Territorials were looking for an elderly person and two children who got lost while picking mushrooms

– The joint exercise scenario assumed a search operation for an elderly person and two children who got lost while picking mushrooms. Soldiers from the K9 Search and Rescue Group of the 2nd Lublin Defense Brigade and the Polesie Rescue Dogs Group were called into action. The activities were carried out in difficult terrain conditions – young, dense forest and marshy terrain. Additionally, the activities were hampered by fresh snow cover – reports Capt. Marta Gaborek from 2LBOT.

The action was led by planners from the Poleskie Psy Ratownicze Group, who designated search sectors and directed appropriate forces to them. The so-called “fast trios”, i.e. 3-person teams led by 2 LBOT navigators, whose task was to properly check the entire designated area.

– 2 LBOT started implementing the K9 program at the beginning of last year – reminds Capt. M. Gaborek. – Currently, the K9 Search and Rescue Group has 17 certified navigators and is systematically expanding. Soldiers from the Polish National Team regularly improve their competences by participating in various training courses as part of the K9 WOT project and exercises with other services, including: Fire Brigade and Border Guard – he adds.

Participation in search operations is one of the statutory tasks of the WOT. The forces and resources of the 2nd LBOT were incorporated into the crisis management system in the fall of 2018.

Since 2019, Lublin territorial officers have been regularly participating in search and rescue operations for missing persons in the Lublin Voivodeship alongside the Police.