Blog

It is June 26, 2023. We are in Karenni State, Burma. The day is met by brilliant morning light as some few hundred internally displaced people gather around a grim grave sight. Internally displaced people, IDP for short. This is the name given to those who run for their lives. They are running, not as victims to invading regimes or tyrants, but rather as prey to their own government. A government that has sold itself on gaining the blood of these people.

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The question took me so off guard that I stumbled around for a bit before I finally came up with something I thought was meaningful...

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New video released!

Hear directly from cadets on why they joined Chazak Rescue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lKYlrXh0aU

Advance Team Update

The advance team returned from Ukraine on April 23rd having completed the transitioning of responsibilities to class 1 who were deployed to Ukraine on March 21st. The advance team helped to build connections for getting Chazak to the front lines for medical evacuations.

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Advance Team in Ukraine

The advance team returned to Ukraine on Jan. 18 and the plan is for them to stay for a few months and return on April 23rd.

Since returning to Ukraine, the Team has continued to help deliver medical supplies and food to high risk areas on the front lines of the war in Eastern Ukraine.

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Update on the Ukraine Deployment

Much has happened since our last post! The Advance Team had the opportunity to deploy to Ukraine. Beginning in Kyiv, they traveled through several regions of Ukraine doing technical and medical rescue training. One such training they oversaw was Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), a much-needed course in Kyiv where there is a severe shortage of medical trainers.

Advance Team in Ukraine:

Ukraine Uncharted

The first official deployment for Chazak Rescue saw the advance team traveling to Ukraine in August. The Team first invested a few weeks in Kyiv where they conducted technical and medical rescue training for 30+ Ukrainian first responders. One such training they oversaw was Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), a much-needed course in Kyiv where there was a severe shortage of medical trainers.

What is Deadwood Outfitters?

Since the inception of Chazak Rescue, there has been a consistent need for a dedicated training facility that offers remote, rugged, and high altitude terrain for intensive cadet training. God has provided! In early 2022, Chazak’s board of directors made the decision to purchase Deadwood Outfitters, a licensed guide for hunting and wilderness adventures based in central Idaho. You may have noticed the beautifully-rugged landscapes featured

In an effort to keep cadets connected with their home communities, during year one of training, cadets complete a six-month home study.

Currently, the team has just three weeks left of home study before heading west for their next segment of training.

Here’s a glimpse into things they’ve touched on during their time at home.

Studying from Home

Just like that, the cadets are completing their final training segment for their first year with Chazak. It’s been a wild first year of training, learning, growing, stretching, and hard work.

The cadets are currently in their sixth week of training at Deadwood Outfitters, our newly purchased training facility in Cascade, ID. With its remote and rugged location, it’s the ideal location for the intensive seven-week segment that makes up 1.5.

1.4 training is currently underway! Phase 1.4 consists of both home study and group training for the cadets.

Home study is included in an effort to help each individual stay in contact with their home community and church. As individuals, we can make a big difference in the international setting. However, we can make an even bigger difference when we have the connections and support of the people around us.

a night in winter training

There’s been plenty happening in the Chazak world. Training, planning, studying, and sometimes just plain hard work are all a part of what’s going down at Chazak this Spring.

The Advance Team is currently in their final stage of training. They have completed the training they do together as a team, and now each member will invest in a deeper level of training in one respective area. This stage is considered individual specialization.

And just like that, another year is wrapped up! 2021 was a year of firsts for us. The Advance Team launched, the first cadet team made their debut, there were segments of training and multiple deployments. Truth be told, 2021 held lots of hard work and many successful firsts, for which we are grateful!

Over Christmas, the Cadets and members of the Advance Team were scattered in different directions enjoying a much-deserved Christmas break. Training resumed again on January 3rd.

October found our cadet teams on their second deployment: half the team in Uganda, the other half in Greece. They reported a challenging, stretching, and fulfilling time.

Greece

Five cadets made up the team in Greece. While there, they worked mostly in a refugee camp under i58 while also completing several projects outside of camp.

Inside the refugee camp, the cadets served refugees from 35

It happened!

After months of planning and working, the very first Chazak cadet team launched on September 3! During their first segment of training, they traveled to northern Maine for eight days of canoeing and hiking. Their trip included sharing life stories while learning and practicing basic wilderness survival skills. As you can imagine, they encountered lots of sore feet and aching muscles along the way. Already, these cadets are being stretched and challenged.