Post History

Explorer Post 359 was started in 1972, and was originally affiliated with the Ontario Fire Department. There the post stayed for 8 years, but due to a lack of support, the members started to look for other areas of training to work in. Some of the members attended an Explorer Search and Rescue training course in Washington State, and after that they wanted to get involved in Search and Rescue. At that time, the post moved to the Sheriff's Aviation Division and have been there since that time. The Post primarily is involved in Emergency Service, EMS, SAR, and Airborne Law Enforcement. Because we are affiliated with the San Bernardino County Sheriff, Explorers are required to attend an academy to get the basics of Law Enforcement. Explorers also learn other aspects of EMS and we have a Search and Rescue Program called ESAR (Explorer Search and Rescue). The program has been going on for 20 years and has changed considerably in that time and gone into a lot of different areas. Now we are involved with the Sheriff's Office in aviation and many of the Explorers have an interest in either Law Enforcement, EMS and/or Aviation.

We are one of two certified ESAR Units in the State of California. We train the Explorers in different aspects of SAR, but primarily in the GRID SWEEP SEARCH TECHNIQUE. This is something the Explorers can become very proficient in and can help out in a major search. Besides search techniques, the Explorers learn thing in the fields of land navigation, map & compass, EMS, hypothermia, EVAC subjects, and equipment. On top of all of this, they also learn their basic Law Enforcement and Aviation knowledge.

ESAR is a program that is primarily in Washington and Oregon States at this time and is very large in that part of the country. We haven't done too much with the program in recent years, but we are in the process of getting the program operating once again and being capable in assisting the Sheriff's Office in any major search. This gives the young people an opportunity to not only to learn how to help find people who are lost, but to help themselves if they are in the woods and wild lands to better be prepared to protect themselves against being lost or injured while out with their families and friends.