I know there’s a plethora of essays and writings on the purpose of humans and attempts at explaining why we are here, but here is why I am here and how I plan to execute my purpose.
My main goal in life is to be the best at life. I want to be amazing at being a human, that is what I aim for. I am here to achieve, progress, and succeed. I am going to be a Search and Rescue technician for the Canadian Forces, no matter what or how long it takes. I am prepared for the long journey ahead, but not worried because i have a plan.
My full training plan is not complete yet, it is a work in progress. I have broken it down into 4 categories thus far.
Education
This is a very important aspect as Sar-Techs are incredibly intelligent and quick thinkers, they need to be. We are talking about the capability to be drop into an extreme, adverse environment and give emergency medical attention to potentially several injured people. Not only do you need to know a vast amount of medical protocols but also know about all kinds of unique scenarios (victim has allergies or is taking medication etc.) The smarter the Tech, the more useful the Tech.
My education plans;
- Emergency Care Paramedic. This will get me into the medical industry as well as give me the opportunity to do some ambulance ride along with a local hospital
- GoRuck Accent course. https://www.goruck.com/en/ascent This is going to expose me to experience I can’t get anywhere else! except of course the Sar-Tech phase course
- Goruck Beached course. https://www.goruck.com/en/beached This one is a little further down the road (due to course dates) but would be a huge asset as diving experience is hard to come by, especially combat diving
General Physical Preparedness (“GPP”)
The Sar selection process is wicked! They put candidates through anything they can to see how they react and how they preform. One would ask, “how the heck could someone train for that?” That is where GPP comes into play. GPP is being prepared for literally anything that comes your way. The 10 aspects of GPP are;
- Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance: The ability of body systems to gather, process, and deliver oxygen.
- Stamina: The ability of body systems to process, deliver, store, and utilize energy.
- Strength: The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.
- Flexibility: the ability to maximize the range of motion at a given joint
- Power: The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
- Speed: The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
- Coordination: The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
- Agility: The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another.
- Balance: The ability to control the placement of the bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base.
- Accuracy: The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.
My Plan for General Physical Preparedness;
- Crossfit
- Sealfit
(more to come on these training plans)
Mental Toughness
You can be the most fit person at Pre-Sar course but without the mental drive and toughness, you’re screwed! This is a very hard skill to acquire… but not impossible. Doing long, heavy rucks or difficult, long workouts will help you exercises your mental toughness. Goruck has challenges you can take part of to see how your body reacts to difficult scenarios. I have taken part in a couple challenges and plan on doing more.
The Unknown
By far the hardest component. My main training focus will be using Crossfit methods to prepare for unknown situations. You don’t want to not be able to climb a way just because yesterday was “arm day”
The SAR Take 