Mounted search and rescue

["Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>]

> Una Smith wrote:
> >>There isn't much need for support in an MSAR group;  unless they
> >>already have SAR skills, non-riders are a lot of work and someone
> >>who does have SAR skills needs to stay with them.
>
> Ian Vowles <Ian@modric.net>, in Colorado, wrote:
> >On "unmounted" assets - our philosophy is that we require a full ground
> >support team to establish our base and staging areas , (we use ICS
> >principals) , this means our field base is manned with our comunications
> >team , radio loggers , map plotters , liasion officer for working with
> >agency calling us out , safety officer ( very important we think ) and
> [etc]

From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
> We use ICS in New Mexico also, [...] run about the same as
> Ian describes in Colorado.  Incident base and staging area(s)
> are manned by people trained in ICS, providing whatever support
> is needed for the mission at hand.  [...]

I've been in IC for about 7 years. If you look at the standard Incident
Command System structure (you can find a detailed ICS basic training course
on FEMA.gov in PDF format) you'll find that ICS starts with management for
SAR. Most states and regions at least loosely follow the structure defined
by FEMA - Incident Commander, Operations, Logistics, etc. - and the FEMA
structure originated in Fire. Support personnel at the CP / Base / Staging
Area would be those assigned to assist within the basic structure.

Lots of extra training - or should be! <g> - for the IC management personnel
above and beyond the field knowledge. Operations in particular, since we
plan which resources should be called, where to deploy the search teams,
which kind of search teams go where - depending on terrain, weather, type of
missing person situation, etc. - and other issues. Then we assess and adjust
to new information. Based on decisions in Operations, Logistics and
Communications (and others) then provide for the needs specific to that
incident. There may be several remote CPs set up in an extended area SAR,
with management that coordinates the resources for their assigned region and
reports back to the ICP.

Field has their own structure, with a Team Leader / Crew Chief ./ whatever
you call the individual locally and personnel under their supervision. There
can also be support personnel used in the field. For example, hauling
equipment to spike camps or simply packing extra gear for a deep penetration
Wilderness SAR.

There are numerous human resources involved in a SAR. And every role is an
important one - IC management, field searchers, the crew preparing meals,
etc. - just as all the various skill sets are valued. Obviously, the
personnel with a variety of skills are an advantage because at makes it
easier to assign the resources. For example, if a person is qualified in A,
B, and C, you don't need to assign a specialist in C to that team in the
field unless that specialist is anticipated as necessary for an expected
task. That gives management much more flexibility in assignment of
resources. Particularly when volunteers are involved, you can't count on
certain people / resources being available. So cross-training is encouraged
for all personnel.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
Tulare Co, CA
SAR, MSAR, Swiftwater Rescue, US&R