10/09/2026
If a documentary crew would have been following us last night the 12 hours that encompassed 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. couldn't have captured what we do any better. Members met last night for our weekly training coming from a wide range of jobs and responsibilities. Jobs ranging from truck driver to ICU nurse and everything in between. Premeeting conversations were had ranging from kiddos (both growing to fast and expected) to the definition of a rock and what the difference is between a rock and slag. Our meeting started with a review of calls last week, upcoming plans, and a new group of recruits for their meet and greet night. Training was broke up with one group sitting for the classroom portion of EVOC to sharpen our skills on emergency driving while another group practiced their skills for rapid vehicle extrication. After training our pizza table came to life like it always does on Thursday evening where repeated arguments about improper browness on cheese were had. As we were deep in conversation solving world problems the door pops open and 1 LT talks above the table conversation "who wants to go on a search?" Which prompts the cacophony of typical replies "Where?" "Who is missing?" "What equipment do you want?" and the immediate internal calculation of what gear I have for this evening, did I forget anything, and who do I need to let know I won't be home at my normal late time. Definitely not the simple yes or no LT was looking for. The official page comes out and we hear a familiar voice. Another member working his 911 dispatch shift announces more details of the missing person and location. Well a missing gentleman turned around out in the woods gets all of our attention. The pizzas that are just about finished get taken out of the oven while everyone starts adding equipment on a trailer to the back of the squads. Pizza is cut, and a few pieces are grabbed on the way out the door. On a woods search, any calorie is going to be a blessing at some point. We all get into the woods all handling a different portion of the search matching our skills and capabilities the best we can. Some manage command from the back of a tail gate, while others jump on machines to start yankee searching trails, drone operators get their eyes in the sky, while tracking teams start cutting for sign. Deep into the night the radio crackles to life, "Red team standby for coordinates, subject located by drone" Coordinates input into our mapping program and best possible route calculated quickly to get as close as possible to the missing individual. A truck ride through logging trails and a jaunt through the woods the radio crackles back to life "Voice Contact!" The searchers are met by two wary labs debating if the new people are a threat to their owner or friends. After some medical checks and scratches behind the ear for the dogs we all make our way back out of the woods. As the missing individual is checked out by the precautionary called ambulance the rest of us load up and secure all of the machines. Conversation begins about the adventures we all differently had through out the night and then the, what time do you have to wake up?, conversation starts. At 2 a.m. most of us start calculating whether our sleep for the night will be just a nap or something less and if it is even worth going to bed. We all part ways bringing equipment back to the squad garage and heading home to grab what little sleep we can get before back to the real world and our real jobs. Last night was a good night!
