Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <una.smith@att.net>]

MSAR-Riders folks,

Wow, it has been a while!  I have been super busy with life including
SAR.  Here's a short update.  After working for many years as a Section
Chief (Logistics, Planning, Operations, in that order) I have moved up
to Incident Commander.  I will be working Type 4 (least complex) SAR
missions without staff support, which means concentrating more on the
operations role;  also interviewing the mission initiator, reporting
party, concerned family, etc.

Resources available to us ICs include 53 recognized SAR teams in the
current NM SAR Resource Directory.  Of those 53 teams 10 list MSAR as
a specialty.  Many other teams have some mounted resources.

I have taken a lot of courses in recent years.  One course that stands
out is Bob Koester's Lost Person Behavior.  The foundation of the course
is his book, but the real value of the course is in the map exercises.
Students learn to *use* the book.  NM SAR has selected LPB as required
training for all Incident Management Team members, meaning ICs and SCs.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico