Training

WSTOA’s Basic SWAT course is 5 days and 50 training hours The focus of WSTOA’s Basic SWAT course is the basic required knowledge for officers and deputies newly assigned to SWAT or Tactical Response Teams. The target audience are individuals who have recently been assigned to SWAT, they will gain the understanding of contemporary theories and concepts used during SWAT operations. Students will participate in classroom and field exercises designed to develop their understanding of the tactics and techniques employed during tactical operations. This course is facilitated by experienced SWAT team leaders and elements leaders currently assigned to Tier 1 and Tier 2 SWAT teams, experienced in developing newly assigned SWAT officers.

The primary course objectives are as follows:

• SWAT Theory & Concepts in order to gain an understanding of SWAT utilization during tactical operations.
• Team organization and structure, to include the responsibilities of each position within the team.
• Specialized equipment and munitions introduction used by SWAT Teams.
• Tactics used during armed barricaded incidents and high risk warrant service missions.
• Proper Scouting and Operational Plan & the necessity of after-action reviews.
• Dynamic, Slow and Methodical, and Covert movement techniques.

Required Equipment:

• Helmet
• Entry Vest
• Gloves
• Tactical Uniform
• Rifle/SMG
• Handgun
• Eye and hearing protection
• APR (Gas Mask)
• PT gear
• Simunition, Force on Force, UTM bolt or rifle with 150 rounds of marking cartridges
• Simunition, Force on Force, UTM protective gear

Location:

• Richland Police Department Range Facility
• 3230 Twin Bridges Rd., Richland, WA

Cost:

• $700.00

Time:

• Day 1 (Monday) Start time 0800 hrs.

Registration:

• Click here to register

Cancellation:

• Deadline to cancel is 7 days prior to class.
• $700 no show or late cancellation fee.

Question?

• Contact Matthew Nelson at mnelson@ci.richland.wa.us

5/22/2025 thru 5/23/2025
Lakewood, WA
Co-Hosted By Lakewood Police Department

This course is also offered ONLINE.

***This class is not intended for SWAT Officers, as it is designed primarily for patrol officers with no SWAT experience***.

Course Overview:
This course is designed to provide patrol supervisors with the information and tools needed to manage a critical incident prior to the arrival of SWAT. Understanding the methodology used in managing a dynamic tactical problem, incident command system fundamentals, and the 4 primary types of critical incidents involving an adversary will give the patrol supervisor the tools needed to succeed during these events.

Registration Deadline:
4/21/2025

Course:
#20250910

Prerequisites:
Sworn full-time law enforcement personnel, Fire/EMS members

Training Location:
9401 Lakewood Dr SW
Lakewood, WA 98499

Student Equipment:
Please see preface for a detailed student equipment list.

Start Time:
0800

Co-host Point of Contact:
Officer Michael Wiley
mwiley@cityoflakewood.us

Nearest Airport:
Seattle-Tacoma International

Hotel Suggestions:
Fairfield Inn and Suites
1515 Wilmington Dr
Dupont, WA 98327
Phone #:360-334-3314

 

Your instructor can be reached via email at bbuchanan@centrifugetraining.com.

Closest Major Airport: Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)

Recommended Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn – 401 E. Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98901;

Home2 Suits – 2420 West Nob Hill Blvd, Yakima, WA, 98902

Location: Yakima, WA

Course Overview:
This course is designed to teach the student various methods of ballistic shield use during tactical clearing. This includes firearms
drills with the shield, the use of one and two officer shield teams, and the use and construction of a tactical mirror.

View The Training Announcement

View The Course Overview and Instructional Goals

Registration Deadline: 5/16/2025Course # 20250900

Prerequisites: Sworn full-time law enforcement personnel

Training Location:
Lakewood Police Department
9401 Lakewood Dr SW
Lakewood, WA 98499

Student Equipment: Please see preface for a detailed student equipment list.

