
Register
09/15/2025 - 09/19/2025
Lake County Sheriff's Office Public Safety Training Center
Register
10/13/2025 - 10/17/2025
Napoleon Fire Department
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5 Days
$750

Scroll down for course description, equipment needs, & schedule below.

HOST THIS TRAINING

The OTOA does not teach one specific “Tactic.” The OTOA instructors teach “Principles.”

  • The OTOA response protocols are built around basic principles.
  • Violation of basic principles develops into poor tactics.
  • The applications of fundamental principles lead to safer tactics.

This class is designed to enhance the basic principles learned in the OTOA Basic SWAT class and introduce students to contemporary principles and tactics, enabling them to become more skilled operators.


IMPORTANT

To participate in this class, it is highly recommended that students have attended and completed the OTOA Basic SWAT school (or equivalent).

Questions about "equivalent"?
Send an email to training@otoa.org.


COURSE SCHEDULE

Class starts at 8:00 AM, and the training days are eight hours long.

DAY 1

0800 – 0930: Course Orientation – Introduction, Waivers, Team Assignments
0930 – 1000: Weapons Handling Drills, WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK
1000 – 1130: One – Three Officer CQB Review
1130 – 1230: Lunch
1230 – 1300: Weapons Handling Drills, WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK 
1300 – 1430: Micro/Flash Drills: Room Clearing, Compliant to Non-Compliant Subject
1430 – 1630: Practical Team Movements/Hallways 
1630 – 1700: Debrief Take Away – Critique      

DAY 1

0800 – 0830: Weapons Handling Drills WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK
0830- 0930:  Practical Room Clearing Principles Team Movement Principles
0930 – 1200: Immediate Action Drills/Micro-Drills Racetrack  
1200 – 1300: Lunch
1300- 1500: Hasty Vehicle Takedowns
1500 – 1545: External Movement /Action at the Breach Point
1630-1700: Debrief / Take Away – Critique      

DAY 3

0800 – 0930: Weapons Handling Drills, WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK 
0930 – 1100: Introduction to HRT
1100 - 1200: Practical – Crisis Entry Team Movements, Rescue Speed Use of Angles
1200 – 1300: Lunch
1300 – 1400: Practical – Use of Shields 
 1400 – 1630: Practical – Micro Drills Team Movement Race Track
1630 – 1700: Debrief / Take Away – Critique
Mid-Week Course Evaluation (Online)

DAY 4

0800 - 0830: Weapons Handling Drills, WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK
0830 – 1100: Micro Drills and Battle Drills / Team Movements and Room Clearing
1100 - 1200: Lunch
1200 - 1630: Micro Drills and Battle Drills / HRT
1630 – 1700: Debrief of Training Day Four, Plan for DETAILED SAFETY CHECKS THE FOLLOWING MORNING

DAY 5

0800 – 0830: Range Safety Brief- WEAPONS SAFETY CHECK
0830 – 1000: Range – Tactical Carbine Drills
1030 – 1100: Range – Transition Drills 
1100 – 1200: Range – Tactical Rifle / Pistol Drills 
1200 – 1300: Lunch
1300 – 1430: Range – Tactical Pistol Drills    
1430 – 1630: Range – Tactical Rifle / Pistol Drills
1630 – 1700: Range – Range Cleanup
1700 – 1730: Debrief / Take Away – Critique
1600 – 1630: Instructor to Student Debrief                                                                                                               
•    Debrief 
•    Class Closing – Take Away / Course Critiques
•    Graduation  


EQUIPMENT LIST

The following is a detailed list of what the OTOA recommends each student bring to the 5-day Basic SWAT training.

Body Armor is MANDATORY for this class. Any of the following options are acceptable:

  • “Tactical” body armor or equivalent. 
  • Plate carrier and Level II or Level III soft body armor.
  • If you DO NOT have "Tactical" body armor", concealable Level II or Level III body armor is acceptable.

Ballistic helmet (if issued)

Primary Weapon System (long gun) AR-15 variant or sub-gun

  • Four (4) 30-round magazines are optimal, (3) 30-round magazines at a minimum are required
  • All rifles and sub-guns are required to have slings mounted
  • All rifles and sub-guns are required to be zeroed BEFORE day one of SWAT week
  • Weapon-mounted light is mandatory. Bring extra batteries.

Secondary Weapon System (pistol)

  • (3) pistol magazines minimum
  • Weapon-mounted light recommended
  • 500 rounds For EACH weapon system - NO GREEN TIP, ARMOR PIERCING, OR STEEL CORE AMMO

FORCE-ON-FORCE EQUIPMENT

OTOA RED TEAM training cadre are all certified Scenario and Safety Certification Training Course graduates.

NOTE: The OTOA will provide one (1) UTM bolt for any standard AR platform rifle, UTM blue magazine, and UTM ammo for each student to use for this class.

The OTOA does NOT provide training pistols or training pistol ammo.

  • Students are encouraged to bring agency-owned weapon conversion kits and marking cartridges.
  • Simunition © FX .556mm rifle marking cartridges are NOT PERMITTED in any OTOA training.
  • All other Simunition © branded pistol marking cartridges in 9mm and .38 caliber are permitted.

PERSONAL & OTHER EQUIPMENT

ANY / ALL EQUIPMENT for a “call out” or SWAT / SRT activation

  • Tactical team or training uniform – mandatory
  • Gloves – We recommend gloves compatible with weapons manipulation
  • Clear wrap-around eye protection – mandatory on range day and during force-on-force training
  • Hearing protection – mandatory on range day
  • Ball cap – mandatory on range day
  • Pen and notebook – MANDATORY for each day
  • Water and food – NO MEALS ARE PROVIDED
  • Bug spray and sunblock - recommended
  • Inclement weather gear for both cold and wet weather - recommended
  • Simunition © / Ultimate Training Munition (UTM) /Force on Force protective gear – recommended

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT TO BRING

  • Ballistic Shields
  • Mirrors

MEDICAL

If you are allergic to bees, outdoor plants, or animals, please bring your epinephrine pen or other medication.

Life-threatening allergies and pre-existing injuries or conditions must be reported to the OTOA training staff on day one of training.


LODGING, TRAVEL & MEALS:

The course cost does not include ammunition, lodging, transportation, and food.

  • Attendees are responsible for their ammunition, lodging, transportation, and food.

Any tactic, technique, or technology covered at any OTOA advanced training or annual training conference MUST be applied in compliance with the United States Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code, and the rules and regulations of an attendee’s employing law enforcement agency.


HOST THIS TRAINING

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