ESAR's door-to-door fundraising drive has been suspended. In order to support ESAR please visit our direct fundraising tab at http://www.esar.com/funding/ or visit us at one of our community events.
2022 ESAR Officers
ESAR Director: Clint Retherford
Assistant Director: OB Pettit
Communications Commander: Anna Cary
Marine Operations Commander: OB Pettit
Land Commander: Jeremy Findley
Aviation Commander: Jared Cash
K9 Commander: Michelle Caputo
Logistics Commander: Thomas Butler
Dive Commander: Fred Jennings
Director Emeritus: Skip Bollens
NON-voting Members:
Treasurer: Eleanor McGee
Secretary: Albert Bressler
2021 Annual Training
All ESAR Training: May 15, 2021
All ESAR commands will have a training day on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Spring Lake on Becks Lake Road in Cantonment starting at 0900 hours. This is the same location where it was held back in 2019. For information contact your Commander. Land, K9, MarineOps, Aviation, Communications and Logistics will be actively training there. Lunch will be provided.
Escambia Search and Rescue
ESAR CREED
Reverence for life affords us our basic humility and speeds us on our missions at any hour, whatever the conditions, without regard for personal comfort.
Escambia Search and Rescue, Inc. (ESAR) is a volunteer organization committed to helping others through an array of search and rescue efforts. It is a self-supporting, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation chartered by the State of Florida. Volunteers are the heart and soul of Escambia Search and Rescue, Inc. at every level of command and membership.
2021 ESAR Officers
ESAR Director: Clint Retherford
Assistant Director: OB Pettit
Communications Commander: Bob Tribble
Marine Operations Commander: OB Pettit
Land Commander: Jeremy Findley
Aviation Commander: Jared Cash
K9 Commander: Michelle Caputo
Logistics Commander: Thomas Butler
Dive Commander: Wesley Rose
Director Emeritus: Skip Bollens
NON-voting Members:
Treasurer: Eleanor McGee
Secretary: Albert Bressler
ESAR Training Day: August 2019
Training Day actually started the night before with some of our members setting up camp at Spring Lake in Cantonment. The great thing about this advance force was that they effectively eliminated flying insects from the training site with a mosquito fogger.
Unfortunately, it was impractical to fog all of the area where the K9 handlers were training dogs and handlers. Inspite of the copious amounts of flying insect pests, Jaime Martin and K9 Keira were easily able to find Luke hiding in the woods. K9 Keira was amazing - it was a lot of fun to watch her work.
Jeremy Findley and rest of the Land Command trained on 4 wheel ATV's, wilderness skills and other Search and Rescue skills. They have some of the best tools (boy's and girl's toys) - for finding missing persons. Land training is FUN!!!
OB Petit and the rest of Marine Ops Command trained on deploying, trailoring and running the 16 foot Trackers. There is nothing better on a hot day than running a boat on the water.
Jared Cash and the rest of Aviation Command set up the drones and trained with them - this is the cutting edge of Search and Rescue.
Jim Walters and the rest of the Communications Command trained on setting up and operating the small MCC which is perfect for wilderness search operations. If you love electronics, this is the place for you to help find missing persons.
All of this training could never have happened had it not been for the excellent preparations and support of Tom Butler and the rest of his Support Command.
ESAR has a new Director for 2019!
ESAR Dive Commander, Clint Retherford has been promoted to the position of Director. The current Board of Directors are as follows:
Communications Commander and Assistant Director: James Walters
Marine Operations Commander: OB Petit
Land Commander: Jeremy Findley
Aviation Commander: Jared Cash
K9 Commander: Michelle Caputo
Support Commander: Thomas Butler
Director Emeritus: Alfred (Skip) Bollens
NON-voting Members:
Treasurer: Jon Rhodes
Secretary: Albert Bressler
ESAR K9 Participated in Canine Biathlon
The U.S. Canine Biathalon recently took place on 320 acres, in Anniston, Alabama. This event was open to all types of Handler/Canine teams, including civilian pets, search & rescue, military working dogs, and police dog teams.
The 2019 US Canine Biathalon was comprised of 84 obstacles over 4.2 miles, with 1,285 participants. It featured diverse, challenging aspects for both K9s & Handlers to overcome and rely on each other to make it through the grueling course of streams, tunnels, vertical climbs, and the infamous Heartbreak Hill. It is the ultimate K9/Handler bonding experience, and is a true testament for what a K9/Handler team can overcome together and accomplish.
Escambia Search And Rescue Canine Handler Mike Rhodes, and his canine partner Hudson started off the course excited, but timid for a few obstacles they had never seen before. As they went through the course, their confidence excelled and Hudson was the one who helped pull Mike up the gauntlet of Snake Hill and then Heartbreak Hill. "He did things I have never seen him do and never thought he was capable of doing. And from my side of the leash, you could just tell he had a blast doing it!!"
Hudson and Mike teamed up with a few Handlers from Klaas Kids to form Team "Klassy Mud Puppies," which placed 5th out of 44 registered teams. Mike says it was a great experience, and he's totally looking forward to next year.
ESAR Helped Rescue a Stranded Camper
A camper from out of state found himself surrounded by flood waters near the Bluff Springs Recreational Area on the shores of Escambia River.
There was a collaborative effort by members of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Escambia Search And Rescue to launch an ESAR vessel on the flooded roadway to gain access to where he was camping, in order to help him back to safety.
You Can Support ESAR While You Shop!
Wrap-up your holiday shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1813182 and Amazon donates to Escambia Search And Rescue Inc.
