Central Aid Agency

05/15/2026

At our May monthly Sector 2 meeting on 5/14 personnel completed the annual physical ability (pack) testing. This yearly requirement ensures that personnel are fit for duty and able to carry out the often physically demanding tasks associated with disaster response and search and rescue.

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

05/07/2026

May Monthly Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/6eaab323abcd/may-monthly-newsletter

04/25/2026

Today our Agency Chief, CEDG. Ben Bower, representing the Backcountry Rangers and Task Force 1; attended an educational presentation on growing redwoods on the Oregon Coast. The presentation was organized by the Douglas County Extension Service Oregon State University and Roseburg Forest Products. In addition to being responsible for the maintenance, development, and operation of the FAJB Field Training Center "The Jungle" in Sector 1; the Backcountry Rangers of Task Force 1 also have an environmental stewardship mission. Training and presentations like this are a great opportunity to learn more about ecology and forest management.

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

04/18/2026

All this week our Agency Chief, CEDG. Ben Bower, has been attending the annual Oregon Prepared conference in Sunriver, put on by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. The conference brings together emergency management and response personnel from all levels of government, tribal, non-profit organizations, and even private sector businesses for four days of training, networking, and collaboration. The goal of the conference being to share good ideas and lessons learned, strengthen relationships, and increase cooperation; for a safer and more resilient Oregon.

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

04/13/2026

Over the weekend of 4/11 and 4/12/2026 we conducted the final overnight survival test and skills evaluation for WO1. Kate Thiel and PFC. Shawn Cannon at the FAJB Field Training Center "The Jungle" in Sector 1. This was the last step for both of them on the journey to completing the Responder 4 Role Qualification and earning the right to wear the Wilderness Search And Rescue Qualification tab. To pass the final test, both had to complete a myriad of skills including:
-Building a survival shelter and sleep in it overnight.
-Sustain themselves (both food and water).
-Build a fire and boil water.
-Complete a night search in variable terrain.
-Determine a route and navigate from one point to another under simulated survival conditions.

For this test they could use only the materials and supplies that are normally carried in a regulation C.A.A. 24-hour personal response pack. At any point in the test they could end the test by ringing the bell, and attempt it again at a future time. Both WO1. Thiel and PFC. Cannon passed all assessments with flying colors, and earned their Wilderness SAR tabs and qualification. They are now both eligible to be deployed on Wilderness SAR missions and mutual aid requests. Congratulations to them both!

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

Photo Credit: CEDG. Bower, WO1. Thiel, and PFC. Cannon

04/10/2026

At our April monthly Sector meeting on 4/9 personnel completed more advanced skills training towards their wilderness search and rescue qualification. Skills included GPS route planning and creation, an advanced land navigation problem, SAR legal considerations, and working with deceased persons. At the end of the meeting two personnel that have nearly completed their wilderness SAR qualifications, WO1. Kate Thiel and PFC. Shawn Cannon, had the opportunity to take the wilderness SAR written test. The written test is the final knowledge check and one of the last checkoffs for the wilderness SAR qualification. Both passed the test and will be advancing to the last stage - the overnight survival test!

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

04/01/2026

Our April Monthly Newsletter is now out! - https://mailchi.mp/4dba188f9c14/february-monthly-newsletter-12901716

03/15/2026

For our March monthly Field Activity on 3/14, we held a wilderness search and rescue skills day for personnel that are currently working on completing their Wilderness SAR Qualification. Personnel worked on skills such as knot tying, helicopter safety and operations, incident organization and Incident Command System fundamentals, a 1/4 mile stretcher carry with obstacles and other patient transport techniques; as well as land navigation using Township Range and Section and Latitude and Longitude systems.

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

02/16/2026

For our February monthly Field Activity on 2/14, a detachment from Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) Task Force 2 (TF2) tried to see if they could find a viable route to go from Sector 2 HQ to Sector 1 HQ using entirely backroads. The goal being to find potential alternate routes that could be used during an emergency if main roads are blocked or unavailable. The experiment was largely successful, they were able to make it from the valley to the coast almost entirely on backroads (though it took a lot longer!). With the only exception being a connector road that was blocked by a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) locked gate, which forced them out to a main road to get around it. They even saw Bigfoot!

Unfortunately they also saw a dumped burned out car, and a dumped burned out RV, and numerous pieces of trash; much of it on National Forest land. Which is a good reminder that our National Forests are fantastic public resources and should be respected and cared for, they are not dumping grounds for unwanted vehicles and garbage.

The Central Aid Agency is a uniformed nonprofit agency whose primary operating purpose is to provide highly trained personnel to assist governmental and nongovernmental agencies when they need additional resources or capacity. The agency also provides a range of turn-key capabilities like private security, search and rescue, emergency response operations/support/logistics, and 4x4 transportation.

02/11/2026

The Central Aid Agency has been part of the Lane County Community Organizations Active in Disaster - COAD since 2014, and has deployed on many COAD activations. Our Executive Director, CEDG. Ben Bower, also currently serves on the Steering Committee. This video is a great overview of what the COAD is and does. More information is available on the COAD website: https://www.lanecountycoad.org/

Video Link: https://youtu.be/L05O_9EIMxU

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