Home » SOF History » FBIs Hostage Rescue Team Marks 30th Anniversary

FBIs Hostage Rescue Team Marks 30th Anniversary

by · February 7, 2013 · Posted In: SOF History
FBIs Hostage Rescue Team Marks 30th Anniversary
If you go online to the FBIs official website, www.fbi.gov, you’ll see they have started a special series on their HRT unit as they mark thirty years since the unit’s inception.

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HRT is a competent and capable counter-terrorist unit that has provided some invaluable and first hand expertise to special operations forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. This first video goes over the history and the general capabilities of the unit. The second video which is yet to be released focuses on the selection process – which for a long time the FBI has kept a tight lid on.

Enjoy the 30th Anniversary video!

Read more here.

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theAtrium (banned)
theAtrium (banned)

Great write up & video , Lassen!

 

Was just re-reading this RAND study on policing and CT:

 

" How do terrorist groups end? The evidence since 1968 indicates that terrorist groups rarely cease to exist as a result of winning or losing a military campaign. Rather, most groups end because of operations carried out by local police or intelligence agencies or because they join the political process. This suggests that the United States should pursue a counterterrorism strategy against al Qa'ida that emphasizes policing and intelligence gathering rather than a “war on terrorism” approach that relies heavily on military force. "

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9351/index1.html

 

I know there's been plenty of commentary in the media re the Obama administrations insistence on the above, since you're covereing FBI HRT and I think AW or HF mentioned the Coasties (in policing role), maybe expand this coverage to above RAND paper? Thanks, man.

 

 

 

Txazz
Txazz

Iassen, did you ever find out how the HRT breached the underground roof to rescue the boy hostage?

EliasFreire
EliasFreire like.author.displayName 1 Like

It's been a while I have been looking for informations about the FBI HRT, thanks Iassen for the news on the other post and the video on this one.

usapatriotonthemove
usapatriotonthemove like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Nice to see our tax dollars at work, on something useful even. lol 

hjw1dr
hjw1dr like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

Only 300 over the course of the history of the HRT? Or is that total employed in HRT every year? That is a select group. I wonder how many are directly drawn from  SOF? Seems to me the FBI would be smart to do so.  

marbito11
marbito11

 @hjw1dr

 i dont think 300 operators have been selected because of their selectivity. HRT dont see as much combat as Delta or ST6. thus, operators dont die. honestly, this is the first time in my life time that ive l heard of an HRT operation.

Iassen Donov
Iassen Donov like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

 @hjw1dr 300 different FBI agents since 1983 have been selected to the unit. And they don't draw from SOF units directly. An HRT operator is a special agent first and foremost and MUST have a Bachelors degree. The TRP program is a fast track program for men with good military experience that reduces the typical 3 year wait period for new special agents - to only a 2 year wait period before they can attend selection.

It's a tiny unit because the FBI doesn't need a counter terrorism force the size of Delta or ST6

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior

 @Iassen Donov  

 I had always heard that HRT is "up to 90" in strength. I am not sure if that includes support personnel from CIRG or not. Had you heard anything along that line?

hjw1dr
hjw1dr like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Iassen Donov  Thank you, Iassen. 

300 over the whole history? selective group.

I didn't think about the BA requirement, and operating within LE rules. Still it's a selective group, and I assume they are kept busy with advising on CT hostage situations, whether they are involved in the rescue or not.  That's a big charge for only a few specialized in that field.

 

Thanks for the introduction. 

KentFrazier
KentFrazier like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

At approx. 3:53 the video shows an operator transitioning from long gun to hand gun. The hand gun is a Glock. I thought the HRT used 1911s. 

EasyDay
EasyDay

 @KentFrazier @3:26 they show an operator jumping out of a helicopter. Does HRT have a jump/freefall capability???

JoeL2000
JoeL2000 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 4 Like

 @KentFrazier G22's are the issue handgun. However, there is a bit of leeway in handgun choice depending on locale. Overseas, it's 90% of the time something in 9mm, domestically it's mostly what you want. For what it's worth I saw at least 1 still rocking a 1911.

Txazz
Txazz like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 6 Like

Thanks, Iassen, for so much good info on little known subject.  I'll be looking for the HRT video part two.  Most informative and have really enjoyed their history.

Motojunky27
Motojunky27

awesome, I have always been curious about these guys