Search and Rescue Units
Search and Rescue Units
Our members form the strength of our organization. They are skilled, ready, and respond within minutes of an emergency.
If you want to volunteer with a Search and Rescue (SAR) unit, visit their websites to learn more. To join a unit, email specialservices@bentoncountyor.gov to request a volunteer application and agreement form, and a unit representative will contact you.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Amateur radio operators make up the ARES unit and help during emergencies or disasters. Volunteers provide radio communication support from a base location and in the field, keeping other agencies and community organizations connected.
Benton County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse (BCSMP)
Volunteers who love working with horses make up this group. They train in Search and Rescue and carry people and supplies to support ground search teams. They also assist with large animal rescues and represent the Sheriff’s Office at community events.
Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit (CMRU)
Volunteers who are highly skilled in mountaineering make up this group. They train in all aspects of technical alpine search and rescue, are available 24/7, and often assist other teams outside Benton County in hard-to-reach areas.
Marys Peak Search and Rescue (MPSAR)
Marys Peak Search and Rescue volunteers help find people who are lost outdoors. They respond to emergencies, manage searches, control roads and search areas, track people, handle communications, and support other ground search teams. They work with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and other official agencies on search and rescue missions across Oregon.
Region Three K-9 Search and Rescue (R3K9)
Handlers and their trained dogs make up the Region Three K-9 unit, serving the Willamette Valley. Handlers train their dogs to find human remains, search in water, or follow scent trails. Flankers are also an important part of the team that support the K-9 teams during missions.
Sky Search and Rescue (SkySAR)
Trained pilots, spotters, and support staff who live in or near Corvallis make up the Sky Search and Rescue (SkySAR) unit. From the air, they often spot things that ground teams might miss and help guide searchers to areas of interest. SkySAR mainly supports the Benton County Sheriff’s Office with search and rescue and disaster response, but they also help other counties when requested.