The SAROPS field exercises were conducted on the afternoon of April 29, following the morning’s classroom training. Participants from the Kent and Ottawa county SAR units practiced the day’s lessons in both sunny and rainy weather. “If it’s not raining then we’re not training!”
All training begins with planning, preparation, and stagingTucker, a SAR K9, welcomed the team membersTucker, a SAR K9, is ready for the trainingThe team receives instruction on working with a K9 teamTeam members learning about their walking pace (pace count)Separating into groups to measure pace counts in wooded and grassy areasGetting startedChecking their pace count in the woodsChecking their pace count in the grassDiscussing the resultsInstructors and traineesThe class reviewing and discussing their results from the pace counts exerciseSome calculations were involvedAn exercise involved spotting a clothing item on the ground – do you see it?How close do you need to be to the clothing item in order to identify it?A nature walk can be revealing!Spotting from different anglesPracticing pace count measurement in the woodsGroup discussionDiscussing the next assignmentPracticing navigation with a compassA navigation exerciseTeams practicing compass skillsAsking questionsWorking with the compassPracticing compass skillsDebrief, then on to the next exerciseLearning to work with a K9 teamTucker is ready for the next exerciseThis K9 team works on scent, so the rain added to the challengeFollowing the scentThe team practicing staying behind the K9 and his handlerFinding the first scent articleAlmost there!Tucker indicating that he has found the targetA bark and tail wag, indicating successTucker getting his reward for finding the scent articleTucker closes in on the next scent article, which is hanging overhead in the treeFound it!Indicating successAfter all that hard work, it was time for dinner and then some night exercises
