Scalable Operational Austere Rescue
SOAR Training Ecosystem
Overview
The SOAR Training Ecosystem provides a multidomain rescue and mobility framework designed for Fire, LE, EMS, SAR, and Military teams operating in complex, austere, and high-risk environments. Training is organized into four operational domains:
Urban Environment
Maritime Environment
Mountain Environment
Subterranean Environment
Each environment consists of three progressive tiers:
Tier 1 – Core Skills
Tier 2 – Specialized Operations
Tier 3 – Integrated Mission / Assessment
Team sizes reflect a preferred 1:6 instructor-to-student ratio, and many Tier 1–3 environments combine into 40-hour (5-day) cumulative programs. Some durations are adjustable unless bound by certification standards.
All SOAR training follows the Light & Fast Doctrine, emphasizing efficient movement, minimal gear, small-team adaptability, and decisive casualty extraction across unpredictable environments.
URBAN
Vertical Access • Forcible Entry • Tactical Integration • 3D Movement
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Tier 1 – Core Skills
Focus: Urban Assault Climbing, Vertical Mobility, Casualty Access & Removal, Confined Space fundamentals
Key Skills: Building access, 3D movement, rapid casualty extraction
Mission Objective: Provide foundational vertical mobility capabilities in urban environments.Skills Overview:
Equipment, knots, anchors, rappelling, ascending, mechanical advantage, hauling/lowering systems, patient packaging, tensioned lines, protected climbing.Duration: 36 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Basic rope competency -
Tier 2 – Specialized Operations (AVAILABLE NOW)
Focus: Forcible Entry & Rope-to-Building Movement
Key Skills: Mechanical breaching, rescue/tactical integration
Mission Objective: Develop multi-point access capability and coordinated team operations under stress.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Tier 1 -
Tier 3 – Integrated Mission (AVAILABLE NOW)
Focus: SWAT/TEMS Rescue & Multi-Story Medical Evacuation
Key Skills: Downed operator retrieval, C-TECC-aligned care under fire
Mission Objective: Deliver full-spectrum urban rescue and tactical support in realistic multi-story environments.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 6–8
Prerequisites: Tier 2
MARITIME
Shipboard Access • Boat-to-Vessel Transfers • Sea-State Casualty Movement
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Tier 1 – Core Skills
Focus: Shipboard Rope Access & Boat-to-Vessel Transfers
Key Skills: Shipboard vertical access, movement on deck structures, maritime TTPs
Mission Objective: Develop safe and repeatable maritime vertical mobility.Skills Overview:
Equipment, knots, anchors, rappelling, ascending, mechanical advantage, hauling/lowering systems, patient packaging, tensioned lines, protected climbing.Duration: 36 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Basic rope & swim competency -
Tier 2 – Specialized Operations
Focus: Top-Down Shipboard Assaults & Light & Fast Maritime Package
Key Skills: VBSS coordination, minimal-kit casualty extraction
Mission Objective: Increase agility in dynamic sea-state rescue environments.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Tier 1 completion -
Tier 3 – Integrated Mission
Focus: Full Vessel Casualty Rescue Evolution
Key Skills: Multi-deck egress, tactical-medical integration, multiple evac platforms
Mission Objective: Achieve complete maritime rescue proficiency in live, multi-layered scenarios.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 6–8
Prerequisites: Tier 2 completion
MOUNTAIN
Multi-Pitch Rescue • REMS Operations • Remote Terrain Mobility
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Tier 1 – Core Skills
Focus: Low/High/Multi-Pitch Rescue, Core Anchor & System Management
Key Skills: Rope systems, belay transitions, multi-pitch rescue
Mission Objective: Build proficiency in terrain-based access and patient movement.Skills Overview:
Equipment selection, austere anchors, rappelling, ascending, MA systems, lowering systems, patient packaging, edge protection, multi-pitch considerations.Duration: 32 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Basic rope competency -
Tier 2 – Specialized Operations
REMS (Rapid Extraction Mobility & Support)
Focus: Lightweight vertical movement, rapid evacuation
Key Skills: Fast rigging, rapid packaging, extended transport in remote terrain
Mission Objective: Enhance small-team mobility and extraction efficiency in austere terrain.Skills Overview:
Land navigation, austere medicine, UTV operations, helicopter asset integration, small-team dynamics.Duration: 40 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: None -
Tier 3 – Integrated Mission Assessment
Focus: Small-Team Operational Assessment
Key Skills: Team proficiency evaluation for in-depth training recommendations
Mission Objective: Validate mobility and precision rope operations in remote scenario-based rescue.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 6–8
Prerequisites: Tier 2 completion
SUBTERRANEAN
Confined Space • Tunnel • Mine • Collapse Rescue
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Tier 1 – Core Skills
Focus: Confined Space Entry & Air Monitoring; Safety & Environmental Awareness
Key Skills: Air monitoring, confined-space rigging, hazard control
Mission Objective: Build fundamental competency in restricted movement and compliant casualty retrieval.Skills Overview:
Air monitoring systems, communication systems, confined-space rigging, PPE, patient packaging.Duration: 16 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Basic confined-space awareness -
Tier 2 – Specialized Operations
Focus: Tunnel / Mine / Cave Rescue
Key Skills: Zero-visibility navigation, comms relay, extended access transport
Mission Objective: Conduct rescues in complex confined systems with limited visibility.Duration: 16 hours
Team Size: 4–6
Prerequisites: Tier 1 completion -
Tier 3 – Integrated Mission
Focus: Integrated Subterranean Team Rescue / Collapse & Recovery Scenarios
Key Skills: Structural stability assessment, shoring, victim location
Mission Objective: Perform full-spectrum subterranean rescue and recovery in degraded environments.Duration: 8 hours
Team Size: 6–8
Prerequisites: Tier 2 completion
Modular Enhancements
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Auto X / Vehical Breaching
Using on-hand organic breaching assets in a simplified principal-based approach to mechanical extrication
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TECC
ALL LEVELS
Using C-TECC guidelines as an educational provider, all levels of TECC can be implemented in to any course.
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Mechanical Breaching
Using proven fireground based concepts to gain entry to denied spaces with the simplest of tools.
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Confined Space
OSHA aligned Confined Space rescue concepts.
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Structure Collapse
Initial response and Prolonged ideology for structure collapse rescue.
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Instructor Development / Team Testing
Various levels of instructor methodology. Team assessment / testing with in-depth reporting
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Ski Lift Evac
Learn from top professionals on current ski lift evacuation techniques