NASAR CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR SAR TECH III

(Effective April 1, 1998)

PURPOSE
I. The SAR TECH™- TYPE III CRITERIA are designed to define the minimum knowledge skills and some performance skills needed by an individual to perform as a member of a SAR CREW or SAR PATROL during land search operations. They can also be used as a guide for any member of a SAR Group or Team. They may be considered as a guide for other emergency service personnel who are used during SAR operations.

II. These CRITERIA recognize the need for further training to acquire the knowledge skills, performance skills, and experience needed to become a fully competent member of a SAR CREW during land search operations.

REFERENCES
I. Some of these criteria have been developed by Search and Rescue Training Associates, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia for the Department of Emergency Services.

II. Some of these criteria have been adopted for the Search and Rescue Training and Certification Program, Department of Emergency Services, Commonwealth of Virginia.

III. “Search and Rescue Fundamentals”, by Cooper, LaValla, and Stoffel, Third Edition, 1990.

QUALIFICATIONS
I. Physically and mentally capable of performing the functions of the certification functions. Other agencies, organizations, and/or SAR authorities may have an age requirement for their members to apply for certification or perform the functions of these criteria.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION
I. None

CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES
I. The following criteria must be met in order to qualify for certification as a SAR TECH™ III.

A. Obtain training and/or experience that includes the necessary knowledge and performance skills. Such training and experience must be documented. Any individual meeting these requirements may be permitted to challenge the written and practical exams.

B. Pass a written test within the limits defined for each knowledge and performance
skill, with a score of at least 70%.II.

Certification
A. Upon successful completion of requirements a certificate will be issued to the person by NASAR. This certificate does not constitute a license to practice the skills taught in the training program or practice the knowledge and performance skills that have been evaluated. The certification does signify that the person holding the certificate has met the requirements of an established criteria of knowledge and/or performance skill on the date indicated on the certificate.

B. SAR TECH™ III certification indicates that at the time of certification the individual possesses the required basic understanding of personal survival and basic SAR skills. It does not indicate that the individual has demonstrated any of these skills in a field situation.

TEST METHODS
I. Written test

A. The test shall consist of at least 75 multiple choice questions based on the SAR TECH™ III knowledge and performance objectives. Passing score is 70%.

B. Practical Test - None

II. Re-testing
A. Applicants who fail the written test are eligible for re-testing.

B. Each applicant is responsible for making arrangements for re-testing with the test director.

C. If an applicant fails the retest, appropriate training courses will be recommended and possibly required by the test coordinator before allowing the candidate to retest again.

KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
I. Introduction to Search and Rescue

A. The candidate will be able to define the following:

1. Search
2. Rescue
3. (LAST) Locate, Access, Stabilize, Transport

B. The candidate will be able to define the following components of SAR operations:

1. Preplanning
2. Notification
3. Planning/Strategy
4. Tactics/Operations
5. Suspension
6. Critique

C. The candidate will be able to list the major responsibilities for search and rescue for the following:

1. U.S. Air Force
2. U.S. Coast Guard
3. Federal Aviation Administration
4. Civil Air Patrol
5. State SAR Authorities
6. Local SAR Authorities
D. The candidate will be able to list the six expected qualities of a SAR responder.

II. SAR Management System
A. The Candidate shall be able to:

1. List the five major organizational activities within the Incident Command System and explain their primary functions.
2. Give the titles, and explain the duties of Command and General Staff members.
3. Match organizational units to appropriate Operations, Planning, Logistics or Finance/Administration sections.
4. Match supervisory titles with appropriate levels within the organization.
5. Describe the, terms used to name major incident facilities, and state the function of each.
6. Describe what an Incident Action Plan is and how it is used at an incident.
7. Describe how the span of control functions within the incident organization and in the use of resources.
8. Describe the common responsibilities (general instructions) associated with incident or event assignments.
9. Describe several applications for the use of ICS.

III. Land Navigation and Orienteering
A. The candidate will be able to list and differentiate between at least three types of maps used in SAR.

B. Given five topographical map symbols, the candidate will be able to identify, define, and state the color of each symbol.

C. Given five types of topographical border information, the candidate will be able to identify the information and define its use.

D. The candidate will be able to identify, define, and demonstrate the use of the following terms or concepts:

1. Contour lines
2. True north and magnetic north
3. Determining distances

E. The candidate will be able to define the following plotting methods or grid systems.

1. Geographic Coordinate System - Latitude/Longitude
2. UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator System)
3. SDMRTS (San Diego Mountain Rescue Team System)

F. The candidate will be able to describe at least five parts of the compass.

G. The candidate will be able to describe the following navigational functions:

1. Orientating a map and compass to terrain
2. Obtain and follow a simple compass bearing
3. Measure distance by pacing

IV. SAR Resources

A. The candidate will be able to list at least five types of operational resources that may be used for SAR.

V. Search Philosophy

A. The candidate will be able to explain the different motivation factors found in SAR responders.

B. The candidate will be able to list the six crucials for SAR management.

C. The candidate will be able to define:

1. Probability of Area
2. Probability of Detection
3. POA x POD = POS
4. Last Known Point (LKP)
5. Point Last Seen (PLS)
6. Initial Planning Point

D. The candidate will be able to explain the need for practicing POD estimation at the crew level.

VI. Search Tactics
A. The candidate will be able to differentiate between the two basic categories of search tactics (Passive and Active).

B. The candidate will be able to list at least three passive search tactics.

C. The candidate will be able to list at least three active search tactics.

D. The candidate will be able to describe the following primary types of active search tactics:

1. Hasty Search Tactics
2. Efficient Search Tactics
3. Thorough Search Tactics

E. The candidate will be able to describe the techniques and methods used for the following search tactics:

1. Attraction
2. Confinement/Containment
3. Hasty Search
a. Route
b. Area
4. Sign Cutting
5. Open Line or Grid Search (spacing over 100 ft.)
6. Closed Line or Grid Search (spacing under 100 ft.)
7. Tracking
8. Critical Space

F. The candidate will be able to list at least five of the searching or tactical skills needed by field searchers.

VII. Clue Consciousness
A. The candidate will be able to explain why SAR personnel search for clues not subjects.

B. The candidate will be able to describe the elements of clue orientation theory and describe the procedures used upon locating a clue.

VIII. Search Operations
A. The candidate will be able to list searcher pre-planning and preparation procedures.

B. The candidate will be able to list the information needed by the searcher when alerted.

C. The candidate will be able to list procedures and information needed for:

1. Checking in at the incident
2. Crew mission briefing
3. Crew mission debriefing
4. Departing the incident

D. The candidate will be able to define the functions of these search crew positions:

1. Radio Operator
2. Navigator
3. Pacer
4. Search Crew Member

IX. Lost Person Behavior
A. The candidate will be able to explain why knowledge of lost person behavior can be an advantage to the searcher.

B. The candidate shall describe the use of searcher data on a search and how this relates to the outcome of a mission or a search.

X. Helicopter Operations
A. The candidate will be able to list at least ten of the safety rules for personnel during helicopter operations.

B. The Candidate shall be able to describe the site and setup requirements for a helispot.

XI. Communications
A. The candidate will be able to list at least five common radio procedures and guidelines.

B. The candidate will be able to list at least five portable radio procedures and guidelines.