Start Time: 0800

Co-host Point of Contact: Officer Michael Wiley mwiley@cityoflakewood.us

Nearest Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International

Hotel Suggestions:
Fairfield Inn and Suites
1515 Wilmington Dr
Dupont, WA 98327
Phone #:360-334-3314

Cancellation Policy:
Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel at least 30 days before a scheduled class start date. This gives us the
opportunity to find a replacement for your seat.
Cancellations made 30 days or more in advance of the course start date will receive a 100% refund.
Cancellations made 7 – 29 days in advance will receive a full refund less a $150 processing fee.
Cancellations made less than 7 days in advance will NOT receive a refund.
Substitutions are acceptable at any time.
No refunds will be given for no shows.

Puyallup Police Department Training Center
1531 39th Ave Se Puyallup, WA 98374
July 7th-10th 2025 (Monday- Thursday) 0800-1800

Course Overview:
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape of technology, cell phones, social media and more, effective case development in criminal investigations requires a multifaceted approach. This training course offers a unique blend of physical surveillance techniques and historic cell record analysis, equipping participants with the
skills to gather, analyze, and interpret data from both the physical environment and cell record footprints. Students will learn that when the two are combined, it is a powerful tool not only for apprehension but:

• Showing teams where and how to latch onto those 3,339m pings
• Identifying and locating co-conspirators
• Finding where the physical evidence went after the crime to help support your case for court (clothing, get away vehicle, firearms, etc.)
• Showing a team where to canvas for video and what direction the suspect(s) fled after the crime
• Identifying and finding potential stash houses and hideouts for narcotic investigations

Target Audience:
This course is designed for law enforcement Officers, Detectives, Task Forces, Street Crime Teams and SWAT who are looking to enhance their investigative and apprehension capabilities through innovative techniques of combining physical surveillance with cell record analysis.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding Physical Surveillance:
Participants will learn the fundamentals of physical surveillance, including observation techniques, situational awareness, and mission planning.

Introduction to Cell Record Analysis:
The course will provide an overview of cell phone technology, including how call detail records (CDRs) work, and their relevance in investigative scenarios. Students will make their own “playbooks” from CDRs.

Data Correlation Techniques:
Participants will explore methods for integrating physical observations on the street with historic cell data by creating actionable intel and operation packets before launching out.

Real-World Application:
Through case studies and hands-on exercises, learners will practice combining physical surveillance methods with cell record analysis to help build and develop a criminal case for court.

Registration:
Register before May 15th- $600
After May 15th- $700
cypheropsgroup.com

View Flyer Here

The Man Tracking Operations course presented by Backcountry Tactics prepares SWAT Teams and tactical units to participate manhunts for dangerous fugitives in a rural, woodland, and open-air environments. Topics include Visual Tracking, Land Navigation, Firearms Skills, Patrolling Tactics, Tacking Team Tactics, Grid Search Team Tactics, Integrating K9 assets, Coordinating with Air Assets, and Incident Command Considerations. The course is presented using focused lectures, extensive field exercises, force-on-force scenarios with role players, a tabletop exercise, and a final functional exercise. The course is limited to 8 students.

 

Dates: July 28 – August 1, 2025 (first day starts at 0800)

Location: Camp Bonneville, 23201 NE Pluss Road, Vancouver WA, 98682

Tuition: $1195 per officer

To Register: https://backcountrytactics.com/

 

Backcountry Tactics will provide the following for each student:

• A Simunition™ M4/M16/AR15 conversion kit and sufficient Simunition SecuriBlanks™ for each student’s use during the course.
• Land navigation tools and tracking equipment for each student’s use during the course.
• A reference quality student manual for each student to keep.

To participate in the course each student should bring the following:

• An M4/M16/AR15 variant rifle with a sling and three magazines.
• Duty handgun with holster and three magazines.
• 300 rounds of rifle training ammunition and 50 rounds of handgun training ammunition.
• Uniforms suitable for open air training preferably in a camouflage or OD green color.
• Additional clothing suitable for prevailing weather conditions and inclement weather.
• Issued ballistic vest and load bearing gear.
• A small backpack.

