[2][4] In the summer of 1973, six field offices Albuquerque, Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, Phoenix and Washington, established SWAT teams of five members.

[2][4] FBI SWAT teams are specially trained to serve warrants and intervene in high-risk incidents such as active shooters, barricaded suspects, or protection for personnel or dignitaries.

[3] SWAT teams can be dispatched to aid local law enforcement with limited resources to manage large-scale high-risk incidents.

[10] After a probationary period that may last six to eighteen months, the new team members are sent to SWAT Basic a three week course at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico for full certification.

A variety of civilian-style vehicles are also used when necessary (such as to avoid attention), often unmarked SUVs, vans, or pickup trucks produced by subsidiaries of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.