Mounted search and rescue

[Pennbo's <pennbo@verizon.net>]

> Seems to me that too often the personnel that are paid to do this 
> versus the volunteers that are not manage to equate that the people 
> who are UNPAID are a bunch of lacky amateurs.  How pathetic that 
> mentallity is when infact some of those volunteers can do just as good 
> a job or even better than some of  those who are paid.

I have a different experience I guess. In the searches I've been on the 
paid personnel (usually law enforcement tyeps) are respectful of the 
trained and experienced volunteers and thankful for their help. The 
trained volunteers are accounted a serious part in the deployment of the 
teams and their findings are treated seriously. Most of the MSAR folks I 
know are not paid and give of their time and money to get training with 
authorized and validated groups. That makes them volunteers- but trained 
and experienced volunteers- which is far different from untrained, 
inexperienced volunteers with no unit affiliation who show up expecting 
to be utilized.

And yes, when it comes to doing a search with a bunch of people I choose 
to have someone next to me who has training and experience in difficult 
and potentially dangerous situations because I don't want to have to 
pull someone out of danger when I should be searching for the missing 
person. I also prefer to be riding with others who are aware of crime 
scene, track, and evidence preservation so that we do not destroy what 
may be the clues to a successful mission. The best way I can tell if 
others have the necessary experience is through their association with 
an authorized group.

Now if you are talking walking through neighborhoods, shouting a name, 
plastering up posters- bring on everyone who can walk!

Karen, would you please remind me where you got your MSAR experience and 
training, which team you were affiliated with, and how long you were 
affiliated with them? I seem to have forgotten this information but I'm 
sure you've mentioned it all before. It helps to be able to understand 
everyone's position when you know where they are 'coming from'.

Chris Pennington