In this episode of The Real ResQ, we have the honor and privilege to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmer Program. The Finnish Border Guard created an Air Patrol Squadron in 1981.  After a few years of flying, they decided they needed Rescue Swimmers.  On 01JUN1982, the Finnish Border Guard created their Rescue Swimmer Program.  Without any formal training, instruction, or even knowing what they needed, Juha Raatikainen (JP) became Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmer #01.  JP tells us of some of the growing pains they went through when the program began.  He talks about the trial and errors with equipment, procedures, and the interesting collateral jobs that they were asked to do.  He tells us of one of his first big rescues that had a tanker on fire.  Next, Sami Ollila joins us again to explain what the Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmers do for recruitment, training, gear and more.  Enjoy!

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In this special Memorial Day episode of The Real ResQ, we reflect and honor some of those who have fallen while serving The United States of America. This episode is dedicated to our finned brother Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge USCG RS #404, who lost his life in the crash of the 6535 along with Pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor, Co-Pilot Lt. j.g. Thomas Cameron, and Flight Mechanic Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew "Drew" Knight.

In this episode, we are joined by a few people that knew and had a close relationship with Fernando Jorge. We hear from his sister Gina, Sean Duron USCG RS 407, Ed Hannah USCG RS 450, and Jason Edmiston USCG RS 438.  We also take a moment to discuss the accident with Dave Callen, Certified Flight Instructor Pilot and SR3 Rescue Concepts Instructor. 

We remember you and we thank you for your service. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Dillon Nelson, an Air National Guardsman and his dog Jakoby.  This is a little different than your standard Search and Rescue team because Jakoby is a cadaver dog.  For this duo, their missions are more of the Search and Recovery. As we know, not all Search and Rescue missions have a happy ending, however, with a way to get closure for the friends and family, Dillon and Jakoby are two that help make it happen.  Dillon tells us a few of his memorable searches which include a missing 4 year old, a missing ROTC student, as well as a bit of a wild ghost story.  Plus we get into all the training and what he and Jakoby have had to do in order to be nationally certified in the detection of human remains. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Frank Breese, firefighter, paramedic, Army National Guard, and more.  Being a 22 year paramedic, Frank has been there and done that.  While he was in the Army, he did a tour in Iraq during the war as a Combat Medic. During that tour he completed 80 combat medical missions, 125 combat flight hours and earned himself two Air Medals.  One mission that stands out to him was a rescue call out for a FOB (Forward Operating Base) that was hit during a sandstorm.  Currently Frank is working in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a firefighter, a paramedic, and with heavy rescue and rope rescue units. He is also part of the USAR Team (Urban Search and Rescue) and the HSAR Team (Helicopter Search and Rescue), which can and have been deployed all over the country.  Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Jason Hawes, USN Rescue Swimmer.  While he served only four years in the Navy, he earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and was recognized by the city of Roanoke, VA. He describes a rescue that is definitely one that he will never forget.  He walks us through this incredible call out for a helicopter crash off his ship in twelve foot waves.  When the alarm sounded, the first thought was, “this is just another drill.” Then they come up on scene where he was looking at his ship's helicopter crew in the water.  At that point it was GO time for Jason and the RIB boat crew.  Jason deployed off the RIB boat, swimming in 12-15 foot waves to rescue the four helicopter crew members. We talk about a diver who was disoriented underwater where they were doing surface dives to try and locate and get back to the surface.  We finish off with a few training stories that remind us there is wildlife out there in the ocean.  Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Steve Farris and Danny Casanova from Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.  They bring us through a rescue that happened a week before the recording.  They were responding to a missing person call of a man who had fallen out of a canoe and tried to walk back home.  However, when he got himself lost in thick woods, it turned into a search for a missing person.  After 44 hours of being missing, the crews on the ground found him and called the helicopter in to finish the rescue. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Kenneth Smith, USN Rescue Swimmer. From the very start of Rescue Swimmer school, even though he was cracked in the face and was bleeding in the pool, Ken knew that this was the job for him!  He shared  amazing stories from throughout his entire career.  Cases highlighted included being deployed to the water to look for an aircraft part that may have been thrown overboard and a year later another bit of a crazy occurred when he was deployed to the water to gather bales of cocaine dropped by drug runners. That story will have you laughing!  Further in his career, Ken was stationed with HSL46. With this squadron, they were deployed for Hurricane Katrina where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Then two weeks after that was over, they were deployed for Hurricane Rita where he earned an Air Medal. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Ashton Levarek, USCG RS 533 and Air Force PJ.  Ashton talks about his first rescue as a USCG Rescue Swimmer, which was an overdue vessel where a boat was stuck in the mud and slinging a shotgun over the shoulder.  He talks about getting called out for a patient that was hit in the face by a crowbar. He and his crew were launched out for a helicopter crash where they found some of the survivors floating after the crash.  Next we transition into his career as an Air Force PJ.  He talks about responding to a helicopter crash that happened as they were going into battle.  How the habit of being calm and taking a minute “not to run to your death” stuck with him for future deployments. We end by talking about a good mindset to maintain for everyday life and what he is doing with his current business.  Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

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Valkere Investment Group https://www.valkeregroup.com/

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Harry Knight, US Navy Rescue Swimmer.  With a long twenty year career in the Navy, Harry was stationed all over the world.  The first half of his career was working in helicopters and the second half was working in airplanes.  A few rescues he talks about were the basics of people jumping or falling off the ship after they left port.  However, the one that stands out to him is his rescue which earned him the Navy Commendation Medal. Harry takes us through this fantastic story where he and his crew rescued an F14 air crew from the water after ejecting out of the plane. Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

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Axnes https://www.axnes.com/

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SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com/

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Gonzalo Valderrama (aka Fonzy), a pilot from Peru. Fonzy served for years in the Peruvian Navy.  He talks about a tough night rescue where three people on a fishing boat were taking on water.  Fonzy tells about getting launched to a case where a plane crashed off the coast of Peru with a full group of people on board.  As they were flying the coast line looking for survivors, Fonzy noticed an issue with the helicopter that wasn't normal.  Upon return to base, during the post flight, a fishing line was found around the rotor head.  After Fonzy left Peru, he flew in another operation overseas.  He was called for a high risk hoist medivac off a ship where the patient had an open skull fracture. After dropping the medical crew off on the ship, they had to leave to get fuel.  Fonzy finished off with some great advice about the importance of always using a checklist. Enjoy!   

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

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