Editing Fragile:SWAT (section)

=Roles/Duties=


*Team leader: This is the leader of the "element" or team that makes the assault. Usually a sergeant or lieutenant, often the most experienced member of the team. He makes command decisions while the team is inside the site and has to maintain tactical awareness from his place in the middle of the team. Possibly an NPC, possibly a PC, depending.


*Scout/Point Man: At the front of the "stack", the point man enters rooms first, as low as possible, allowing his partner to enter directly after him and fire over him if necessary. Usually armed with a one handed weapon (pistol, light SMG) so he can mirror or carry a shield. Mirroring is the use of a mirror or optic camera to check under doors, around corners, through ceiling panels, or tiny holes drilled in the wall. He may double as "key man", whose task is to open the door. In this case, he's the last man through the door as he has to take time to ready his weapon. He may open the door while his partner deploys a flash-bang.


*Assaulters: Generic entry personnel, they make up the bulk of the SWAT team. Rarely first in the door, almost never last. Tasked with covering a particular area of responsibility (AOR) such as a door, hallway, staircase, etc. They provide cover for other personnel who have specialized tasks.


*Breachers: Opening the door by whatever means are called for (simple doorknob, using a ram or "key", breaching charge, breaching shotgun), the breacher is the last man to enter a room and may be the point man, one "key man", breaching team, or rear guard. They need to be strong and to know something about building construction to enable them to know how to best open a door. They often carry a shotgun with breaching rounds.


*Rear Guard: The last man on the entry team who watches the team's back, walking backward at times to make certain no threats sneak up; often the breacher with shotgun or ram. Often stronger than the others and tasked with carrying spare gear such as ammo and grenades.


*Snipers: Can be dedicated snipers, cross-trained entry personnel, or officers at the IP. Most of their job is simply watching the site and providing updates to the CP, with the rare shot at a threatening and visible suspect. More likely a role for NPCs given the relative lack of physical involvement.


*Grenade specialist: Not covered in the book, but I assume this is the SWAT guy who carries a grenade launcher for putting tear gas (CS) in a room. Unlikely to have regular 40mm explosive rounds, but he might have "non-lethal" ammo such as baton rounds. Needs to have the Tactical and Indirect weapon proficiencies.