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2002 Training Report

Monthly Training: Eight monthly training sessions were held in 2002. None were held in January (canceled due to extreme weather), July (instructor unavailable), October and November (due to conflict with GSAR). 332 man-hours were recorded during these training sessions.

Four additional training sessions were held: In October, four members presented SAR First Responder to 16 Page County Fire/EMS volunteers. In October, November, and December, some members attended special bloodhound training. Bloodhound handlers participated in over 400 hours of additional training.

VDEM Training:  11 members received VDEM certification in 2002 in the following specialties: 

FTM - 4 members

FTL - 1 member

FTS - 3 members

MLSO - 3 members

This represents 550 hours of additional training. We now have 20 members certified at FTM standard or above, as follows: FTM: 7; FTL - 5; FTS - 5; MLSO - 3; PSO - 1; IC - 2. Six new members need to complete FTM. Three were unable to participate so far due to their own schedules, and three are too new to have registered for a class. A CAP class is scheduled for March 20 and April 25. An FTM class is scheduled for March 7 and April 4. Currently one member is waitlisted for FTS in the Jan/Feb GSAR (registration is closed).

25 members participated in at least some training during 2002 (VDEM or monthly).

We are developing a crash COQ course for the three new bloodhound handlers which may work for the other three new members also.

The Captain has requested that all members who may drive SAR-19 and any other SAR apparatus complete a DFP or VAVRS EVOC program. So far I only have confirmation that Steve Smith has completed such a class. No training sessions are currently scheduled for EVOC.

An initial schedule for 2003 has been developed.

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Christ

Training Officer

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