msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Mounted search and rescue
List archive
- From: "Ian Vowles" <Ian@modric.net>
- To: <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: [MSAR] NASAR STANDARDS and NASAR MSAR STANDARDS
- Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 19:45:21 -0700
Title: Message
Having finally returned to base I would like to share with you my PERSONAL perspective; you should note that
some items are what I would like to see but have not yet been agreed on by the committee , these thoughts therefore do not reflect the committee position
only my thoughts.
a)
Most everyone I know is happy to learn a national basic standard is being
developed for MSAR.
b) Those same folks also hope it will be a useful
standard for legal protection of agencies using the resource as
well as useful to the person working toward qualifying, there is genuine concern
for useless stuff getting in there ! - that will certainly be an interesting
slant as one persons rubbish is honey to another - for example someone may be
delighted to have "judges" and "trail classes" with mainly arena tests ,
horses playing football or somesuch - others will only want true field testing
and no fancy smancy stuff. Our job on the committee will be to extract the
"skills" which are critical and develop ways to test those.
c) It is
MY sincere hope that we will follow
the NASAR SARTECH III , II and I program in a philosophical way , i.e. the level
III would be created in similar method to the ISAR ( Introduction to SAR )
course and tested as per SARTECH III - i.e. it would ONLY be a written exam. -
my reason is simple , you could use this level III course to deal with a great
deal of BASIC horsemanship knowledge at a classroom level - included here could
be basic horse health issues. This would follow NASAR protocol and
could also end up being a web based exam available to all.
(----- note --- We have introduced SARTECH
III as a mandatory requirement for the entire team I am on , no matter what job you do , the reason was to get
everyone a basic understanding of SAR....... this program is underway now and
our early feedback is that SARTECH III has stimulated some folks to ask for
SARTECH II ..... this is the interest we , as team management want to encourage
! )
After completion of level
III , I would like to see a person then challenge the level II test - these
would be combination of written and practical. Ditto for level I .
d)
During some brief chats amongst the committee it became clear that there are a
variety of "special" areas , I believe Jorene has addressed that and explained
there are likely to be add ons for Wilderness , Urban , Packing etc.
e)
The issue of plagiarism was raised - I can state without equivocation , that
from my point of view the eventual NASAR MSAR standard will in every right stand
on its own merits - the fact that we are daily studying many other standards ,
operating policies , procedures etc only speaks to the depth and volume of
eventual homework on this project .
f) Several good points were also
raised about the make up and competency or relevance of committee members - I
can only speak for me ! I do not claim to have vast knowledge on horses , I
claim no special skills at all on an equine level - when I need information or
advice I am surrounded by many skilled horseman ( I could always ride over the
hill and visit Pat Parelli !!! - we are neighbors ) However we do have some very
skilled horsefolks on the committee, what I bring to the table is extensive
usage in the field , often in a managerial capacity - i.e. someone who is or
would be a USER of standards to get the skills needed documented. Because I live
a in very rural area and the folks I work with are straightforward horse users I
hope to provide balance to the opposite side of the coin where too much "horse
show" stuff could creep in !!! I want a standard that works for my team as
well as everyone else so simplicity is important to me.
g) As a voting
member of NASAR ( 6+ years ) I am committed to the NASAR MSAR standard being
written and published by NASAR for the eventual good of us all. I do not support
any concept of plagiarizing it , but you will be able to purchase a legitimate
copy and use it as you will , in the same way we purchase copies of ISAR for our
members and issue them prior to them challenging SARTECH III.
h) With
respect to evaluators and testing , I personally cannot see why the existing
NASAR system should not work - if Craig Bannerman et al were able to create the
entire SARTECH III, II & I system , without any allegations of compromise of
the system integrity I fail to see why adding a horse makes a difference
!! Certainly a national respected standard and equally respected system of
administration must beat out the local unit created and administered tests
?
I do feel it is very important that the MSAR standard and course
"blend" with existing NASAR works and I feel comfortable that this will take
place, based on two criteria ; i) NASAR will write the final proof and has
reserved the right to add persons to our committee from NASAR if needed. ii) I
am a SARTECH III , Now a SARTECH II , and an Apprentice SARTECH II Evaluator -
in other words I am firmly in the system ! In addition we have one other member
who is also a NASAR SARTECH II and who also brings an understanding of NASAR to
the table.. Before the standard and course are complete I am hopeful I shall
have my various instructor certificates to also teach the related NASAR courses
- so we will have a couple of members who are very NASAR system simpatico
!
In conclusion , it is my
opinion that , eventually we will have a very worthwhile set of standards and
courses - it will take time , and help from many quarters . Until it is done -
we will surely debate questions from time to time , but I would like to echo
Mike Dillard - all of us in SAR do it for the subject , we must work together
without territorial or ego issues precluding progress- politics belongs
elsewhere , THIS IS MOUNTED SEARCH AND RESCUE !
I acknowledge there are
many highly competent other bodies out there along with some state systems that
are very effective in SAR - locally I know New Mexico ( in my opinion ) has a
better system than we do here in Colorado - I highly respect Rick LaValla , Rick
Goodman et al and their respective companies or groups and have used
their courses , but where training and standards lie for general purposes - I
choose to hang my hat with NASAR as the most suitable group.
Note - I do not believe Air Scenting for horses is appropriate in these standards at present, contrary to Jorene's wish list ( its not on mine ) ! That does not however disparage the concept - I just don't think it is time now , especially in a national standard.
Its all about choice :-)
Warm wishes to all MSAR folks
worldwide.
"That others may live"
Ian Vowles
President,
Colorado Mounted Rescue, Inc.
Commander Unit A - Mounted
Rescue
Unit A - Mounted Rescue
400 Ranch Place
Pagosa
Springs
Colorado 81147
Tel : 970-731-4062
http://www.mountedrescue.com
-
Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills
, (continued)
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, Una Smith, 10/25/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, Jorene, 10/25/2003
- [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, Una Smith, 10/27/2003
- Re: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, glazejk, 10/27/2003
- RE: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, Jeff Ezell, 10/27/2003
- Re: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, Una Smith, 10/28/2003
- [MSAR] Re: ICS Field Coordinator, lmabry, 10/28/2003
- Re: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, Una Smith, 10/28/2003
- Re: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, glazejk, 10/28/2003
- Re: [MSAR] ICS Field Coordinator, Una Smith, 10/28/2003
- [MSAR] NASAR STANDARDS and NASAR MSAR STANDARDS, Ian Vowles, 10/31/2003
- RE: [MSAR] NASAR STANDARDS and NASAR MSAR STANDARDS, Ian Vowles, 10/31/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, tm-fi, 10/25/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, wwfarm, 10/25/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, tm-fi, 10/25/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, Jorene, 10/25/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, tm-fi, 10/26/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, Jorene, 10/26/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, Jorene, 10/26/2003
- Re: [MSAR] MSAR Rider skills, tm-fi, 10/26/2003
- Re: [MSAR] Riding Instructors, wwfarm, 10/26/2003
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