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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] Operational issues / Possible Magazine Article about MSAR
  • Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 13:34:11 -0800

From: "Una Smith" <una.smith@att.net>
Jorene Downs wrote:
Why is the rookie called last?

Because the rookie cannot respond without an experienced
person to supervise.

Agreed!

So our first step is to line up an
experienced MSAR person to supervise, and availability of
such a person will depend on who else can respond and how
these persons can be combined to form field teams.

I'd get the rookie started to reduce potential for delay due to lack of "load and go" experience, with instructions that he/she will be notified later regarding who is assigned to supervise the rookie. I always have the option of calling to cancel that rookie (or any other team member) or changing to a non-mounted response, if necessary. ;)

You're also assuming the Mounted organization will coordinate defining their own teams. In some operational areas the initial call-out is for all available MSAR to respond and SAR Management (assisted by the MSAR Liaison) makes team assignments based on how many are / who is available. Riders may end up mixed with other resources, with minimum 2 experienced MSAR on any field team. The team leader may be anyone on that team. Anyone not well suited for a mission in the field on that SAR - or an appropriate buddy isn't available - gets assigned a support role of some kind.

[,,,] Then there is the operational requirement: if
(eg) SAR management in New Mexico requests we provide a
Type II field team, we choose which volunteers to assign
to that field team based on their individual skills so
that their combined skills meet or exceed the definition
of a Type II field team. That might mean that the rookie
cannot go.

If the call-out is skills-specific, and the rookie is not considered field ready for that skill, the rookie would not be called for field response, regardless. However, that rookie may be a good support person for that call-out, partnered with an experienced support person. The support assignment may not be limited to MSAR support, assuming the person has appropriate training. It depends on the incident needs and available personnel.

Locally all SAR personnel - including MSAR - have potential to be called for a role to assist a specialist team in the field. For example, MSAR on foot has packed dive team gear along steep rocky riverbanks not suited for horses. With some basic cross-training MSAR on foot can also work topside at a technical rescue, be positioned with throwbags for a swiftwater call, etc. In a few local urban SAR, MSAR has been asked to respond on foot because door-to-door is easier without horses.

Considering MSAR as "doesn't always respond mounted" provides for a far more effective use of available resources, and positions MSAR organizations to be called more frequently. (This assumes the riders are focused on participating in SAR, not just MSAR.) Riders should be trained SAR personnel first, with Mounted as a specialty.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare SAR - Hasty Team ICP Team
www.ceoates.com/sar
Tulare-Kings CERT
www.tk-cert.org




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