Is SWAT a Special Forces group?

Answer 1

No. SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) is a civilian police tactical unit that may conduct operations similar to Special Forces units but only units within the U.S. Military can be considered a Special Operations Force. This is not the same within other countries, France and Germany both have Special Operations units that are police based (GIGN and GSG9) that handle counter-terrorism operations domestically. The main difference between a unit such as GIGN or GSG9 and an American SWAT team is that these units primarily focus on counter-terrorism. That's why they are also referred to as counter-terrorist teams. In the United States, civilian SWAT teams are only a first-line defense for domestic terrorism. In Germany and France their respective units are the unit of choice for counter-terrorism. Typically, American Special Operations Forces units such as the Army's Delta Force or Navy's DEVGRU will act as primary advisers or even as an assault force when civilian based SWAT feels like they can't handle the situation on their own. The FBI's Hostage Rescue Team is also one of the nations first line defenses on domestic terrorism, but is not a SOF unit. In the United States ONLY certain units within the U.S. Military are referred to as a SOF unit/Special Forces unit.