Special Reaction Team

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Soldiers from the 42nd Military Police Detachment's Special Reaction Team pull security on a bus that was taken hostage by terrorists during the multi-agency Orbit Comet anti-terrorism exercise at Fort Bragg, August 2005.

A Special Reaction Team (SRT) is a specialized team or element within a military police unit that has been tasked with a level response to a high risk situation within a miltary base or compound. SRT is found within law enforcement units of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The teams are military equivalents of civilan police department SWAT teams. Commanders must provide an installation SRT capable of providing an enhanced response to developed threats in their area of responsibility within two hours of initial notification. This is in anticipation of possible terrorist attacks against Army, Marine Corps and Navy installations. The teams respond to situations as varied as hostage rescue, counter-sniper actions, VIP protection, and counterterrorism.

Some situations requiring SRT employment may include, but are not limited to:

Barricaded subjects.

Hostage situations.

Sniper incidents.

Counterterrorist operations.

VIP protection (as a response force).

Threatened suicide incidents.

Barricaded, mentally disturbed persons. During hostilities, SRTs may be required to perform similar missions in a combat environment.

SRT priorities during an incident are:

Protecting lives, to include hostages, law enforcement personnel, bystanders, and suspects.

Securing the safe release of hostages.

Isolating/containing the incident.

Gathering information/intelligence. This is an ongoing responsibility from the beginning of an incident until its resolution.

Protecting property/equipment. Preventing escape.

Apprehending offenders.^[1]

Conducting an assault (only if all other alternatives have been exhausted, no other assistance is expected, and a threat to human life exists).

A Special Reaction Team is composed of seasoned Military Police who have received training for high-risk situations (high risk warrants, hostage situations, barricaded suspects). They are a Department of Defense equivalent to a SWAT and often attend the same schools for training.