Episode Description:

In this episode, we take a hard look at a mindset that’s quietly undermining field training programs and the idea that an FTO’s job is just to sign off skills while the trainee manages everything else.

That’s not how this works.

Field Training Officers aren’t checklist managers. They are facilitators of the entire training process. From administrative oversight and documentation to education, competency development, and gap identification, the responsibility doesn’t sit solely on the trainee. It sits with the FTO.

Because at the end of the day, the trainee may carry the book…

…but the FTO carries the responsibility.

Hosts: Jason "Big J" Tartalone

If you have comments you would like to share or a topic for a discussion, hit us up at Sergeant_RescueTng@outlook.com or click the contact link on our webpage at www.SergeantRescue.com.

Episode Description:

Getting the patch (or the job) isn’t about charm, scripted answers, or checking boxes. It’s about proving you’re ready to be trusted with the job, the team, and the mission. In this episode, we dive into what interview panels are really evaluating when they sit across from you. From mindset and preparation to professionalism under pressure, we unpack how candidates either earn credibility or quietly lose it before the interview even ends. Whether you’re interviewing for EMS, fire, SAR, or leadership roles, these principles apply anywhere standards matter and the patch has to be earned.

This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about showing up as the kind of professional teams want beside them at 0300 when things go sideways.

Episode Outline

• What “Earn the Patch” actually means
• Preparation beyond the résumé
• Professionalism: before, during, and after the interview
• How interview panels assess mindset and character
• Answering scenario and pressure-based questions
• Common mistakes that cost candidates the patch
• Leaving a strong final impression

Hosts: Jason "Big J" Tartalone

If you have comments you would like to share or a topic for a discussion, hit us up at Sergeant_RescueTng@outlook.com or click the contact link on our webpage at www.SergeantRescue.com.

Episode Description:
In this episode, we dive into one of the most critical yet often overlooked skills in austere and wilderness medicine—patient packaging. Whether it’s a multi-system trauma on a scree slope, a hypothermic hiker deep in the backcountry, a caver with unstable chest trauma, or a mountain biker with a TBI, how you secure, protect, and move your patient can make or break their outcome.

We’ll explore the goals, concepts, and challenges of patient packaging, including:

• Stabilizing injuries without sacrificing access for ongoing care
• Protecting patients from environmental extremes during prolonged evacuations
• Balancing speed versus precision when every second counts
• Real-world case scenarios that test creativity and adaptability

Join us as we unpack the principles of stabilize, protect, and move, and discuss how mastering patient packaging isn’t just about transport—it’s about survival.

Hosts: Jason "Big J" Tartalone

If you have comments you would like to share or a topic for a discussion, hit us up at Sergeant_RescueTng@outlook.com or click the contact link on our webpage at www.SergeantRescue.com.