by Steve » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:23 pm
Apparently, I missed something absolutely crucial here.
Your team is based on both U.S. Navy SEALs and LE SWAT teams?
I have been laboring under the mistaken impression that SWAT teams and (most) SEAL teams have very different missions, radically different training, and significantly different equipment. In my limited experience, LE SWAT teams perform urban high-risk warrant servie, limited Hostage Rescue / Barricaded Suspect missions within secured perimeters, and handle the weird / violent situations that crop up in large urban areas (again within a cordoned perimeter). SEALs tend to train to do longer ranged operations outside of controlled perimeters with significntly higher threat targets, do long range patrolling, surveillance and takedowns, and vessel boarding operations.
Building a team of 14-20 year olds who study both LRRP and SWAT tactics seems like it would require significantly more in the way of commitment than agreeing to watch movies and read books. Things like, i dunno, meeting physical fitness requirements, attending training events, and longer-term team exercises. Also, I would expect that gear requirements would be significantly stricter, such as requiring an immersion-capable primary with common magazines for uniformity and logistical simplicity, developing team roles beyond 'rifleman' and 'sniper', establishing a contribution system to buy larger items like breaching gear (hooligan tools are expensive!), requiring replica body armor (since both groups routinely wear it), and so on.
While it is always nice to see more teams in the area, I'm not seeing a whole lot of positives in your setup. Wouldn't it be a better use of your time to fold into a larger, existing group to benefit from an experience pool rather than trying to go it on your own? And how does it make sense to put age restrictions on your group that would be generally prohibitive of both prior-service military and LE SWAT members? A team of three isn't even a full fire team, let alone an LE-style entry stack.
I'm sure you will take this as unwarranted criticism, and that is your right. I'd still recommend letting your ideas simmer a little to season before throwing your hat into the ring as a team.
This Week In Airsoft wrote:This Week in Airsoft stands behind its statement... The internet and YouTube can be your teacher.
