Fort Campbell's Special Reaction Team competes in three-day annual competition
by Capt. Laura E. Russell
April 1996

Law Enforcement Command's Special Reaction Team (SRT) got an opportunity to compete against a number of civilian  Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams during the third annual SWAT Competition held recently in Spartanburg, SC.
The LEC team competed against nine civilian and a military Special Reaction Team from Ft. Bragg, N.C., Ft. Gordon, Ga., and Paris Island, N.C. during the three day, six event competition.
"One of the main reasons we work with and compete against civilian SWAT teams is to gain from their experience," said Sgt. Christopher Cross, noncommissioned officer in charge of the post team. "They've been doing this job for a long time and know where to focus. We learn new technical and tactical proficiency by competing against them."
The SWAT competition not only pitted the LEC team against other reactionary teams, it also challenged the cohesive element of the team.
"We were constantly tested on marksmanship skills, speed, accuracy and teamwork throughout each event. The competition built solid cohesion and communication within our team and between the military and civilian agencies," Cross said. "The competition made all of us better prepared to do the job."
The teams competed in combat-shooting drills, a hostage rescue involving clearing a school bus and building, a sniper support/submachine gun event and a rappel and rescue event involving rescuing a hostage from a six-story tower.
The LEC team took first place in the sniper support/submachine gun event. The timed event required one of the two-member team to race to the top of a six-story tower carrying a sniper's weapon, the weapon's tripod and ammunition. The second member of the team (Sgt. Michael Shimer) provided cover.
The shooter (SSgt. Joseph Knights) had to hit a target the size of a quarter 150 meters away. As he prepared to fire the weapon, a 25-mph wind picked up and shook the tower.
"You could almost hear his heartbeats as he prepared to fire from the tower," Cross said. "When Knights hit the target, we exploded with excitement."
"The brotherhood and unity of the team and this type of competition are the best part of this team," said Sgt. Aaron Martin, LEC team member. "I enjoy watching the team skills come together and the thrill and excitement of the people involved."
Although the soldiers were approximately 10 years younger than most of their civilian competitors, LEC's fourth-place finish showed they can hold their own when it comes to physical fitness, marksmanship and tactics.
"This military team here is the best (team) I've worked with as far as their professionalism and training goes," said Capt. Allen Freeman, Spartanburg Detention Facility.
The primary mission of the Special Reaction Team is to preserve human life while reacting quickly to a wide variety of special threats on post. The SRT is trained to handle situations such as barricaded individuals with or without hostages, sniper incidents, combating terrorist operations, drug raids, warrant apprehensions of dangerous individuals and protective-service missions." According to Sgt. Brian Carlson, LEC team member, the training the team members receive challenges them individually.
"It is one of the best ways to conquer our phobias and improve our law enforcement skills," Carlson said.
"The only difference between us and the civilian SWAT teams is our lack of real-life experience," said Sgt. Timothy Bushee, LEC team member, "but for that five percent of the time we do get called out, you can rest assured we'll be prepared."

Return to MP Articles or
Go to "MP wounded in weapon accident," an article about Sgt. Matt Jenkins, a former member of the Ft. Campbell SRT at the above competition.