The National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) is the national organization which sets the standards for training for search and rescue in the United States. These standards are the same as or similar to the training and certification Arizona members on the Ground Team are trained to.
One of the most fundamental and important classes required of search and rescue team members is Wilderness First Aid. The class, which is taken over a weekend, includes training in topics like:
• Patient Assessment
• Emergency and Evacuation Planning
• Spine & Head Injury
• Wilderness Wound Management
This class is offered yearly by Arizona Wing and is available to any CAP member who is an active participant on the SAR team. In 2018 the class was given on December 8-9 in Mesa.
Maj Dallas Lane, who is the Arizona Wing Director of Emergency Services as well as the Search and Rescue Officer, and also serves on the Board of Directors of NASAR, was the instructor for the class.
Willie Composite Squadron was represented by C/Capt Jacob Kottraba. Jacob, who was certified in WFA in 2017, was present as an assistant and to retake the course as a refresher.
