The Foundation's trainers, who are comprised primarily of FDNY, FDNY-EMS, and Zodiac's Maritime Academy instructors, along with United States Coast Guard (also providing a variety of ships, hard rib inflatables, and helicopters), the Army Corp of Engineers, and New Jersey Task Force 1 will hold classroom and on water training sessions for three days in New York Harbor. Training will include the extrication, transport, and treatment of mass casualty marine victims, the physiological aspects of rescue swimming, rescue equipment demonstrations, ocean dynamics, coordinating fleet operations and small craft rescue, marine operations unique to cruise lines, and both confined water and open water rescue training practicals. More than two-dozen agencies will participate in the weekend event including the United States Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, the New York Army National Guard, Fire Department of New York (FDNY), New Jersey Task Force 1, New Jersey State Police, Aviation Fire, Jersey City Fire Department, Sea Scouts, and the NYC Parks Enforcement SAR Team.

The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation, a nd named for America's most decorated rescue dog and a hero of the World Trade Center, Bear, provides training, equipment and transportation to search and rescue teams around the world. Foundation president Captain Scott Shields, who is also a marine emergency management specialist, as well as being Bear's dad, started the inter-agency training eight years ago. "I learned the tremendous importance of cooperative inter-agency training during the World Trade Center disaster," Shields said. "I saw the importance of having worked with many varied agencies prior to 9/11. Events during the disaster showed us the importance of the subtle interplay among agencies. Training and planning together, and a greater familiarity with the abilities of other organizations can enhance our ability to protect our citizens."

Instructors also include: Brigadier General Sid Baumgarten, New York Guard, who will discuss deploying New York State Military assets during catastrophic events, USCG Commander Station Sandy Hook Todd Stoughton, members of FDNY HAZMAT Lt Dan Murray and FDNY/EMS Chief advanced life support instructor Joseph Hudak , the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Commodore Thomas Venezio, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Don Miller of the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration will lecture on weather expectations in 100 » 500 year flood cycles and Lyn Bocamazo from the Army Corps of Engineers (winner of Most Outstanding Women Engineer in Federal Government Award with twenty years of experience will speak on damage to the infrastructure.

Bear and Shields' experiences at the World Trade Center have been detailed in the best-selling book Bear: Heart of a Hero by Captain Scott Shields and Nancy West. World-renowned scientist Dr. Jane Goodall has called the biography "the best human/animal relationship story I know of."

"It seems that Bear is still looking out over our harbors and seaways, and living up to the motto of all who do rescue, 'so that others may live.' Shields notes. "It's amazing what one good dog can accomplish."

Information regarding the training contact Captain Scott Shields at 732-713-6298.
Training Schedule go to: http://tinyurl.com/8pc2p
For information about The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation go to: www.bearsearchandrescue.org

For information about Zodiac Boats go to: www.zodiacacademy.com
For information about Bear's biography Bear: Heart of a Hero by Scott Shields and Nancy West go to: www.herodogpublications.com