10/15/2026
What is it really like to be part of Search and Rescue?
It’s being part of a team where you know the people beside you have your back. It’s learning from one another, constantly expanding your knowledge, training for the unexpected, and knowing that when things go wrong, you’re part of an organization that supports you, including your mental well-being after difficult calls.
It’s being ready to drop what you’re doing at a moment’s notice because someone is missing and needs help. Sometimes you have a little notice, but other times, when a young child or an adult with dementia goes missing, every minute matters. You get the call, and you’re ready to go, often needing to be out the door and responding within an hour.
It’s the training, the long days, the challenging terrain, the unpredictable conditions, and the moments when you push yourself beyond what you thought you could do.
But it’s also the laughter, the friendships, the shared experiences, and the incredible feeling of working alongside other dedicated, like-minded people toward one common goal: bringing someone home.
And here’s something many people may not realize. Much of what we do is self-funded. We invest our own money in our equipment, our training, and the gear we need to be ready when someone needs us. We do it because we believe in the mission.
It’s challenging. It’s demanding. It’s humbling. And it’s incredibly rewarding.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about recognition or praise. It’s about being prepared, showing up when someone needs you most, and knowing that the people beside you are there for the same reason.
That’s Search and Rescue. And there’s something pretty special about being part of it.
