How long is the average wait from academy graduation to eligibility for the S.W.A.T academy?
The average SWAT officer in Gilbert has served between 3 to 5 years before testing for SWAT. Reasons for this vary, but the main issue has to do with the probationary requirement. All officers who test for an opening on SWAT must be off their regular probation. This “test” period starts when the recruit begins the academy and continues a minimum of one year AFTER graduation from the academy. During this time, the officer must demonstrate sound judgment and successfully meet hundreds of specific requirements. After their initial probationary period, officers are allowed to test for specialty assignments (SWAT is one of these). Most officers need a few years in the field before they have the knowledge and skills necessary to function in the SWAT environment. SWAT demands extreme levels of physical and mental ability. These can take, depending on the person, years to develop. The SWAT Commander in Gilbert has over 17 years in law enforcement. The Team Leader has 12.
