Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Identifying NASAR MSAR Instructors

msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Mounted search and rescue

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: pennbo@bbv.net
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Identifying NASAR MSAR Instructors
  • Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 22:21:57 -0700

the evaluator access question is one that crops up even with USAR dog teams.  Despite all the pressure that task forces feel to get dog teams up to speed, there is still
a dearth of qualified instructors and evaluators.  I've seen teams bend rules to make someone an evaluator that has no experience in the field (and thus no real
understanding of the "spirit" of an exercise).
Do you have any ideas on how to make sure this is not the same scenario that will develop in MSAR? With your experience with a similar situation in dog teams we could benefit from your ideas. Somewhere there has to be a solution to the not enough evaluators VS inexperienced or pressured evaluators.
If you are concerned that the integrity of team members is impinged by insinuating that they can't be reliably evaluated by fellow members.. I would question why
evaluators would be necessary at all??  If the prospective team is so far beyond the basic issues that arise by such potential ego clashes and conflicts of interest.. then I
would think that team members could be "self certified"... I am being facetious here.. but it does address the question of how far one can take the question of "bending
standards or flawed judgement".
I'm not certain that you understood where I was going with my original comments but perhaps you did and our experiences just differ widely from each other. My unit tends to be brutally honest with each other regarding our abilities, strengths, and weaknesses- mostly because we know our lives could very well depend on each other at some time. Being honest doesn't mean we dis each other. We work WITH each member team to become better. We try to provide opportunities to improve- both in a static situation as well as on trail. I can't imagine anyone in our group falsifying certification results just to stay in someone's good graces. But I don't have a lot of experience with other teams. Maybe this is an issue elsewhere. We are a small team. Once committed to standards, through encouragement or mandate, our team does work together. Agreeing on what those standards should be is where our battles happen!! Which is why I for one will be glad to see NASAR standards for MSAR.
 
I consider that this debate is obviously valuable if not critical but wonder if it might be best
served on another list for those that are more aware of the implications and involved in its resolution.


If the debate you are writing about is the debate on standards and what they should or shouldn't encompass then I would think that all of us who are actively involved in MSAR work should be involved. Could you elaborate on why you feel differently?

 This list has (to my limited experience
thus far) seemed to best serve those with "beginner" questions being answered by those seasoned participants...


I have found this list valuable for many reasons not the least of which is that experienced teams contribute. Our team has been in existence for over 50 years. I find worthwhile ideas posted all the time by other teams- both new and veteran. I also find myself having to rethink the status quo in response to questions asked by "beginners". To me that is very valuable all by itself- to constantly question if what we do is the best way to do it!

The current debate has been uncomfortable at times because of the passion with which people believe in their MSAR missions. There are lots of very strong opinions being expressed! Personally I feel that the discussions of the past week have been very valuable to me and by extension to my team. I  remind myself that we are a very mixed group with a broad range of backgrounds and that sometimes contributes to a wide variance in what we believe and how we express ourselves. But I also believe it is the key to making MSAR stronger, better, and more valuable as a SAR tool. We are only as good as our members and from what I have been reading MSAR is lucky to have some very bright, very articulate, and very dedicated people as members. I think this recent discussion means the future looks bright for MSAR!
 

Just my 2 cents.. and probably overpriced at that.
 
Julie
Your opinion and comments are invaluable- just as are everyone else's! <G> Please keep sharing!

Chris Pennington
Big Bear Sheriff's Posse
MSAR
 
 
 



Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page