I thought I'd share some photos I took yesterday at "SAREX 2014". SAREX is the annual Search And Rescue Expo held throughout the state of California each year, where hundreds and hundreds of volunteers and sworn deputies come from throughout the state to train, find contacts, and check out the latest and greatest in gear and techniques.
I've been on Search And Rescue for the past 16 years, three as a volunteer and 13 as a deputy sheriff. I want to give a shout out the volunteers throughout the country, who make SAR possible. Without them there is no way sworn law enforcement officers could come close to managing and staffing the massive number of missions that occur annually. They sacrifice their time, their money, and in extreme cases their lives, "That Others May Live".
If I'm allowed to do just a bit of bragging about our state, it would be to say that California leads the Nation in SAR. Our state's policies, organization, techniques, and responses are considered the model to aspire to. The Incident Command System (ICS), that is used in Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement throughout the Nation was born in California, as a result of our state's more than fair share of emergency and disaster incidents. In California, the Sheriff of each county has jurisdiction over SAR missions. They are then supported (through Mutual Aid) by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, and various other organizations, such as the California National Guard.
Anyways, thanks for indulging me in a little background on SAR, now on the photos. I've been an aviation buff since I was a little kid growing up a stones throw from USMCAS El Toro. When I was in Junior High School I told everyone I was going to grow up to be an RF-4C Phantom pilot. 
Until yesterday, I'd never flown in a military aircraft. My prior helicopter riding experience consisted of a Hughes 500, Robinson R44, R22, and an HH-65 Dolphin. My pup and I can now add CH-47 to the list...what a blast!
We had about 20 SAR dogs and their handlers on board, and went on a long nap of the earth, ridge-running flight. We had a great view because the crew chief left the loading ramp open the whole flight.
In the bottom of this picture you can make out four of the dogs that rode up closer to the cockpit:
My co-worker, Cass, practicing a "cold load" with her GSD, Duke. When we actually flew, we did a hot-loading and unloading, but prior to that they gave everyone the chance to practice with the engine off and rotors static.
Cass and Duke pose just inside the Chinook. Duke and my dog, Ari, were the only two dogs at the event that are Patrol K9's. All the other dogs were volunteer SAR dogs, but our two pups are "officers" who also catch bad guys.
More photos coming in the next post...
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