NASAR Course Offerings

Advanced Search and Rescue – Advanced level course for experienced personnel, crew or team leaders

Advanced Search and Rescue (ADSAR) is a NASAR course designed to educate the experienced field searcher in preparation for working as a crew leader on a search. This course expands on the knowledge and skills taught in the intermediate level FUNSAR course. Beginning with expanded management concepts, crew tactics, crew and SAR dog tactics, crew safety skills and continuing through stress management, the course focuses on the added responsibility of a crew leader and how this relates to the crewmembers, search managers, and the outcome of the search.

The ADSAR text and course materials were developed by a committee of experienced SAR personnel from all regions of the nation. The ADSAR course contains valuable information that can be used in many aspects of search response and contains information not found in other search courses.

Two highlights of the course are very exciting. The first is a concept of using critical spacing in conjunction with other search techniques that may result in a POD of up to 80%. This greatly improves the efficiency of a search crew! Also covered are the knowledge and understanding the crewleader needs to work effectively as a Task Force with a SAR dog crew. This is valuable information to enhance the skills of any search crewleader or searcher.

The ADSAR course also prepares the SARTECH II certified searcher to successfully pass the SARTECH I certification level.

ADSAR is designed to be taught in nineteen (19) hours and may be taught in a single weekend. Practical exercises can be added and may increase the time to twenty-four (24) hours.

Who Should Attend

Persons who have been involved with search and rescue operations and are ready to advance to the next level
SAR personnel who would like to refresh or expand their knowledge of search and rescue skills and tactics
Managers of emergency response organizations who want to understand the state of the art skills and knowledge used by experienced SAR personnel.

Prerequisites

The Fundamentals of Search and Rescue course and SARTECH II level of certification are recommended
Introduction to Incident Command Course or the (NIIMS) ICS I-200 series course are recommended

Topics

ICS for Search Crewleaders
Small Unit Leadership
Physical and Mental Fitness
Crew Safety
Crewleaders SAR Ready Pack
Search Crew Tactics
SAR Dog Tactics
SAR Dog/Crew Task Force Tactics
Advanced Map and Land Navigation
Traversing of Hazardous Terrain
Improvised Transport Crew Briefing and Debriefing Procedures
Stress Management for Crewleaders

After Completion

Upon passing ADSAR the student should be able to:

Define the following components of comprehensive resource management: Single Resource, Task Forces and Strike Teams.
Explain the use of an ICS 204 and 214 form, as it relates to the crew and the managers of a SAR incident.
Describe the relationship of the IAP to the crew leader and other SAR resources.
Explain (8) eight of the principles of leadership.
Describe the (6) six elements of crew leading procedures.
Describe the relationship between physical ability and the mental aspects of effective search techniques.
Identify and describe at least (5) five special hazards encountered on a SAR mission.
Develop a 24-hour ready pack for SARTECH I/ Crewleader III and explain the use of its contents.
Identify the different common coordinate systems and describe the common elements between them.
Demonstrate the use of tools and techniques used to determine road, trail, and straight-line distances on a map.
Describe the factors that effect the crew's Probability of Detection (POD).
Describe scanning and observation skills and techniques.
Identify the different types of searches, describe their differences, and demonstrate the techniques for maximizing the effectiveness.
Describe binary search strategy and tactics.
Define critical spacing and explain how it is used.
Define the different types of search dogs and describe the uses of each type.
Describe the role of the search crew in supporting a dog crew and the role of the dog crew in supporting the search crew.
Describe the search strategy considerations when using SAR dogs in the different types of searching.
List and explain the minimum information that must be obtained during a mission briefing.
Explain the (5) five parts of a crew operations assignment briefing.
List the information required for a debriefing.
Explain the procedures for traversing hazardous terrain areas in order to complete a search mission.
Demonstrate the use of webbing and rope to rig a single point anchor system.
Explain the (4) four ways to help prevent adverse stress reactions.

View All Courses

View Course Schedules