What is NGSAR? More to the point, what is the NGSAR Advanced Course? The National Emergency Services Academy director and found, Major John Desmarais, CAP explains: "The Advanced Course is where we train members in the skills required to be a ground team leader. Cadet and senior members come from across the country to train with us."

Stepping up to the challenge was Cadet Captain Stewart Sibert of Southside Composite Squadron, VAWG. "One of my friends told me that AGSAR was one of the best experiences of his life. That helped me make the decision to go. AGSAR was my first choice, National Glider Academy was my second."

Stewart is no newbie when it comes to SAR. He's logged over ninety hours in the field at SAR exercises and forty hours of actual SAR mission time. "I have a distress find and eight non-distress finds," he says. Based on his experience, he was slotted for the advanced course directly, though he still had to complete the basic course written and practical exam on arrival. It's standard policy to admit basic graduates directly and to allow others to challenge the examinations; those who pass are allowed into the advanced course, those who don't simply attend the basic course.

When asked if the selection process was difficult, Stewart replies with a smile, "No, I have enough connections in VAWG to get pretty much what I want."

Ah, but 'connections' is just another word for 'networking' and you don't get something for nothing no matter who you know. Helping Stewart get what he wanted was the fact that he has been the Cadet commander of his squadron for over a year and was awarded his Earhart a few short months ago. Nothing succeeds like success and his success in the Cadet Program is no doubt the real reason Stewart got the activity he wanted!

NGSAR advanced course is part of Civil Air Patrol's National Emergency Services Academy (NESA). NESA encompasses all aspects of the E.S. mission, from ground to air, from communications to public affairs. NGSAR has been held at Camp Atterbury, Indiana since 1998. Prior to that NGSAR was held at the Miller School in Charlottesville, Virginia. "Camp Atterbury has provided us outstanding support and has allowed NGSAR to grow and meet the needs of more personnel, while also offering us the opportunity to not only conduct quality ground team training but also expand into training for mission base staff personnel and aircrews at the same location," says Major Desmarais.

The first day of AGSAR was spent getting to know the Cadet and Senior staff and getting everyone's ducks in a row. With attendees coming from virtually every wing, there is defnitely a 'settling in' period while travel-related issues are worked out. They got down to business on day two. "We headed out into the field and practiced orienteering," Stewart says. Orienteering is, of course, the art and science of finding your way using a map and compass. Your location is determined using landmarks and your course is plotted. You follow your course using a compass to shoot azimuths and pick landmarks and a pace counter to record distances. With practice you can navigate your way across country very accurately.

Orienteering practice lead straight into land survival and campsite selection. According to Stewart after the compass and map work, "We set up camp and went to bed."

Day three dawned bright and early, much to Stewart's annoyance. "We got up at five-thirty with sore backs from the ground." Breakfast was the ever popular MRE followed by more orienteering practice. All was not lost, however, as a hot meal was in their future: "We went back to base for dinner."

But AGSAR gives and AGSAR takes back! "We refreshed our gear, then went back to camp for a lesson in night navigation."

The night navigation wasn't the only challenge that evening! That's right, more sleeping on the ground! The next morning, Stewart says, "We woke again at five-thirty sorer than before!" More hot chow, though? You bet! "But we were immediately bussed back in for chow and classes. After lunch we were bussed back out to the field where we practiced land navigation until four in the afternoon."

Wow, that's an awful lot of map and compass work! "It's definitely necessary," says Major Desmarais. "It's a foundation skill required in just about everything we do."

Land navigation wasn't the only subject tackled in the advanced course. After those classes were over the students were instructed on Blood Borne Pathogens and then worked on a exercise in which they practiced crash scene protocols. After that, it was time for a practice mission. "My team found the ELT first," Stewart says. "But couldn't find our location on the map. We waited for the other teams to find us."

Apparently somebody need more map and compass work!

