Rescue Training International

What Rescue Training International does

Rescue Training International (RTI), legally Rescue Training Inc., is a privately held professional rescue and safety training company founded in 1996 by Wes Meyer in New Braunfels, Texas, and rebranded to its current name in 2004 to reflect international reach. The company delivers a comprehensive curriculum of rescue and survival courses — including Flood & Swiftwater Rescue (FAST), Rescue Boat Technician, Personal Watercraft Rescue, High Water Evacuation Vehicle, Hurricane Response, Ground Search & Rescue, Vertical Rescue, Cave Rescue, ATV/UTV Rescue, Wilderness Survival, Confined Space, and Industrial Rope Rescue — plus a consumer-facing ATV/UTV SafeRide program delivered via online eCourse and on-site driving instruction. Courses are priced individually per student ($50–$385), align with NFPA/FEMA/OSHA standards, and are delivered either as open-enrollment courses at real-world training sites or as customized private courses brought to client agencies across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

RTI's business model is fee-for-service professional training with no proprietary technology platform; the core asset is curriculum, instructional methodology, and a network of approximately 50 contracted instructors supplemented by 17 full-time staff. Revenue is generated through individual course fees, instructor training applications ($200), and ancillary fees such as the SAFERIDE eCourse processing fee ($10 starting January 1, 2025). Distribution combines direct-to-consumer open enrollment via an online course calendar with direct sales of private on-site agency courses and channel partnerships through Odessa College and Rescate 911 in Mexico. Customer retention is reinforced by a 3-year certification cycle, an Audit Program allowing free retakes within the certificate period, and 50%-discount recertification. The company has trained over 300,000 personnel cumulatively as of end of 2024 across five primary segments: first responders (fire, police, EMS), volunteer SAR teams, government/state agencies, industrial safety personnel, and recreational ATV/UTV users.

Name

Rescue Training International

Legal name

Rescue Training Inc.

Website

https://rescueti.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rescue Training International is a privately held New Braunfels, Texas-based professional rescue and safety training company founded in 1996, delivering NFPA-aligned courses in swiftwater, boat, vertical, ground search, cave, ATV/UTV, wilderness, and industrial rescue to first responders, government agencies, volunteer SAR teams, and recreational users across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Rescue Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (SAR) & Technical Rescue Training (EDAOAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Management, Disaster Response & Incident Command Training (EDAOAMAD), EMS Education, Training & Simulation Centers (HLAFANAL), Emergency Response, Fire Safety & Evacuation (EDABAEAE)

Keywords

• Emergency rescue training
• Swiftwater rescue courses
• Ground search and rescue
• Vertical rope rescue
• First responder certification

Headquarters

HQ city

New Braunfels

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: RTI generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service professional training courses. Courses are priced individually (ranging from $50 to $385 or more per course) and delivered in open enrollment or private formats. Recertification at 50% discount and the Audit Program (free retake within certificate period) serve as retention mechanisms. Additional revenue comes from Instructor Training applications ($200 fee covering materials, training, and background check) and the $10 processing fee for the SAFERIDE Online eCourse (effective January 1, 2025).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rescue Training International delivers professional emergency rescue training courses and certifications to first responders, government agencies, and volunteer rescue teams. Core offerings include Flood & Swiftwater Rescue (FAST), Rescue Boat Technician, Personal Watercraft Rescue, Ground Search & Rescue, Vertical Rescue, Cave Rescue, Hurricane Response, High Water Evacuation Vehicle, ATV/UTV Rescue, Industrial Rope Rescue, and Wilderness Survival courses, plus the SAFERIDE program for recreational ATV/UTV users. Courses are delivered in open enrollment and private on-site formats with NFPA-aligned curriculum and 3-year certification lifecycle.

Product overview

Rescue Training International (RTI) is a professional emergency response training organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of rescue and survival courses. The company operates as a single training services platform with multiple course categories that can be taken individually or combined for career development. The core offerings include Flood & Swiftwater Rescue (FAST), Rescue Boat Operations, Personal Watercraft Rescue, Ground Search & Rescue (GSAR), Vertical Rescue, Cave Rescue, Hurricane Response, ATV/UTV Rescue, and Wilderness Survival training. Additional programs include specialized technical modules (Confined Space, Industrial Rope, Window Washer Rescue), Instructor Training, and a two-part ATV/UTV SafeRide program with online eCourse and driving components. The company also provides supporting services including an Audit Program for ongoing skill refresh, a 50% discounted Recertification Program, and an online registration system integrated with their course calendar. RTI serves primarily first responders (fire, police, military) as well as volunteer rescue teams, government organizations, and recreational enthusiasts, with courses conducted at real-world training sites across the US and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAFERIDE: ATV/UTV SafeRide eCourse and Driver training programs for adults, juniors, and children covering safety practices and driving techniques.

Products and services

• Flood & Swiftwater Rescue (FAST) Comprehensive water rescue training covering flood and swiftwater environments. Includes levels from Awareness through Technician 2 and Special Operations, teaching skills such as throw lines, belay techniques, survival swim, rope crossing, boat operations, and vehicle rescues. Targets first responders, fire agencies, and SAR teams.
• Rescue Boat Technician (RBT) Boat-based water rescue training programs including FAST Rescue Boat (moving water), Lake/Flood Rescue Boat, and Surf Rescue Boat technician levels. Covers boat operations, driving skills, rescue techniques, and team assignments. Targets fire departments, marine rescue units, and county ESDs.
• Personal Watercraft (PWC) Rescue Training for rescue operations using personal watercraft including Lake PWC, FAST PWC, and Surf PWC courses, plus Crewmember certification. Teaches jet ski operations for water rescue scenarios. Targets first responders and marine rescue teams.
• High Water Evacuation Vehicle (HWEV) Training for personnel who operate evacuation vehicles during flood emergencies. Levels include Awareness, Operations, and Technician covering capabilities, safety, equipment, and practical driving skills. Targets fire departments, EMS, and emergency services districts.
• Hurricane Response Technician (HRT) Specialized training for emergency response during hurricane situations, covering storm surge, floods, winds, incident command, rescue techniques, and safety procedures for field personnel. Targets coastal fire departments, county ESDs, and emergency management agencies.
• Ground Search & Rescue (GSAR) Land-based search and rescue training from Awareness through Team Leader and Field Commander levels. Covers navigation, GPS, compass, tracking, search patterns, medical aspects, and ICS coordination using RTI's proprietary GSAR ICS forms system. Targets fire departments, SAR teams, and government agencies.
• Vertical Rescue (VRT) Technical rope rescue training in both Wilderness and Urban/Highrise environments. Includes rappelling, ascending, rescue rigging, mechanical advantage systems, patient packaging, and advanced scenarios through Technician 3 levels. Targets fire departments, industrial rescue teams, and SAR organizations.
• ATV/UTV Rescue Technician 1 Training for rescue operations using All-Terrain Vehicles and Utility Task Vehicles. Covers crew member and driver/operator roles, including scouting, navigation, communications, rigging, and winch operations. Targets first responders, fire departments, and SAR teams.
• Cave Rescue (CRT) Underground rescue training covering cave geology, patient packaging, vertical rope rescue, medical considerations, and extended rescue operations through Technician 3 levels. Targets SAR teams and specialty rescue personnel.
• Wilderness 1st Responder Medical training extending first responder knowledge into remote wilderness environments where medical assistance is more than an hour away. Uses moulage and scenarios to simulate medical situations in wilderness settings. Targets first responders, SAR members, and outdoor professionals.
• Wilderness Survival Training 1 & 2 Intensive survival training programs teaching shelter building, fire making, water gathering, navigation, and team-based survival challenges. WS1 is a 24-hour overnight course; WS2 extends to 39 hours over 2 nights. Targets first responders, SAR teams, and individual students seeking survival skills.
• ATV/UTV SafeRide Comprehensive ATV/UTV safety training with two-part format: online self-study eCourse and practical driving course. Includes age-based programs for Adults (16+), Juniors (11-15), and Children (6-11). Covers machine selection, safety gear, and driving techniques. Targets recreational riders, families, and groups.
• Confined Space Rescue Technician Specialized training for rescue operations in permit-required confined spaces, covering entry procedures, atmospheric monitoring, and extraction techniques. Targets industrial workers, oil field personnel, and corporate safety teams.
• Industrial Rope Rescue Technician Training for industrial rope rescue operations including tower climber rescue, window washer rescue, and working at heights scenarios. Targets industrial workers, tower climbers, window washers, and corporate safety teams.
• Instructor Training Professional development program for becoming an RTI-certified instructor. Includes 1-2 day initial training, apprenticeship under experienced instructors, and lead instructor qualification process. Targets experienced rescue professionals seeking to become certified instructors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ personnel trained as of end of 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rescate 911 (San Pedro, Nuevo Leon, Mexico)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRTI's long-standing Mexico-based training partner. Instructors Ismael Contreras (Director), Patricio Varella (Rescue Paramedic), and Gerardo (Barry) Venegas (Assistant Chief / Rescue Paramedic) have been teaching RTI's FAST 1 curriculum in Mexico since 2008-2010. They operate under RTI standards and certification framework.
• Odessa CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRTI provides a full suite of rescue courses through Odessa College including Industrial Rope Rescue Technician, Confined Space Technician, Vertical Rescue Technician 1-3, Window Washer Technician, Competent Tower Climber, Tower Rescue, and Working at Heights. Dean McCann serves as RTI Lead Instructor for these programs.
• Texas A&M University Municipal Fire SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWes Meyer served as a guest instructor at the Texas A&M University Municipal Fire School, representing a historical academic partnership in fire/rescue training education.
• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWes Meyer has served as a consultant with FEMA for the development of rescue teams in international settings. RTI's curriculum incorporates FEMA guidelines alongside NFPA and OSHA standards.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBIEJMlJDZEOLhS9PhMpxQg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rescue.Training.International
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rescueti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rescue Training International