Fam Swat Team ???????????

[intheaircop2]

HERE IS SOME CRAZY NEWS!


THERE WILL BE TWO TEAMS OF FAMS TRAINED TO BE, WHAT THEY ARE CALLING "GO TEAMS"(SWAT). Eight FAMS from the one office, and eight FAMS from another office and 4 FAMS from HQ. I am not sure what they will be doing but they will be going to some sort of SWAT school and then getting all the toys. Now here is my question.

WHAT IN THE HELL DOES THE FAM SERVICE NEED "GO TEAMS"(SWAT)???????????????????

I think it is more of a show of force. I was one of the 300 hundred FAMS who had to go down to New Orleans and we did not have the proper equipment for that mission. We have no vests, no long guns, no duty uniforms, no other weapons(peper spray , asps etc) except our handguns. We were patting down these people and finding guns and other weapons. There was even some sort of gun fire in front of the airport and none of us had a vest and we still are not issued a vest. The FAMS who were in New Orleans were working in jeans / shorts / and T-shirts. We are not even issued badge holders so we could hang a badge around our necks( they are getting those for us soon)

DON'T YOU THINK THE FAM SERVICE WOULD ISSUE US VESTS? They do not!

But the new go teams!? I am not sure what they will be called to do because FBI HRT has jurisdiction over any crap that needs to be handeled once we are on the ground. Also the local PDs have SWAT if we need them. SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF THIS NEW THING???? I can't see what the new "GO TEAMS" will ever have to do. I think it is a waste of money and man power. These teams will be sitting in the office, not flying, and just waisting space.

[igneous]

If I were a fam(I'm trying to become one) I don't think I would even want to be on that team. I would get bored of sitting around all the time. It would be pretty sweet to get the swat training though. I agree with you though, not quite sure what the team is for though.

[BP348]

My question where are they going to put the teams? Doesn't do much good to have a team at JFK in NYC and have a situation at LAX? Going to take 5 - 6 hours just to get the team to where the problem is. Sounds like a good idea but I don't see them doing much good. I also don't see the FBI letting the FAMS take this over. What else is HRT good for?

[Ranger33]

It does not seem to make much sense unless something is soon to come down that no one knows about yet. Maybe the mission is getting expanded. If not, I dont see what they will be doing. On the other side, if the guys getting to be on the teams get the ability to train alot it could be cool for them. I guess time will tell.
After 7.5 years in the military, I have learned to not try and make to much sense of this stuff.......

[Bearcat06]

My question where are they going to put the teams? Doesn't do much good to have a team at JFK in NYC and have a situation at LAX? Going to take 5 - 6 hours just to get the team to where the problem is. Sounds like a good idea but I don't see them doing much good. I also don't see the FBI letting the FAMS take this over. What else is HRT good for?

And if something happens in a Airport....the locals are going to be pissed off and will spout off about the Feds coming in and taking over stuff they can and should be handling....especially in Airports like LAX, JFK, Nashville (Scott's Airport) where they have their own TAC teams.....

[Joeyd6]

Anything at the airports is federal! Period. Doesn't matter if the airport has their own police or SWAT team or the state police do. Feds get first and last dibs and will run the show. The local or State may be first to respond, and will participate in what happens, but they will not dictate what operation will be done or how. The FBI HRT Team (which also takes 2-4 hours from notification till on scene with all equipment) will running the operations if that is the situation. Or their altenrate military part. All airports already have plan according to TSA regulations.

In NY, we have the Port Authority Police who handle the airports. You then have the airports within the NYPD's jurisdiction. You then have the FBI within the same jursidiction. I have done many drills and exercises there. In every case, FBI ran the show with a simulated delayed response. The other agencies all responded and did their thing. But other than setting up the perimeter and dealing with the immediate threats, it was hold till HRT arrived. They took over operations and logistics. All departments functioned, but we took orders from the Feds.

Now, those on the bottom end may diagree and argue. A few PAPD guys would say "It's my airport and my show!" NYPD guys woudl say "Your in my city...its our show!" All were quickly corrected at the drill briefings where it was "No....it is a federal crime and our case and our actions or investigation, so it is our show." It would end there.

[steve1568]

If they are going to put the FAMs in more traditional police roles as the situation dictates then you need to have the toys to do the job (vests, OC spray, ASPs, etc.). The whole idea of the Go-Team sounds like someone might be a little bored with their job and they are looking at making it a little sexier and they convinced a boss to go with it. I too would be curious to see how deploying these teams is going to work.

[Joeyd6]

If they are going to put the FAMs in more traditional police roles as the situation dictates then you need to have the toys to do the job (vests, OC spray, ASPs, etc.). The whole idea of the Go-Team sounds like someone might be a little bored with their job and they are looking at making it a little sexier and they convinced a boss to go with it. I too would be curious to see how deploying these teams is going to work.

Me too!

[Bearcat06]

Anything at the airports is federal! Period. Doesn't matter if the airport has their own police or SWAT team or the state police do. Feds get first and last dibs and will run the show. The local or State may be first to respond, and will participate in what happens, but they will not dictate what operation will be done or how. The FBI HRT Team (which also takes 2-4 hours from notification till on scene with all equipment) will running the operations if that is the situation. Or their altenrate military part. All airports already have plan according to TSA regulations.

In NY, we have the Port Authority Police who handle the airports. You then have the airports within the NYPD's jurisdiction. You then have the FBI within the same jursidiction. I have done many drills and exercises there. In every case, FBI ran the show with a simulated delayed response. The other agencies all responded and did their thing. But other than setting up the perimeter and dealing with the immediate threats, it was hold till HRT arrived. They took over operations and logistics. All departments functioned, but we took orders from the Feds.

