Bridging Teams. Strengthening Response.
Critical Link Collaborative exists to support those who serve—by creating training opportunities, building interagency collaboration, and developing events that strengthen readiness, leadership, and public safety.
Deliver scenario-based training and education
Create multi-agency collaboration opportunities
Build events that connect training, community, and mission support
Support responder resilience and professional development
Rails & Rescues is our flagship training and collaboration event built around realistic, high-accountability scenarios designed to challenge teams, strengthen coordination, and develop decision-making under pressure.
Training themes may include:
Interagency coordination and communications
Rescue, medical response, and incident command integration
Scenario-based problem solving in dynamic environments
Leadership, mindset, and performance under stress
Our commitment: We operate with respect for property, partners, and the environment—leaving every site better than we found it, and planning every activity with safety and professionalism at the center.
When agencies and teams train together, they respond better together. Rails & Rescues and our other initiatives are built to:
Improve readiness through shared training
Strengthen trust across teams and jurisdictions
Create repeatable training models that scale
Help communities benefit from stronger response capability
Critical Link Collaborative is led by a team of experienced professionals dedicated to high standards, safety, and meaningful partnerships.
Lanny & Tracy Barnes
Olympians, educators, and instructors with deep experience in performance under pressure, training design, and building community-driven events. They have led instruction and events supporting law enforcement and regional partners across the U.S.
Our Partners & Contributors
Rails & Rescues brings together a wide range of professionals and community stakeholders—public safety, rescue, and industry partners—united by one goal: better training, stronger coordination, and higher readiness
How You Can Help
Partner / Sponsor
Support training, safety logistics, and mission deliverables while gaining meaningful visibility.
Volunteer
Help with logistics, check-in, media support, and event operations.
Donate
Your contribution helps us build training opportunities and keep programs accessible. Critical Link is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Visit: www.railsandrescues.com for more information on events, sponsor & volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved.