Hidden Springs State Park Rangers
Outside the town's border is a small state park, patrolled and maintained by park rangers. Being a Hidden Springs State Park ranger means also being part of search and rescue operations and educational outreach, as one may expect of rangers for a state park. The park rangers are the main law enforcement within the park's borders. Someone outside the Red Oak ecosystem may be shocked to learn that rangers here also undertake fairly advanced military training techniques, based on a diluted program from Army Ranger training. This training is not advertised, and to the average person the information is drifting into tall tale territory. It has been a number of years since these techniques were put to use, but the Chief Ranger was alive for the last incident, and she is forward thinking. The rangers put a great deal of care into keeping a good relationship with the sheriff's department, as the cooperation can easily be the difference between life and death.
Composition
Manpower
Though well-equipped, the park can only afford to hire an average of six full time rangers year to year. During the summer, the seasonal employees may double or triple their numbers.
Equipment
For their unique training, the gear Hidden Springs rangers pack would look eclectic to an outsider. Night vision goggles, UV flashlights and truck-mounted lights, and portable, portable high power speakers are always packed into the pickup trucks, and smaller incomplete kits are frequently stashed in the ATVs used.
Weaponry
Assault rifles and shotguns are the key weapons for these rangers. Here, the most important property of their tools is mobility. Rangers need to move quickly through the trees, repositioning and firing at a moment's notice. Shotgun shells are color-coded for their shot load, holding pellets of various materials for a number of possible targets. They never know what sort of creature will emerge from the woods, so they pack shells with folkloric deterrents for many types of creature.
Vehicles
Rangers have to be familiar with and utilize a number of vehicles in their duties. They most heavily use ATVs and pickup trucks, along with small watercraft, speed boats, and even a pair of hover boats for traversing the marshes. These are used in the day to day operations of checking and maintaining trails and campsites and conducting searches for lost and overdue hikers.
Logistics
Auxilia
The advanced training is only offered to permanent employees, but the park also employs a host of seasonal personnel in the summer, who only assist with normal park maintenance and summer educational programs. In the event of an incident, their summer training covers basic search operations and escort protocols to get campers to safety. All personnel are also taught how to maintain communications during an event.
Rangers also man the communications shack at the radio tower.
Upkeep
Keeping the rangers here supplied and trained is quite expensive. Military equipment and biannual training eats a large budget, even when the materials are bought from military surplus. Despite the expenses, the state covers the cost, with the payments given a layer of protection through renaming programs.
Type
Support
Overall training Level
Trained
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