Mounted search and rescue

["Marie Lester" <marie.lester@gmail.com>]

> 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.


During the past nine months, our unit has been involved in three
searches in three different counties.  In all cases, the officials
treated us with a great deal of respect and appreciation.
I did hear that untrained volunteers disappeared from the radar in one
case, which was a great frustration for the team captain of the
mounted personnel.  She spent a good amount of time looking for them,
instead of being on task.
Our experience was different, however.  The untrained volunteers
looked to us for guidance and knowledge of procedures relevant to a
search.

Marie Lester