Stewart's lot didn't improve after being 'rescued', "We were given the order to road march back to our camp for another night out in the field."

Day five and - you guessed it! "We woke up early and sore again." But they were again treated to a hot breakfast back at base, then classes and back to the field after lunch. The classes continued through the afternoon and at sunset there was another practice mission.

"Johnny B. Goode and his dog Elvis were missing somewhere between base camp and the Camp Atterbury artillery range." After their earlier success and all the training, Stewart and his team attacked the mission like a pit bull goes after a soup bone, right?

Wrong! "At this point the teams were less than motivated," Stewart reports, "and our halfhearted search dragged on until two in the morning. That's when the base called the search teams in for rest."

"Being tired and not finding your objective are both unfortunately sometimes part of our job," comments Major Desmarais.

But things were looking up on day six. "Our last night out in the field was over," says Stewart. "We ate an MRE breakfast and then went back to camp to complete our task books. More importantly, we got showers and some of us got naps!" Like anyone who's spent an extended period in the field, Stewart has his priorities in order.

Apparently the entire afternoon was spent alternately sleeping and showering: "This went on until dinner, then they held classes for two hours." After the classes were completed, the canteen was opened and the Cadets were given a night of free time.

And the best part? Yep! "For once we wouldn't wake up sore from the ground. We finally got to sleep in our bunks."

Good thing they did, too, as they would need the rest. Day seven at AGSAR is Test Day, with a two-hour test on all the subjects covered in the preceding week. "The testing is very comprehensive," says Captain Joe Curry, the Commandant of the NGSAR Advanced Course. "We like to be sure the students know their job inside and out. They represent the staff, the NESA, and CAP as a whole on returning home, and as our reputation is always an issue, we're careful to make sure we've done a good job."

After the testing, the Cadets were interviewed by the advanced commandant and his staff. These interviews try to determine what works and what doesn't. This allows the staff to continue to improve the school so that it will better serve the needs of the students.

At four in the afternoon, after a short rest period, the teams were gathered, told to grab their gear and given their final mission. "The mission was our graduation exercise and we really didn't want to screw it up."

Anyone who's spent time on actual missions knows the drill: hurry up and wait. "My team, A6, was one of the last to be deployed," Stewart says. "We were on standby until ten at night when a basic course team found the victims. My team was called in to help evacuate them. We completed this within an hour."

And then the best part! "Then we were bussed back to base to sleep."

Unfortunately, Stewart missed the graduation ceremonies the next day due to an early flight. "I got up at five-thirty, said 'bye' to my buddies and headed to the airport." Well, at least he didn't have to sleep on the ground!

Stewart says that overall, he had a great time at AGSAR, "I wasn't disappointed in any way." And here's a surprise: when asked what the best part of the activity was, Stewart replied, "Being out in the field every single day."

The low point was sleep-related, right? Yes, but not what you might think. "What was the low point? The classes; we constantly fell asleep."

Stewart does admit that he'd recommend fewer nights in the field, "We could function much better as a team if we were allowed to sleep in camp."

"Yes, it's difficult to stay awake after working so hard in the field," Major Desmarais says. "But the classes are necessary. And, while we might like to let everyone stay in camp, it would hurt the field training."

For those who might follow in his footsteps, Stewart says, "Pack light." To which Major Desmarais adds: "Yes, pack light, and check with a past graduate. There are lots of equipment options and you'll be better off if you do your homework before you come."

Stewart also says the Senior staff was excellent. "I was surprised by their flexibility and approachability," he says.

"Most of the Senior staff of the advanced course were Cadets," says Major Desmarais with obvious pride. "They have a lot of experience and work hard side by side with the students to make things happen."

"Would I attend again?" Stewart replies, "In a heartbeat!"

The 2002 National Emergency Services Academy will be held between July 27th and August 11th at Camp Atterbury. More details with dates for specific courses will be announced in the Civil Air Patrol News and the Ops Brief Newsletter.