To: Mounted search and rescue <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: [MSAR] Wanting to be MSAR
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:18:13 -0800
First- what is it that our "new" folks want to learn? This list, while
for Mounted Search and Rescue, is not necessarily going to be full of
things beginners need to know- unless questions are asked. I'm busy-
improving my skills, earning a living, and participating in trainings
and missions. I don't have the time to GUESS what someone wants to know.
I suspect the rest of the members here share similar time contraints.
ASK questions! ASK what you want to know! If you really want to be part
of MSAR this is a habit you'll need to get into anyway. In many, if not
most, areas MSAR folks have to be very proactive. No one comes knocking
on our door to invite us nicely to join the team. We have to make our
way, prove our value. We brainstorm together what kinds of training
might be necessary in areas we are likely to be called to. Then we
search out that training. We ride and train and ride and train. In our
area all MSAR folks must be first certified as ground pounders. We are
basic SAR personnel with a specialty in Mounted. If someone would like
to know what kind of training that requires ASK.
And a caution for all internet and listserve users- do your homework.
There are many folks all over the internet who claim to be experts. Some
actually are. If you are looking for 'expert' information check
references. While there are not a ton of resources available to MSAR
folks on the web there are some. However some that I have read are
irritatingly inaccurate at best and downright dangerous at worse. Find a
resource, verify it's validity, and then ASK questions here. Listen to
the answers and it will be pretty easy to pick out the common threads.