SWAT Team Physical Fitness Qualifier

The Santa Monica SWAT team has always prided itself on being in top physical condition. Since its inception, the team has used the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Bureau’s obstacle course for its physical fitness qualifier (PFQ). Operators were required to complete the course within the allotted time. If they failed, they had 30 days to successfully pass or they were removed from the team.   Every six months the team would complete the PFQ which consisted of running, wall climbs, fence climbs, body drags and several other obstacles. The course was challenging but we found it caused several injuries throughout the years, resulting in surgeries and the retirement of one officer from injuries sustained taking the obstacle course.   As a result, research was conducted to improve the team’s physical fitness qualifier and further promote a culture of fitness within the SWAT Team; rejecting the notion that we could eliminate physical fitness from SWAT qualifying requirements, we centered our efforts on reducing obstacle course-related injuries,  and explored the option of creating a new PFQ. 

 
Watch a video of the SWAT Team
CrossFit Training 

 
For more than a year, many members of the team had begun to include CrossFit training into their workout regimens. As the benefits of the training began to become more apparent, we started incorporating CrossFit workouts into our regular training days, performing various workout routines prior to shooting or tactical movement.  Injuries were reduced while fitness increased. One of our favorite workouts is the “Murph.” This workout is named after Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, United States Navy. Lieutenant Murphy was a Navy Seal who was killed in Afghanistan during a battle with the Taliban.  His heroic actions earned him the Medal of Honor. Lieutenant Murphy’s favorite workout was what he called “Body Armor.” The workout was renamed the “Murph” in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more than to serve his great country.

The ”Murph” was selected and approved by Chief Tim Jackman as the SWAT team’s new qualifier this past year.  SMPD SWAT completed the inaugural run of the “Murph” on December 1, 2010.

The “Murph” is far more grueling than any PFQ we have used in the past, but without the inherent safety hazards of an obstacle course.  Successful completion of the “Murph” is the standard of strength, stamina, mental toughness, and athletic ability that all Santa Monica SWAT officers must achieve to be certified as SWAT operators.