I know jljones has previously commented on the value of gas in the contemporary SWAT application. If tactical teams lean heavily on the use of gas, does that mean that at least half, or even the majority of small arms training is conducted with gas masks?

A recent video I shared in the night vision thread had it's presenters alluding to the fact that many of the agencies that they train with are doing a lot of training in gas masks.

I get the impression that the military is ramping up the integration of gas masks, now that "near-peer" conflicts are more likely.

jljones previously implied that the use of gas in tactical LE situations makes for a safer situation for all involved (perps and officers); that certainly makes sense.

I don't know the exact percentage, but I know the ERT guys I used to work with/teach alongside were training with gas masks fairly frequently.

Even going so far as to install extra high optics mounts on their rifles, partly to allow for the taller eyeline/cheekweld when gas masks were worn.

Maybe 25 percent of the overall time? Maybe?

Reason I say that is because there is so much that goes into training in a years time.

All progressive tactical teams are heavily influenced by .mil SOF. I say influenced because Tier 1 SOF units have nerds that do nothing but study this stuff to the smallest denomination. They may have 20 nerds at any one time that do nothing but study what the #3 guy does in a four man center fed entry. That work and doctrine filters out to the squadrons, and gets filtered down to the green side .mil SOF teams and to LE. LE teams are generally influenced by either Delta or Devgru, depending on which system you’re being handed down. There are slight differences. For the last 6-7 years, a lot of our doctrine has come out Devgru. A big thing has been to develop standards that are universal. So, it led us down the road to doing everything from shooting to doing medical care in a pro mask.

That was the theme of the video I mentioned: universal standards. The presenters were putting an emphasis on a tall optic mount (which they conveniently produce and sell), and the fact that it enables the same performance across three circumstances: regular, gas mask, and passive NVG shooting. I watched the video due to my appreciation for the tall mount in the NVG application.