Historically, FBI SAs were basically well-trained, well-armed, well-heeled lawyers and accountants, based on the five-point entry program. The other three entry-points were linguist, scientist, and diversified.
The late Gene Hackman in Mississippi Burning played an FBI SA who joined under the diversified program as a former sheriff; the driver for FBI NYFO SAIC Jim Fox was a former NYPD officer. (I met him years ago).
FBI agents don't want to wrestle with suspects. They want to conduct safe, well-prepared raids and promptly bring suspects before federal magistrates and then ensure air-tight convictions.
Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel cut the FBI Academy to a meager eight weeks from a robust four-month program which covered investigations, counterintelligence, Constitutional Law, defensive tactics, raids, vehicle driving, firearms use, hostage negotiation, fraud detection, crime scene investigation, wiretapping, surveillance, disguise use, undercover training, as well as currency and drug identification.
The federal agents that received boxing or more hand-to-hand combat training at FLETC were Border Patrol agents or DUSMs who may be operating alone against dangerous individuals.
The few FBI SAs I knew were educated white collar investigators who were able to keep up with AUSAs and federal judges in court.
Today, enlisted US Army Military Police soldiers receive more training at BCT and AIT than FBI SAs.
