Mounted search and rescue

[Laury Hembree <lahem60@yahoo.com>]

My friend, marilyn, and myself definitely want to be part of a mounted search and rescue team in the eastern part of the US. We live in east TN.

We have much experience in the wilderness and back country of the Smoky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, as well as Big South Fork and Cumberland mountain chains. We know how to read topo maps, GPS, use radios, compasses, etc. And our horses are very dependable mounts and are very alert to anything "living" in the vicinity of the search. We would like to have further training, but at this time it is hard to travel too far out of town. Are there any training sessions to be held near east TN anytime in the near future?

Thanks!!! Please contact us whenever you need help with a Search and rescue.

Lauryn Hembree

 

 

 

--- On Sat, 10/25/08, RVASSER@aol.com <RVASSER@aol.com> wrote:

From: RVASSER@aol.com <RVASSER@aol.com>
Subject: [MSAR] Overview of the MSAR training course in Cook County held on Oct.18, 2008
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2008, 11:08 AM

 

The Basic All Weather Mounted Search & Rescue Training Course Saturday, October 18, 2008

Overview

 A Mounted Search & Rescue (MSAR) team is being organized and trained for primary service in the Cook County area, and may also be deployed anywhere in the state upon request of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The MSAR team will serve in the Emergency Services division of the Village of Melrose Park's Department of Public Safety, which conducts search & rescue (SAR) operations as well as train first responders in (SAR) operations. The head of the Department of Public Safety is Chief Philip C. Schwartz. The MSAR team leader is Lieutenant Ronald T. Vasser and Sergeant David Cooper is the MSAR team logistics and communications specialist.  

On Saturday, October 18, 2008, an outstanding group of people and their horses came together with a mission to successfully complete a vigorous and comprehensive Basic All Weather Mounted Search & Rescue (MSAR) Training Course. The Basic All Weather MSAR training course was presented by the Village of Melrose Park's Department of Public Safety. The training course was held at Six Guns Ranch & Arena in Crete, IL. which is owned by MSAR team members Debbie and Kendall Cowgur. A tremendous amount of planning, phone calls, e-mails and meetings were done in order to produce this first class training program. We want to thank all the key personnel, instructors, and equestrians who helped to make our MARS training initiative successful. 

The MSAR instructors were Lois A. Guyon, Ph.D and Ruth Fennick, Ph.D who are both former university professors and inaugural members of the LaSalle County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue Posse, with training and certification in G649: Wilderness Search and Rescue Operations certification and (Mounted Searching and Theory); Mounted Police Training Systems Inc. Rick Vecchi from the LaSalle County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue Posse also assisted in the field training operations. The MSAR training course coordinators were Chief Philip C. Schwartz, Lt. Ronald Vasser and Sgt. David Cooper.  Additional training and support was provided by Asst. Chief Stephanie Schwartz, Capt. George Stevenson and Cpl. Luis Perez of the Melrose Park Department of Public Safety.

The first phase of mounted search & rescue (MSAR) training was classroom work that is dedicated to mounted search theory and practice. The classroom work also included instructions on skills required for horse and rider, safety, evidence management with horses, communications, technology, equipment and supplies. The second phase of training was horse and rider field work on sensory training and the obstacles course. The final phase of training was participating in a hasty search (location of a person or clothing) and a full search (evidence, person or clothing). After the completion of a full day of MSAR training the group had a debriefing session and were awarded certificates. Our MSAR team training standard requires all MSAR team members to be trained in ground search & rescue (GSAR) operations as well as mounted search & rescue (MSAR) operations.
 
As a result of our overall recruitment and training initiative we currently have 11 MSAR team members and candidates who have GSAR & MSAR certificates, 10 with MSAR certificates and 1 with a GSAR certificate. Our mission is to assemble a diverse group of dedicated professionals who will bring, skill and personality to the MSAR team.   

We are planning to hold more GSAR and MSAR training courses in the very near future, in order to give everyone an opportunity to take the training course that they may have missed it. We would also like to reach out to other people who would like to join and train with our MSAR team. If you know of any other riders that may be interested in joining our MSAR team please put them in contact with me by e-mail rvasser@aol.com or call 312-391-0077, please include your contact information, riding experience and a brief biography. 

Thank you for your interest and support.
Lt. Ronald T. Vasser
MSAR team leader

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