06/27/2026
Something to think about if you want to join Search and Rescue!
"I've always wanted to do Search and Rescue." Those are words we hear almost on a daily basis. Most of these people mean well, and they have a generous heart. But they have no idea what that sentence really means. They don't realize the commitment. The hours upon hours you'll spend. The thousands of dollars that come out of your own pocket. Being tired, worn down, and feeling like you can't go another step, then another call comes in.
I've always wanted to do Search and Rescue, until you realize every spare minute of your life will be dedicated to SAR. That family vacation you planned? It's now replaced with a seminar. Late nights writing training logs. Extra money spent on more gear. The miles you put on your vehicle. The late nights and early mornings in the woods, searching for any clues. The heartbreak of talking with a family desperately searching for answers about where their loved one is. The heartache of working a 20-year-old cold case, hoping today is the day you can finally bring someone home. The wet socks. Mud in places it shouldn't be. Worn out boots. Dead flashlight batteries. No cell service to load your map. A radio that won't reach base. And the voice in the back of your head asking, "Did I do enough?" So if you're thinking about joining Search and Rescue, ask yourself one question... Is this about me... or is it about them? I've always wanted to do Search and Rescue." Those are words we hear almost on a daily basis. Most of these people mean well, and they have a generous heart. But they have no idea what that sentence really means. They don't realize the commitment. The hours upon hours you'll spend. The thousands of dollars that come out of your own pocket. Being tired, worn down, and feeling like you can't go another step, then another call comes in.
I've always wanted to do Search and Rescue, until you realize every spare minute of your life will be dedicated to SAR. That family vacation you planned? It's now replaced with a seminar. Late nights writing training logs. Extra money spent on more gear. The miles you put on your vehicle. The late nights and early mornings in the woods, searching for any clues. The heartbreak of talking with a family desperately searching for answers about where their loved one is. The heartache of working a 20-year-old cold case, hoping today is the day you can finally bring someone home. The wet socks. Mud in places it shouldn't be. Worn out boots. Dead flashlight batteries. No cell service to load your map. A radio that won't reach base. And the voice in the back of your head asking, "Did I do enough?" So if you're thinking about joining Search and Rescue, ask yourself one question... Is this about me... or is it about them?
