Search and Rescue Training

The National Association for Search and Rescue SAR TECH certification program was establish with the desire to begin a process of adopting a national CRITERIA for search and rescue in the United States. Many states have adopted the CRITERIA as a requirement for all search responders who are assigned to the field. Many more local SAR Teams and K-9 SAR Teams, have adopted the CRITERIA as a minimum certification for operational personnel. In some areas of the country where the CRITERIA has been in place for several years, Incident Commanders report that the level of response and indeed the level of success in finding the lost subject has been measurably improved.

There are three levels of certification:

• SAR Spec III provides basic knowledge skills. This instruction ihas been incrporated into the Initial Entry Training (IET) Curriculum and will be a part of every GSDF soldier's core base of knowledge.
• SAR Spec II adds practical field performance competence requirements to the base of knowledge.
• SAR Spec I incorporates advanced knowledge and field performance competence. Has knowledge and field performance skills of tracking, the use of SAR dogs in conjunction with a search crew, and advanced land navigation skills.

More information can be found at the National Association for Search and Rescue website.