Now, those on the bottom end may diagree and argue. A few PAPD guys would say "It's my airport and my show!" NYPD guys woudl say "Your in my city...its our show!" All were quickly corrected at the drill briefings where it was "No....it is a federal crime and our case and our actions or investigation, so it is our show." It would end there.

Not disagreeing with you at all.....but the feasiblity to have a team at all the major airports would be out of the world. So do you go to major airports only and hope the little ones don't have incidents...?
What happens when there is an incident.....and the team has to fly hours to get there and get set up. Locals just sit there on the perimeter and wait for the Feds...?

Lots of questions in my book.....and as someone said....sounds like someone thought it would be the cool thing to do without really thinking it through....

[Joeyd6]

Not disagreeing with you at all.....but the feasiblity to have a team at all the major airports would be out of the world. So do you go to major airports only and hope the little ones don't have incidents...?
What happens when there is an incident.....and the team has to fly hours to get there and get set up. Locals just sit there on the perimeter and wait for the Feds...?

Lots of questions in my book.....and as someone said....sounds like someone thought it would be the cool thing to do without really thinking it through....

I totally agree with you. Two teams is no where near enough. My understanding is that this is a pilot program. If it works, it will be rolled out. Plus, they already won 2nd place (not bad for a first year perfomrance) at the SWAT Roundup in Florida this year.

But in reality what will happen is if its a airpot incident like an active shooter, hostage situation etc...is it will end up just like anything else, locals doing the job and FBI coming in hours later to take credit.

But if it involves an aircraft, the locals and state will end up setting up a perimter and holding. The FSD of AFSD will be there instantly, and in contact with the FBI. The FSD is in charge until the the FBI arrives. The FSD are federal law enforcement officers by TSA regs (that definately can be argued and debated another day!). The FBI will have at least ONE agent there to assume control and operations very quickly. Thus, they will be "in control" and calling the shots.

[Bearcat06]

I totally agree with you. Two teams is no where near enough. My understanding is that this is a pilot program. If it works, it will be rolled out. Plus, they already won 2nd place (not bad for a first year perfomrance) at the SWAT Roundup in Florida this year.

But in reality what will happen is if its a airpot incident like an active shooter, hostage situation etc...is it will end up just like anything else, locals doing the job and FBI coming in hours later to take credit.

But if it involves an aircraft, the locals and state will end up setting up a perimter and holding. The FSD of AFSD will be there instantly, and in contact with the FBI. The FSD is in charge until the the FBI arrives. The FSD are federal law enforcement officers by TSA regs (that definately can be argued and debated another day!). The FBI will have at least ONE agent there to assume control and operations very quickly. Thus, they will be "in control" and calling the shots.

My only other problem with it.....is that you guys will be bored ****less sitting around waiting for stuff to happen....so what are they going to do to keep you happy?
I would suspect that if they try to have you go do stuff at the checkpoints if something comes through (like a weapon) that the locals will freak out because (at least at my old airport) not a lot goes on....so everytime you got a call, every damn LEO on the airport showed up......I can only count a couple of times that the FBI actually bothered to show up....and that was only because the incident made the media.....:rolleyes:

Remember, back in 03 they were going to create the TSA Police (or whatver it was going to be called) and have a Federal Police Officer at every checkpoint. They started with 4 Airports....the two in Chicago and the two in Dallas. Program never got off the ground because someone finally started crunching the numbers and went "Rut Roe Shaggy...."

[ud22206]

in the middle of a dhs budget crunch, i would die to hear the arguement made to form this " team"

[Joeyd6]

My only other problem with it.....is that you guys will be bored ****less sitting around waiting for stuff to happen....so what are they going to do to keep you happy?
I would suspect that if they try to have you go do stuff at the checkpoints if something comes through (like a weapon) that the locals will freak out because (at least at my old airport) not a lot goes on....so everytime you got a call, every damn LEO on the airport showed up......I can only count a couple of times that the FBI actually bothered to show up....and that was only because the incident made the media.....:rolleyes:

Remember, back in 03 they were going to create the TSA Police (or whatver it was going to be called) and have a Federal Police Officer at every checkpoint. They started with 4 Airports....the two in Chicago and the two in Dallas. Program never got off the ground because someone finally started crunching the numbers and went "Rut Roe Shaggy...."

I don't think it will be a full duty assignment. More like a response team such as your not so big city departments. Easier to justify.

As for the budget problem....not necassarily going to affect every branch. The DHS may not get the $ it wants, but the critical departments under it do. They will just cut programs from their "not critical" areas. Remember, the USSS is under DHS and you never hear any problems with $. I doubt TSA will. They don't want another 9/11 or other event and then have a lawsuit from the victimns familes saying "You cut money?" It is not good PR. It is a lot easier to just cut another prgram.

[Big Sexy]

in the middle of a dhs budget crunch, i would die to hear the arguement made to form this " team"

The standing up of a FAM Swat would not be detrimental to any budget concerns. The reason for the formation of the teams, is the Director wanted an overt FAMS presence in case of another Katrina style natural disaster. As ITAC has already stated, he was one of the Fams who responded to New Orleans and got the airport up and running. All this in the midst of reports of looters and leo's being shot at, with no vests or long guns. In case of another "situation", being it mother nature or terrorist attack, the Federal Air marshal Service is inviting itself to the party, fully equipped to render assistance and give a helping hand. Fams can be and should be, more than seat warmers. Force protection aboard aircraft is the FAMS bread and butter, but not all the Service is capable of, nor should be limited to.

[InternBoy]

. Fams can be and should be, more than seat warmers. Force protection aboard aircraft is the FAMS bread and butter, but not all the Service is capable of, nor should be limited to.

amen!