FLAGSTAFF — The Oath Keepers organization is holding a meeting in Flagstaff at the La Quinta Inn at 2015 South Beulah Boulevard tomorrow, July 9, at 6 p.m. The meeting is to introduce the concept of Community Preparedness Teams.
These teams are being organized to train to respond to emergencies that might arise within a community. They are not meant to replace CERT and other search and rescue teams already in place. They are meant to augment them, if desired. When properly trained, they can be used by local law enforcement officials, such as additional security during city festivals and events.
There are several teams concepts designed to respond to respond to natural or man-made disasters. They are also forming teams to respond to possible attacks from terrorist elements such as the drug cartels and groups such as ISIS. The discussion will cover a number of teams preparing to meet community needs in a disaster.
One of the teams, for example, is Emergency Medical. They will train in various levels of medical proficiency. The first is combat lifesaver which is useful for first aid of severe trauma victims, such as at an auto accident. Their next levels are EMT and medic/paramedic. You can find out more at the CPT link of their web site.
Jim Arryo of Chino Valley—Arizona Chapter Vice President and State CPT Director—explained the concept in an interview with Gianluca Zanna on KTOX radio.
(The full interview including an interview with Stewart Rhodes, founder of Oath Keepers here.)
Oath Keepers was originally organized to get military, police and other people who take oaths to keep their oath to the Constitution. Their membership mainly consists of veterans, active duty military, police and sheriffs, and other civilians who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution. It is not limited to those categories, however. It is open to all citizens who feel a need to assist in preparing their community for disaster. Even people with physical limitations are useful. An elder person can cook and a person in a wheelchair can still operate a radio, for example.
If you have never served or feel like you might like to learn new skills, you can learn more and have your questions answered at this meeting.