Clinical Sciences 200 done!

Well the first of many tests is done. For the past 2 weeks we've been trying to remember the information that would normally be taught to us over the period of a semester. Well today was the test day. Kind of significant since it's the first of many tests. Almost everybody passed though so it's all good. And for the one's that didn't, it's just a small matter of working on some weak areas before the re-test. The beauty of this course is that you take 16 guys, and no matter what you ask them to do or learn, they can do it.

This Sunday we leave for Winnipeg to do high altitude indoctrination for a week and then to Jarvis Lake to do ground ops.

The picture is of a SAR Tech ruck sack. Much better than the shit they give the guys in the Army. That's all the kit I'll be lugging around Jarvis Lake in ground ops. The other picture is of the guys just chillin' in our lounge.

Beach party

Course/family get together at Air Force beach. Good times.

Zukowski's zombie eyes.

This is the best job ever.

Well we're only halfway through the second week and this is officially the best job ever. Not only do we get to learn the coolest combination of skills in the world (ie. paramedic, skydiving, mountain climbing, etc.) but we also get treated really well, are given some sweet equipment, and get pro deals (50% off) on Helly Hansen, The North Face, Sierra Design, and Smith and Oakley glasses. Best job ever.

We started group PT which is run by the fitness staff. Needless to say it's pretty hard. We've done sprints up sand dunes while fireman carrying another man, crab walks up sand dunes, pool PT, you name it. The picture here is of a guy puking during pool PT. The course had to tread water for an hour straight while passing two 20 pound bricks around the circle, one clockwise and one counter-clockwise. Concurrently a guy had to break off of the group and do 25 pushups, a rope climb, and 15 chinups before rejoining the group and another guy leaving. And yes they have put a rope for us to climb and a chinup bar in the pool so you have to start out in the water. Good times had by all. Hopefully I'll be able to get some underwater shots of the guys bobbing for bricks this week.

Course Schedule

Pre study PCP and HAI/AMT
11 August - 22 August 08(pre-study) 25 August - 29 August 08 (HAI/AMT)
CFSSAR and CFSSAT at Winnipeg,Manitoba
The pre-study medical covers the anatomy and physiology portion of the primary care paramedic training. The high altitude indoctrination will include air medical considerations, physiology of flight and exposure to the effects of hypoxia.

Ground operations
30 August - 07 September 08
Jarvis Lake, Alberta
Theory and practical application of ground search techniques, search planning, man tracking and advanced navigation skills.

Primary Care Paramedic Program
08 September - 19 December 08
CFSSAR and Victoria BC
Twelves weeks of theory and practical training in pre-hospital emergency care covering anatomy, physiology and treatment of trauma and medical emergencies. Three weeks of in-hospital and ambulance practicums will follow the classroom theory.

Winter operations
05 - 09 January 09
CFSSAR
An introduction to winter back country travel and avalanche rescue techniques.

Arctic Operations
12 - 23 January 09
CFSSAR, Resolute Bay Det, Nunavut
Training and operations utilizing SAR Tech equipment in extreme arctic conditions.

Dive phase
26 January - 06 March 09
Fleet diving unit Esquimalt, CFSSAR and Helicopter egress
This phase is 6 weeks in duration and is conducted at the FDU, CFSSAR and Survival system in Dartmouth N.S. The SAR Student are going to be trained in the skills necessary to qualify as a SAR Tech Diver , including overturned vessel survivor extraction.

Sea Operations
09 March - 13 March and 23 - 27 March 09
CFSSAR
An introduction to sea survival, helicopter and fixed wing rescue procedures.

Parachute Operations
30 March - 15 may 09
Arizona and CFSSAR
Training in parachute operation's to include packing, inspecting, jumping and airmanship. Parachute descents will include both static line and freefall.

Mountain operation
18 - 29 May 09
Jasper, Alberta
An introduction to basic mountain climbing skills and rescue techniques on rock, snow and ice.


SAR Fundamentals and operational phase
31 May - 12 Jun 09
Jarvis Lake, Alberta
Ground search followed by operational type training putting into used all previous phases and skills. This is an assessment phase used to evaluate the individual on his performance and will be the deciding factor for the SAR Tech QL5A qualification.

Grad Week (Grad day 18 June 09)

15 - 19 June 09
CFSSAR

SAR Tech birthday bumps.

First Day

Well Course 42 has officially started. The day started off with an unofficial welcome by the course NCO. He told us what to expect from today and we shared some laughs. He basically told us to forget everything that happened on selection, meaning all the negative motivation, and that the instructors are there to ensure that we finish the course. That was good to hear. I spent the whole day waiting for an explosion that would leave us all panting and sweating. But it never came.

We did the SAR Tech PT test in the morning and as you can see in the picture, some of us even blew some chunks. The end of the day finished off with us doing our first of many sets of pushups. It was a good feeling. I'll try and get some footage of some random "extra-training" that we're sure to do tomorrow.