Linn County Sheriff’s Office held its 30th annual Youth Search and Rescue Training Academy this summer, turning over 11 recruits for preparation in assisting SAR missions.
The LCSO academy brings volunteers aged 14 to 21 together for an 11-day program designed to prepare youth to be physically and mentally prepared for the challenges of wilderness ground rescue missions.
“Basically they learn rescue skill sets and they learn search skill sets,” said Ric Lentz, LCSO SAR coordinator.
Participants learn basic land navigation skills – such as how to use a compass and GPS, and how to navigate in the wilderness; first aid, CPR and basic medical training; search tactics; how to work as a team; how to work a radio; and basic survival skills – how to make a fire, how to keep a patient warm, how to properly package a patient, etc.
Weyerhaeuser has leased the land to LCSO at no cost since 1983, creating long term stability for one of Oregon’s only dedicated SAR training locations. The support provides ample space needed for team-building exercises and intensely physical skill-building and obstacle course work.
“I can’t understate the value of this place,” Lentz said. “Without it, we wouldn’t have the ability to modify and build training structures or have our volunteers out here learning together for nearly two weeks. The teambuilding required for search and rescue wouldn’t be possible.”
After completing the training, volunteers are ready to support real life rescue missions on LCSO’s SAR coverage area of more than one million acres in the Willamette Valley.