…so others may live
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
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.
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.
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
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 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
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.
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.
Wrap-up your holiday shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/59-1813182 and Amazon donates to Escambia Search And Rescue Inc.