For more information contact:
Charlie Winslow
757-636-1733
backcountrytactics@outlook.com

The Man Tracking Operations course presented by Backcountry Tactics prepares SWAT Teams and tactical units to participate manhunts for dangerous fugitives in a rural, woodland, and open-air environments. Topics include Visual Tracking, Land Navigation, Firearms Skills, Patrolling Tactics, Tacking Team Tactics, Grid Search Team Tactics, Integrating K9 assets, Coordinating with Air Assets, and Incident Command Considerations. The course is presented using focused lectures, extensive field exercises, force-on-force scenarios with role players, a tabletop exercise, and a final functional exercise. The course is limited to 8 students.

 

Dates: July 28 – August 1, 2025 (first day starts at 0800)

Location: Camp Bonneville, 23201 NE Pluss Road, Vancouver WA, 98682

Tuition: $1195 per officer

To Register: https://backcountrytactics.com/

 

Backcountry Tactics will provide the following for each student:

• A Simunition™ M4/M16/AR15 conversion kit and sufficient Simunition SecuriBlanks™ for each student’s use during the course.
• Land navigation tools and tracking equipment for each student’s use during the course.
• A reference quality student manual for each student to keep.

To participate in the course each student should bring the following:

• An M4/M16/AR15 variant rifle with a sling and three magazines.
• Duty handgun with holster and three magazines.
• 300 rounds of rifle training ammunition and 50 rounds of handgun training ammunition.
• Uniforms suitable for open air training preferably in a camouflage or OD green color.
• Additional clothing suitable for prevailing weather conditions and inclement weather.
• Issued ballistic vest and load bearing gear.
• A small backpack.

For more information contact:
Charlie Winslow
757-636-1733
backcountrytactics@outlook.com

10/20/2025 thru 10/22/2025
Burlington, WA
Co-Hosted By Skagit County Sheriff’s Office

Course Overview:
A three-day course designed to provide SWAT Team leaders and trainers with the ability to design, plan and prepare proactive training guidelines, manuals, events, calendars and support documents in order to best utilize limited training time and opportunities in order to produce the highest quality personnel and team capability; and to provide SWAT Team leaders and trainers with proven risk mitigation methodologies to counter risk within the three main risk areas for SWAT Teams, i.e. legal, training and operations.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE ONLINE

NTOA Individuals Members: $320.00
Non-Member (includes 1-year individual membership) Online: $375.00

Registration Deadline: 9/22/2025

Course #20253180

Prerequisites: Sworn full-time law enforcement personnel, Fire/EMS members

Training Location
16220 Peterson Rd
Burlington, WA 98233

Student Equipment
Please see preface for a detailed student equipment list.

Start Time: 0800

Co-host Point of Contact:
Gary Huehnerhoff
garymh@co.skagit.wa.us

Nearest Airport:
Bellingham International Airport

Hotel Suggestions:
LA Quinta
1670 S Burlington Blvd
Burlington, WA 98233
Phone #:360 205-9205

Cancellation Policy:
Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel at least 30 days before a scheduled class start date. This gives us the opportunity to find a replacement for your seat.

• Cancellations made 30 days or more in advance of the course start date will receive a 100% refund.
• Cancellations made 7 – 29 days in advance will receive a full refund less a $150 processing fee.
• Cancellations made less than 7 days in advance will NOT receive a refund.
• Substitutions are acceptable at any time.
• No refunds will be given for no shows.

Your instructor can be reached via email at cjenkins@centrifugetraining.com or bbuchanan@centrifugetraining.com.

Closest Major Airport: Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)

Recommended Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn – 401 E. Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98901;
Home2 Suits – 2420 West Nob Hill Blvd, Yakima, WA, 98902

Location: Yakima, WA