To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [MSAR] MSAR Training Clinic
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:54:48 -0400
Warning- Check out the course instructors before paying hundreds of dollars!
MSAR and SAR instructors should have some kind of basic certification
with the search and rescue arena before charging high fees for someone
to take their course. An example of how misleading advertising can
been seen in the State of Virginia. Even though Virginia is one of the
few States that has ground SAR and Mounted SAR written (minimum)
standards and require all SAR personnel to be credential, there is
nothing to prevent, a non-SAR trained or SAR compliant, person/persons
from offering an expensive for-profit SAR class. Before you spent
hundreds of dollars to attend a MSAR Clinic check out the instructor and
staff's SAR credentials. If none of the staff hold any recognized SAR
credentials a red flag should be raised.
I have been in contact with the lead instructor who is conducting an
upcoming Search & Rescue Clinic at the Virginia Horse Center in
Lexington, VA. After learning that none of the staff are certified in
SAR or MSAR and the course outline does not meet any of the State's
(Virginia) standards, I filed a compliant with the Virginia Department
of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Virginia Search and Rescue
Council regarding the below listed Clinic.
<http://www.horsecenter.org/view.asp?id=searchrescue>
Anyone wanting to enter into the field of Mounted Search and Rescue
should thoroughly check out the credentials of the course instructor
and staff before throwing away good money.