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WCCC Partners with PATOA to Develop Regional Tactical Training Academy
Westmoreland County Community College and the Pennsylvania Tactical Officer’s
Association (PATOA) have formed an alliance to improve our region's homeland security,
tactical operations and officer safety.(See below pictures of various training courses held at the PSTC.)
The Tactical Training Academy will:
- Enhance the Region’s preparedness for possible acts of terrorism through advanced tactical
training.
- Provide timely and relevant tactical training to the region’s law enforcement first responders.
- Explore the development of a standardized format for SWAT basic and advanced courses
which will be compliant with National Incident Management System and the National Tactical
Officers Association (NTOA) standards.
- Provide annual update training for SWAT operators as suggested by the NTOA.
- Provide on-going tactical training to patrol and tactical officers.
- Establish a SWAT Command College for current or potential SWAT Commanders and Team
Leaders.
- Provide annual update training for SWAT commanders as suggested by the National Tactical
Officer’s Association.
- Through training and exercises, promote interaction, joint training and interoperability
among local, state and federal Tactical Teams.
- Promote interaction and interoperability among the state’s regional Counter Terrorism Task
Forces and the state and regional Tactical Teams within their areas.
Overview to the Tactical Training Academy
The establishment of WCCC’s Tactical Training Academy, with the continued support from
the PATOA, will ensure that our Commonwealth and FEMA regions are well-prepared for
possible domestic and international terrorism attacks.
The Tactical Training Academy will provide courses under three separate disciplines:
- Tactical Police Officer Training Academy – These training courses will be geared to the patrol
officer who may find themselves in tactical situations
- Tactical Operator Training School – These courses will be geared toward current members of
tactical or SWAT teams or officers who are pursuing such a career.
- Tactical leader/SWAT Commander Command College — Tailored for supervisors, managers
and team leaders, these course focus on tactical leadership and overall incident management and command.
Below is a partial list of proposed courses . Many of these courses are modular and can be modified to fit the needs of individual groups or agencies. Most instruction involves “hands-on” training; however, some are seminar based – particularly those within the Tactical Command School. All courses are instructed by active or recently retired tactical officers with extensive training and experience.
Tactical Police Officer Training School
Rapid Response to Active Shooters – 8 or 16 hours
- Critical Incident Management – 8 hours
- Civilian Critical Incident Survival – 2 hours
- Community Anti-Terrorism Training – 2 hours
- Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombings – 8 Hours
- Ballistic Shield Techniques – 8 hours
- WMD Law Enforcement Protective Measures – 8 hours
- Clandestine Laboratories Training – 8 hours
- Tactical Building Searches – 16 hours
Tactical Operator Training School
High Risk Warrant Service Planning – 8 hours
- Theory of Dynamic Entry – 8 hours
- High Risk Warrant Service – 40 hours
- Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombings – 8 hours
- Ballistic Shield techniques – The 8-24 hours
- Less Lethal Munitions- 8-16 hours
- Chemical Munitions – 8-16 hours
- Noise Flash Diversionary Devices – 8 hours
- Basic SWAT – 40 hours
- Basic Police Sniper – 40 hours
- Hostage Rescue Operations– 24 hours
- Vehicle Takedowns and Rescue – 16 hours
- Tactical Mechanical Breaching – 8 hours
- Tactical Ladder Operations – 24 hours
- Wooded Terrain Search Operations – 16 hours
Tactical Leader/SWAT Commander Command College
- Critical Incident Command – 8-16 hours
- SWAT/Tactical Team Management – 40 hours
- Critical Incident Management – 8-16 hours
- Tactical Team Leader Development – 24 hours
All courses will be conducted at the new WCCC Public Safety Training Center off of Interstate
70 near Smithton, PA. The center is situated on 166 acres in a remote location along the
Youghiogheny River. The site includes cliffs, slopes, open and wooded terrain. The buildings
and grounds of our Public Safety Training Center in Smithton are available for large training
endeavors, such as full scale incident response drills, individual department tactical training,
building entry practice, helicopter evolutions and bomb training.
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See below pictures of SWAT Activities and RTTA Training
Courses held at the WCCC Public Safety Training Center,
Smithton,PA
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SWAT Day l 
SWAT members receive helicopter safety briefing.
PSP helicopter ferries tactical teams to a wooded
scenario while the Pittsburgh SWAT tactical vehicle
participates in a rescue drill.
SWAT members rescue a mannequin while others guard against further attack.
SWAT teams practice building entries 
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Tactical Building Search for the Patrol Officer Course
 Classroom sessions
Practicing officer down drill 
 Practicing room to room searches
Tactics in hallways discussed 
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Southwest PA SWAT Alliance Training
Teams practice entry Bus issues reviewed
 
250 SWAT Operators and Instructors!
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SWAT Basic Operator Training Course
 Suiting up...
The basics begin...
 
Entry practice Stairwells
 
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Advanced SWAT Operator Course
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