About OCSAR

The Pioneer Search and Rescue Team was formed in August of 1971, for the purpose of providing a professional, qualified team of citizen volunteers to assist in searches for missing persons in and around New York State. Our team is dedicated to helping those in need, and we have a strong passion for saving lives.

Our Mission

The organization's primary objective is to offer Oswego County a highly skilled search and rescue team that can assist various law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, fire and rescue departments, emergency management office, and the NYS Federation of SAR Teams. Our team is dedicated to providing professional and efficient services to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

Our Team

Our team is composed of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about helping others. We come from all walks of life, but share a common goal of serving our community. Our members are trained in various search and rescue techniques and are equipped with the necessary tools to respond to emergency situations. We work closely with local law enforcement agencies and emergency services to provide a coordinated and effective response to missing person cases. Join our team and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Want to learn more about our history?

In the early 1970s, emergency services for someone who was lost were nearly nonexistent in the eastern United States. When a young boy went missing in New York State's Adirondack Mountains in 1971, a chaotic and unsuccessful attempt to find him prompted several people from Upstate New York to form a professional search and rescue team. With determination and persistence, and without any other group of its kind to advise them, the team was created. They aptly called themselves The Oswego County Pioneer Land Search and Rescue Team, and within six months, they were lending their skills to help search for lost children, hunters and troubled souls throughout their home state and beyond. Today, the team continues to offer their unique emergency services, now utilizing modern communication and search technology. Based on interviews with the Pioneers' founding and current members, as well as a review of the team's 45-year history of participation in many high-profile missing person cases, this book is the story of how the group became and continue to be the most respected search and rescue team throughout New York State.

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