Florida Guard Counter Drug Training SWAT 1

Florida Guard Counter Drug Training SWAT2

Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training (MCTFT) is a

United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national sec ...

(US DOD) program managed by the

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

that provides unique, tuition-free military and counterdrug training for local, state, federal, and military criminal justice professionals as well as awareness training for community leaders. The MCTFT program is funded by the Department of Defense and administered through the

Florida National Guard The Florida National Guard is the National Guard force of the state of Florida. It comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard. The United States Constitution charges the National Guard with dual federal and st ...

, and exists to fulfill the counterdrug training needs of law enforcement personnel. Nationally responsive, the program meets the training needs of all 50 U.S. states and four U.S. territories. MCTFT produces numerous

public service announcement A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest disseminated by the media without charge to raise public awareness and change behavior. In the UK, they are generally called a public information film (PIF); in Hong Kong, ...

s (PSAs) regarding the use, spread, and effects of drugs. Media outlets across the United States routinely feature MCTFT PSAs and anti-drug videos in reports on the combating of local drug epidemics.

Training Types

Emerging Drug Threats MCTFT personnel provide instruction and awareness education on emerging drug threats and dangerous new drugs spreading across the United States. Local Law Enforcement Agency Training MCTFT provides training to local law enforcement officers on a variety of counterdrug law enforcement topics, such as secret compartment recognition education. MCTFT trains local law enforcement agencies across the United States in tactical counterdrug operations. Military to Military Training MCTFT provides military training for counter-drug efforts, including courses in Counter-Threat Finance, Interview Techniques, tactical combat casualty care, land navigation, movement techniques, and weapon marksmanship. Federal Agency Training MCTFT provides training to numerous federal agencies. Tactical Medical MCTFT trains first responders to provide lifesaving intervention to wounded people in any type of environment. Adapted from military courses, TACMED was designed to teach Law Enforcement Officers the life saving medical techniques gained in combat. Online Training MCTFT provides numerous online counterdrug training courses and many police academies and colleges throughout the United States direct students to the MCTFT to fulfill some of their training requirements or to serve as important references in guiding careers in law enforcement.

History

In 1981, the Military Cooperation with Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies Act was enacted, allowing the United States military to cooperate with civilian law enforcement officials in the support of counterdrug operations and other law enforcement operations. The legislation allows the U.S. military to give civilian law enforcement agencies access to its military bases and its military equipment. The legislation was promoted during the

Presidency of Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan's tenure as the 40th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1981, and ended on January 20, 1989. Reagan, a Republican from California, took office following a landslide victory over ...

in the context of the

War on drugs The war on drugs is a global campaign, led by the United States federal government, of drug prohibition, military aid, and military intervention, with the aim of reducing the illegal drug trade in the United States.Cockburn and St. Clair, 1 ...

, and is considered a part of a general trend towards the militarization of police. The

Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (, ) is a major law of the War on Drugs passed by the U.S. Congress which did several significant things: # Created the policy goal of a drug-free America; # Established the Office of National Drug Control Policy; ...

established the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which was charged with establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for the nation's drug control program; the office established five long-term goals, including the support of law enforcement officials and counterdrug training. In 1989, the National Guard began conducting interdiction and anti-drug activities in the fight against illicit drugs. The

Department of Defense Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

established the MCTFT in 1993, and since this time the MCTFT has trainined more than one million registered students through live and distance learning courses. During an earmark declaration to Congress in 2009, Representative C. W. Young testified that the MCTFT "is the most comprehensive counter-drug training program today."

Leadership

Adjutant General - MG Michael A. Calhoun
Joint Director of Military Support - COL William J. Beiswenger, Jr
MCTFT Commandant - CPT Steve Hartwell
MCTFT SEL - CSM Lawerance Ogle

Authority to Operate

''"Under such regulations as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau may establish and operate, or provide financial assistance to the States to establish and operate, not more than 5 schools (to be known generally as 'National Guard counterdrug schools')."''

References

External links

The Florida Counterdrug Program Website
*{{Official website, mctft.org/ 1993 establishments in the United States Law enforcement in the United States United States Department of Defense