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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] "Ground SAR equivalent" / MSAR standards

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  • From: tm'-fi <TFinkle@erols.com>
  • To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] "Ground SAR equivalent" / MSAR standards
  • Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2004 13:57:33 -0400

You both have touched on some important points.  There seems to be a couple of important issues that keep coming up.  First being,  what should the basic set of ground skills knowledge be and second is what should be the basic set of MSAR skills and minimum equipment expectations be.  It is imperative that any MSAR rider obtain some type of minimum SAR knowledge, in order to perform in the field, without becoming a liability, risk or burden to the mission.  I believe that at least half the MSAR teams have some type of written equine guidelines and minimum ground SAR standards (similar to what was posted by the NASAR-MSAR committee).  

Regardless of where an MSAR team is located, a minimum level of ground SAR knowledge is needed.  According to NASAR,  success percentages are noticeably increased when search personnel are provided with as little as a basic introductory course.  This is why they developed their Introduction to SAR class of instruction. Many SAR organizations provide a similar 8 to 16 hour introduction SAR classes of instruction.  Regardless of who sponsors this level of training, terminal training objectives are very similar in content!  From my prospective, this is where the "minimum" training expectations should be set.  All prospective MSAR personnel should have basic "entry" level SAR knowledge in combination with basic equine testing.  Having this type of base line would allow MSAR teams to say "Our team meets the "entry" level MSAR standards recommended by the Supers Searchers of the Universe" (there is no such group to my knowledge, but I think you understand my point).  

Without having a base line to work from, a common problem that often occurs with administrators during the creation of new standards is to develop goals and objectives that are set too high and have too many levels, resulting in a program that seems unobtainable to reach.  This often times causes a failure of the program, resulting in a lack of participation from the targeted customers.  A balanced program that has a well defined set of minimum standards is easily marketable and will encourage teams obtain the minimum requirements.  

Currently, there are many basic standards written for Call Out Qualified ground personnel, these guidelines can be found with NASAR, NEWSAR, PACE, VASARCO and other equivalent organizations.  Most of these SAR organization have this information readily available for review.  At the most "Call Our Qualified" MSAR personnel should be required to attend a (32 to 40 hour) course in the fundamentals of search and rescue course, that should also include some basic field practical exercises and then pass a regional or national written (ground SAR) test..  This is how the K-9 III standards got started and it seems to be working for them.  Include this as an entry level prerequisite, then develop a "basic" set of (call out qualified) MSAR standards that many teams can adopt.  Teams could then decide on their own, if they want to increase the ground level skills of their personnel.

We need a "basic" set of (call out qualified) MSAR standards created by someone, but none have been established by anyone.   Senior MSAR personnel who have a documented MSAR training background and who are a NASAR SAR Tech-II (or equivalent) can serve as evaluators.  A program with a solid foundation should simply consists of; ABC as a minimum field standard and EFG as a minimum evaluator standard.  Once in place "wait" a couple of years, research resulting from participation figures will determine if the basic program was successful and will also determine if justification exists to create and develop a higher set of standards.    I see no valid reason for any organization to develop a multi-level MSAR program, when an agreed upon basic set of MSAR standards does not exist.

Tomi'
TROTSAR
Maryland

Jorene Downs wrote:
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
  
A formal MSAR standard could
(and I think perhaps should) require basic SAR training as a
prerequisite, without identifing a specific other standard, training,
or certification system.  Eg, it could require whatever basic SAR
training/certification is required by the cognizant authority (this
being your county or state), or NASAR or MRA or ...
    
The foundation - the ground SAR training - intended to provide knowledge for the
certified MSAR rider - has potential to be very inconsistent. That would
result in the certification for MSAR having little credibility due to the
wide variety of possible ground SAR source options.

Would it work for the MSAR certification to have a list of clearly defined
expectations for ground SAR training in order to be eligible for MSAR
certification? And if the local version of SAR training meets/exceeds those
expectations, that person is eligible? A form of "SAR equivalent"? I see
that kind of concept as being "fair" but can't figure out how it could be
fairly implemented. Someone would need to evaluate the submitted local
ground SAR standards to see if it meets/exceeds the minimum indicated
criteria. Any idea how that might be accomplished?

Or would it work to specifically list NASAR, MRA, or meet/exceed your State
SAR requirements? And if your training source isn't on the list, have the
option to submit those ground SAR standards for approval as an "equivalent"
training? Except you're right back to someone evaluating other standards
compared to "something" as the benchmark standard. Can anyone suggest an
unbiased process to compare / evaluate ground SAR standards?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R,
Technical Rescue, Cave Rescue,
Hasty Team, ICP
www.CEOates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT Program Coordinator
www.tk-cert.org



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