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The Hostage Rescue Team is an elite FBI unit, and is probably the premier
SWAT team in the world.
The Hostage Rescue Team was founded in 1982 as part of the Critical Incident Response Group. Its purpose was originally to serve as a domestic
paramilitary police unit, to offer a tactical option in hostage and terrorist situations. It originally was comprised of 50
agents, although this has increased to 91. The members of the HRT are among the most highly trained and exquisitely equipped
combat personnel in the world, although they have rarely, if ever been called upon to fulfil their original mandate of rescuing
hostages. It usually functions as a "super-SWAT" team in sensitive or dangerous situations.
The personnel of the HRT are selected on a strictly volunteer basis from the ranks of the FBI. After a four-month initial
training period, they spend their time either in the Quantico
headquarters or in training within the rest of the United States.
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