Approximately 97% of the United States is rural, yet many officers receive most of their tactical training in urban environments. Operations in wooded areas, mountains, deserts, urban-rural interface zones, and agricultural terrain require specialized skills and tactics. This course provides officers and deputies with practical techniques for small-team movement, search operations, suspect containment, and manhunts in challenging rural environments.

Dana Vilander worked at LASD from 1982 to 2016, almost 26 years at the Special Enforcement Bureau. He worked K9, SWAT entry team, and sniper, and from 1998 to 2016 as a SWAT/helicopter rescue paramedic. He has been an instructor since 1992 for weapons, tactics, TCCC, small team rural tactics, rope access/rescue, and helicopter rescue. Dana has taught across the United States and internationally. He is a California POST instructor in rural and mountain tactics, NVGs, wilderness skills, and a variety of rope-access courses.