[MSAR] Night MSAR

Warren Trooper Craig TrooperWC at netscape.net
Fri Feb 20 20:17:36 EST 2004


Night call-outs for MSAR were not uncommon in Georgia.  We did them nearly as much as daylight call-outs.  What has to be remembered is that there is a great cross-section of geography, climate, terrain, training, and attitude within this very diverse group.

For us, we seldom had weather that prohibited us from responding as a mounted team.  Our terrain, aside from sections of the north Georgia mountains, was fairly easy and accessible.  We always worked in tandem behind ground trackers who worked behind dogs, or behind dogs and handlers without ground teams.  In other words it was always a joint effort with other SAR units.

Another problem we didn't seem to have with the state team was that most of us were law enforcement officers from jurisdictions throughout the state so we weren't saddled with jurisdictional disputes and bias by the emergency managers on-site.  Those of us within a given geographical area would always respond to a call-out, with mounts.  

However, there were conditions, terrain and other factors which would prevent me from searching mounted even in daylight.  I valued my horse and my safety above all else.  Don't ever let the rescuer ever enter a situation where he might possibly become the victim.

Another thing that we didn't have to battle was the notion that the ICS sees the word "mounted", and ignores the "search and rescue" part of the name.  This is a handicap that many of you seem to face.  That's a battle you are going to have to take on to win.  Everyone who gets into this is in it for one reason, "search and rescue" of someone who needs to be found.  Don't ever forget your mission or your dedication.  Make that known to those who need to know.  You may have to drill it over and over again, but they need to understand your motivation is as great as anyone else's.

-- 
Warren (Trooper) Craig
email: trooperwc at netscape.net
       wcraig at code3associates.org



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