Group 7 SAREX in KFUL in Fullerton, CA

The Group 7 SAREX at KFUL Airport in Fullerton Ca. on February 8th -9th 2025 was the largest in 2 years.  This was an advanced SAREX where Incident Command in Fullerton managed assets in multiple states (CA, NV) and regions (SOCAL, NORCAL), simulating and providing training and preparedness for a widespread disaster event.

80 members in total signed up and conducted 40 air and 11 ground sorties.   Air sorties included Nevada Wing (NVWG) remote launches from Reno, Minden, Truckee and North Las Vegas, and CA Wing (CAWG) remote launches from Camarillo, Sonoma, Bakersfield, and Riverside.   Ground sorties included off-road (Ground-Team) and Urban Direction Finding (UDF) teams, as well as drone small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) teams.   The SAREX exercised an integrated Ground Team - sUAS Team concept adding drone assets to a ground team search scenario.   One remote UDF team launched from Bakersfield.   A total of 10 aircraft were utilized during the weekend.   

33 cadet and senior members took the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Disaster Service Worker (DSW) oath and registration, administered by 2dLt Zachary Montes.   Kudos to 2dLt Montes and 2dLt Beltran-Winchester who have worked together for 2 years to increase CAWG DSW registration.   

The SAREX also included base staff and communications.  First-time and entry-level training was provided for 6 new Mission Staff Assistant (MSA) and numerous members completed their Introduction to Communications User Training (ICUT).

The SAREX gave Incident Command staff experience working across multiple bases, groups and wings by exercising planning, tasking and control with crews and staff across the simulated incident region.   Communications training with both digital and analog communications and distributed repeaters and methods were exercised, including Ready op, outlook teams, and cell phones.  Facility shortcomings were identified and resolved, including base internet failures requiring use of personal internet hotspots.  Facility internet upgrades are being planned now.   Base communications staff and air crew identified CAP repeater gaps and established ad-hoc airborne relays in key areas of operations.   Joint sUAS and ground teams advanced integrated operations methods and opportunities, supporting each other during a SAR sortie.  Overall, all SAREX's CAP members gained valuable mission readiness experience.

For More Information:

2d Lt Shawn Beltran-Winchester
CAWG G7 Sq 40
Emergency Services Officer
Emergency Services Training Officer