Full governmental authority for overall incident management and coordination rests with the on-scene official who works in consultation with the SERT commander. Once approval for SERT commitment is made, the commander has absolute tactical control of the mission until the incident is over. A designated military liaison officer is on call at all times should military assistance be required. Candidates are screened according to antiterrorist squad guidelines and are chosen from among emergency response team personnel. Although most SERT members have already had extensive training in hostage rescue techniques, basic training is intensive and continuous. Exercises include route marches, marksmanship and instinctive shooting, rapelling, stalking, and explosives use. SERT team members are equipped with gas masks, black hoods, bullet-proof vests, radios, stun grenades, commando knives, submachine guns and automatic pistols, and rapelling equipment. An arsenal of other weapons also is available. Hostage scenarios enacted at various sites provide training in dealing with both stationary and combat situations, including hijackings. Photographs.