It's been three and a half years since I joined the team. During most of that time, I rarely missed a mission, unless I was out of town or otherwise really tied up with something else. All told, I've put in more than 1,000 hours of mission time plus trainings, meetings, conferences, and other SAR events and activities.
These days, though, it's a little tougher for me to respond to call-outs due to my elderly mom's medical and mental health issues, with me being her primary caretaker, and other commitments I've had lately. The last several months have been quieter on the call-out front than most of my time with the unit, but I've had to miss a number of those missions. And it bothers me.
There was a call-out last night, in fact. The phone awakened me after I'd fallen asleep on the couch. I don't remember what time it was, but it was fairly late, and I was really tired. Contemplating, I listened to the call-out message, looked at the call-out text, and then read the call-out email. Should I go? I agonized for several minutes more, as I listened to wind whip around the house. Should I stay? What about the things I had to do in the morning? What if the mission weren't over by then? Even so, I might get little to no sleep before I'd have to take care of tomorrow's commitments. Finally, I decided, albeit reluctantly, not to respond. It was a call to search for two lost hikers on the peaks.
Missing this mission made me feel guilty, more so because I'd had to skip another one just the night before for two more lost hikers on the peaks. I don't know anything about either search because I haven't yet talked to any teammates who were on them, and I've seen nothing in the newspaper. I wonder what happened and how long the team was out there. Maybe it sounds silly, but it bugs me when I can't participate.
At 11:11 p.m., I'm wondering if there will be another call-out tonight. If so... I go!
These are my stories as a volunteer member of the Sheriff's Search and Rescue team in Coconino County, Arizona. I'll share what it's like to go from a beginner with a lot to learn to an experienced and, hopefully, valuable member of the team, as well as the missions, training, and other activities along the way.
