Objective

The objective of the NTOA SWAT Physical Fitness Qualification (PFQ) Test is to create a recommended fitness standard with universal applications for all SWAT operators. This standard would implement functional movement, regulation and recovery, and capacity of training and performance using skills that are constantly varied and of high intensity. The goal of this standard is to holistically improve the longevity, safety and effectiveness of SWAT operators, therefore influencing use of force, lessening injury, and increasing operational readiness for mission accomplishment. To solidify this standard, trial runs of this proposed test using multiple SWAT teams from across the United States is required for necessary feedback.

Why Support This Mission?

This is a proposed training test in its first phase. Running your team through this test at least once (3 times or more is preferred) and reporting the results will allow our organization to enhance the details of this standard, ultimately improving performance of SWAT teams nationwide.

Your involvement with this test will determine:

• Achievability
• Risk
• Areas of improvement
• Areas of success
• Job specific application
• Successful implementation
• Scalability, improvement, and growth

Jump to the tests

History of the Test

The NTOA SWAT PFQ Test was significantly influenced by the proven SWAT assessment and selection test of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Santa Monica Police Department. The SME team utilized the structure of the original test with unique modifications to the allotted amount of time each operator would have to achieve maximum repetitions. This type of evolution is referred to as an AMRAP (As Many Repetitions As Possible) and encourages maximum effort and a clear system of scoring. Additionally, the test was designed to meet the needs of a variety of SWAT teams from across the nation.

Our hope is that SWAT teams would find greater cohesion and unity through the collective national standard on operational levels of physical fitness. We hope that all sworn members of the respective department would be inspired to increase their physical fitness abilities and expectations, thus effectively creating an atmosphere of fitness excellence and greater community relations. This test is intentionally very challenging and may require a gradual (six months to a year) of on-ramping, evolution-specific training and preparation in order for operators to be successful.

Background

The NTOA is dedicated to the safety, effectiveness, and well-being of all operators around the United States. Fitness is a key component to this overall mission. Personal physical fitness (regardless of age, gender, or rank) can ensure that all operators maintain their best self which lessens their chances of injury or sickness, and helps to control both agency-funded health care costs and Worker’s Compensation expense claims. All of these benefits, plus increased operator safety, are reasons for creating a fitness standard. The NTOA SWAT PFQ Test is intended to be that standard.

A standard provides operators a threshold to measure capability and capacity. Operators work in an environment that can be unknown and unknowable. Fitness, which includes endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy, increases capability and capacity. Capability and capacity foster adaptability. With input taken from subject matter experts within various law enforcement agencies around the nation, the following Evolutions (which require nothing more than traditional SWAT gear and very limited equipment) have been developed to measure an operator’s fitness. These specific Evolutions, done in order of large to small muscle groups, and combined with the related scoring system, were designed to gauge both capacity and capability. Whether a team has 26+ members (Tier 1), 19 members (Tier 2), or even just one member, the test is applicable, measurable and standardized.