Drug Enforcement Agency Special Response Team

Members of a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Response Team (SRT) move out after insertion via UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flown by the 185th Aviation Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard during a training operation.

DEA SRTs are the agency's special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams. Their role includes performing high risk arrests and search warrants, vehicle interdictions, close protection for VIPs and specialist surveillance operations.

The DEA's SRT capability was officialy standardised in 2016. Existing units included Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) (which grew out of the Foreign-deployed Advisory and Support Team (FAST) program and were disbanded in 2017), Mobile Enforcement Teams (MET), Regional Enforcement Teams (RET) and Highrisk Entry Apprehension Team (HEAT).

Each major DEA domestic office maintains a SRT capability.

DEA SRT weapons include Rock River LAR-15 (AR-15 derivative) and Glock 17 and 19 9mm pistols.

SRT operators undergo an inital SRT Certification Course (SCC) (11 day basic, 5 day advanced) at U.S. Army Base Ft. A.P. Hill in Virginia.

The DEA is a Federal law enforcement agency tasked with combating drug smuggling in the United States.