Editing Fragile:SWAT (section)

=Preparations and Stacking=


The team starts at the LCC, close to their entry point but safe from enemy line of sight. Also known as the rally point or final assault position, also used for safe entry and hostage egress. As they prepare to enter, they line up or "stack up" and prepare to move in together in the proper order (point man, cover man, team leader and assaulters, rear guard). The method of stacking can vary with terrain and features of the entry point, in one line or two lines on opposing sides. Stacked teams often lay off-hands on the shoulder of the officer ahead of him for silent communication. A nod of the head means "ready to go", reciprocal squeeze of the shoulder returns the sentiment. When the covering man lifts his hand from his partner, it is generally to steady his weapon, a warning to his partner.


SWAT teams use two-man elements or "buddy teams" composed of two officers who work and train together for long periods to get to know each other and work as point man or point cover man (covers the point man as he does his job). SWAT PCs can decide on who you want as your buddy once I've made final approval; I'd prefer PCs to be buddies with other PCs, but may need to make exceptions.


Vegas SWAT will assault with two elements composed of five man teams, common in the U.S., each with a team leader with two two-man elements. The elements can split off if the team needs to spread out and cover a wider area, the team leader going with one or the other and staying in the middle of the stack. PCs are probably going to be on the same team while NPCs compose the other one, entering from another point. If we end up with six or seven SWAT guys, this could change.


When entering, the team needs to decide on covert or dynamic entry. Covert or stealth entry means that the team tries to enter silently and unnoticed, concealing themselves and moving slow and methodically. This requires Stealth checks. Dynamic entry refers to loud, fast, and sudden entrance, meant to take advantage of surprise and shock. You behave aggressive and forceful, attempt to saturate the building, covering all rooms as quickly as possible, but never working alone. This is the likely entry method for the Vegas SWAT at the compound.


As the team moves through a building, they enter and clear each room with at least two officers per room and preferably more. Each man has an AOR or area of operation (AO) to cover; a part of a room, hallway, balcony, etc. This reduces the chance of friendly fire and provides security for the team as it moves through the building. You should maintain your AOR even when under fire, as you may hit teammates as they move to engage or leave them open to fire from your AOR. The point man is responsible for the entire room as he steps through the doorway, choosing his AOR dynamically as he assesses threats, then moves in the direction of his choice. His partner discerns this based on body language and chooses a complimentary AOR. AORs tend to follow the same pattern for the rest of the team, as determined in drills.


When there is evidence or a need for extra caution, a team may perform a deliberate or "slow" clear in which they painstakingly go over the entirety of a room before announcing that it is clear. It can take over an hour and involves one officer covering the other as he thoroughly examines an area.


There are many methods for entering a room, and because doorways ("the fatal funnel") are very dangerous in CQB, each has certain advantages and disadvantages. The book has diagrams but I don't, so this may be a bit abstract and hard to visualize:


*Buttonhook entry is a fast technique for reduced silhouette time; two men stack up on opposite sides of a door, then enter and hook 180 degrees, moving along the room wall, each man's AOR being his half of the room.


*Cross entry is for advance view of the AOR and straight line movement; double stack on the door, enter one at a time, crossing into the opposite part of the room from their stack (crossing over). Must be well rehearsed to work.


*Cross-hook entry is often used for entrances close to a perpendicular wall; the team stacks up at the door and then enters one at a time, point man buttonhooks, cover man crosses, and each following man alternates hooking and crossing.


*Cross-lean entry is for entry under fire; similar to the cross-hook, but the hooking officer does not actually enter the room, instead leaning with his weapon and upper body around the corner while the partner crosses the room. Allows both men to bring their weapons to bear while also giving cover for at least one.


*Slicing the pie is not an entry method so much as a general technique; the officer moves methodically and smoothly, laterally around an obstacle, sweeping his weapon and line-of-site through the room, covering his "slice" or AOR. Always used on corners.


Clearing a room involves something called an "OODA Loop". OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act.


'''Observe''' refers to scanning a room for suspects, hostages, and other notable features. In Spycraft 2.0, it refers to a combination of Notice and Search, opposed by Blend or Sneak if there's something concealed in the room.


'''Orient''' refers to processing the facts so an officer can make sense of what he or she sees. In Spycraft 2.0, this can refer to the Anticipate combat action (p. 354).


'''Decide''' refers to making the decision to use non-lethal or lethal force. It happens in a split second and depends on many factors, chief most being whether or not a suspect is threatening the officer, his team mates, or a hostage. This is entirely in the hands of the player based on what his PCs knows.


'''Action''' refers to taking action based on this decision, be it non-lethal or lethal. The most common non-lethal action begins with shouting compliance orders ("Down on the floor! LVMPD! Drop the gun! Drop it motherfucker!" etc), which is covered by Intimidate/Coercion and combat actions such as Threaten. The officer can move forward and physically subdue the suspect if they do not comply. This can mean punching or hitting the suspect in melee, spraying their face with mace, tasering them, or, if lethal action is called for, shooting them. Grappling with a suspect is ill advised as it means there's one less SWAT team member with an available weapon and because it can often result in a prolonged struggle. If the suspect complies after non-lethal action, they are disarmed, searched, and handcuffed ("neutralized") for later arrest and processing by trailers. An officer should report that the suspect is neutralized so CP knows ("suspect in custody"). If the suspect is shot or otherwise out of action by lethal force, an officer reports this to CP ("suspect down"). If a hostage or an officer is wounded or killed, an officer should also report this.