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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Mock Search Seniaros

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Subject: Mounted search and rescue

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  • From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
  • To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Mock Search Seniaros
  • Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:20:29 -0500

The major problem with mock searches is that it is the same objective every time—find the search object. And because training time is precious (and expensive even if not in dollars) success is always wanted.  The key to keeping it interesting is to vary the terrain (location) each time if you can. If you are limited to one state park you will eventually have everybody so familiar with it that they can go to the subject bindfolded. 

 

Trying to make it as realistic as possible does not usually work for mounted.  To get the maximum daylight you have to preannounce the drill date and time.  There are usually enough maps to go around, the radios work because somebody tested them beforehand, and similar problems don’t happen.  Try to get other search organizations involved, dogs, trackers, ground pounders, whatever so you can work true unified command as you would on a real search.  If you have recent search manager graduates use them to run ops, plans, logistics and support functions as a graduation exercise. Have your most experienced command staff monitor the rookies. This gives your middle level personnel a chance to lead tasks and show what they can do.  The “victim” can also evaluate how well the tasks do.

 

An exercise is there to do it the way we planned to do it and see how well we do, and to see how good the plan is. In FEMA exercises there are multiple locations, multiple victims, multiple incidents played out against a disaster involving multiple jurisdictions.  Your exercise is more limited in scope but you should try to include all the agencies who would be there on a real mission.  This allows you to see who plays well with others and who can do tasks on their own.

 

Irv Lichtenstein      

 


From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jonah Libsack
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:19 PM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Mock Search Seniaros

 

I am interested in what you do for mock searches.  Or trainings, for that matter.

Thanks,
Jonah




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