| Course Information - Search Management |
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Search Planning and Management Course
This five-day course teaches the principles of effective management of searching for lost persons. Whilst the emphasis is placed on open country search the principles are applicable to much wider fields of endeavor including urban, rural, mountain, and other search environments. Considerable success has been achieved with this program in a number countries throughout the world in finding missing persons in less time, with fewer resources and in a better state of health. In short, the program teaches a well-tested search management and planning process that endeavors to achieve “success fast”—the principle goal of all searches. The course teaches in a logical sequence the steps to be taken by Managers and Leaders on the actions required to initiate a search and how to avoid potential problems arising from common mistakes and not using an accepted search planning process. The course then progresses on to cover the steps required when the search expands to a multi-team, multi-agency, and/or multi-jurisdictional effort, running over a number of days. The course incorporates the use of the science of search theory and will contain an overview of the use of computers and technology in the planning and management of a search.
This course uses the well-tested Search Actions Outline (SAO), which was developed specifically for use by Mountain Rescue England Wales (MREW) by one of the world’s leading authorities in the application of search theory to land search. In a 2003 report by the U.S. Government (Compatibility of Land SAR Procedures with Search Theory; available at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg534/nsarc/LandSearchMethodsReview.pdf), many documents were surveyed and reviewed in terms of how they complied (or not) with the principles of formal search theory. The report showed that most of the documents reviewed did not follow the internationally accepted tenets of the science of search theory and none provided a specific search planning methodology—with one notable exception. The Search Actions Outline was specifically mentioned as being entirely compatible with search theory and was described as the, “…only document in this review that offers a search planning methodology.” This widely accepted and widely used methodology is the basis for the Search Management and Planning Course being described herein. Whilst the emphasis of this course is placed on open country search, the general principles—and indeed the principles of search theory in general—are applicable to a much wider field of endeavor. These principles have been used in semi-urban area searches, crime scenario searches and have relevance for air support and dog handler units. However, the bulk of the course is aimed at those individuals who would become part of a Search Planning and Management Team. During the five days of the course, those attending will work on four table top exercises (map problems) based on previous actual searches from around the world. The course has had considerable support from the UK Association of Chief Police Officers in that some 450 Police Officers from 51 different Forces throughout the
Tracking for Search and Rescue Course
Tracking, by simple definition, is following “sign” or tracks left by someone or something. It is used to detect the path (direction, movement) of someone or something. However, tracking, when applied to search and rescue (SAR), becomes a more complex skill that concerns itself both with the detection and interpretation of clues and evidence left by humans as they pass through a wide variety of environments. Unfortunately, tracking is under-utilized in SAR situations. More often than not, SAR personnel ignore sign and track because they are unaware of its potential. SAR personnel are too often guilty of literally walking on the very evidence for which they search while looking for the subject or staring at a map. A story has been printed on the ground and we, as “track aware” searchers, must discover its existence, then learn to “read” it. This is not to say that once tracking is applied in SAR situations, every lost subject will be found. Rather, tracking will give the subject a much better chance to survive and it can help to prove (or disprove) that a lost person is contained within a designated search area. In this course, the fundamentals of tracking are taught through a well-tested, stride-based approach called the “Step-by-Step” method, which is used by many military, law enforcement, and search and rescue organizations. Anyone can learn to track but it takes a willingness to learn, patience, determination, hard work, and practice—not unlike any important endeavor. This course also provides the tools to students that allow them to continuously improve in their skills well after the course concludes. The principle goal of the program is to, at the very least, make participants track and sign aware. Once the principles of tracking are learned, course participants experience an entirely new level of clue and evidence potential not previously experienced. The result is a field searcher with greater skill in observation and clue/evidence discovery, and a capability to discover and interpret subtle, previously overlooked sign. In short, this course will make participants more productive and better searchers. It cannot be overemphasized that tracking is best utilized in the early stages of a search when evidence (sign/clues) is least contaminated by well-meaning, anxious searchers. Early application of trackers also allows them to find the evidence as soon as possible, possibly preserving some of its time- and weather-sensitive components. Tracking can also be used as a search progresses. All searchers can utilize tracking and the awareness that it entails to find clues. Any enhancement of clue consciousness by searchers will improve a search, and increase the number of successes. This is the ultimate goal of this training. No one blanket statement can cover all situations where tracking may be used. Each situation, and each tracker, is different. Consider, however, that an experienced tracker can detect sign that many could not see, and much of this sign could endure the heat of the sun, a driving rain or a snowy night. A complete print is not always the only evidence of human passage. Depending on the environment, a tracker may look for bent grass, broken twigs, flattened soil, disturbed brush, compressed stones, and many other pieces of evidence that may not be affected by inclement weather. Trackers look for, and often find, sign that frequently eludes the untrained searcher. Even the most difficult terrain can produce a clue that might eventually lead to a successful search. This is what this two-day training can provide to those whose responsibility it is to find and/or follow lost or missing persons. If it is not part of your search training, you are not doing all you can for the subject of your searches.
Navigation & Mountain Skills Course
Mountain and urban map and compass navigation skills - At IRTCW we are able to offer a variety of navigational courses from novice to the higher levels for anyone wishing to gain confidence or for personal development so they are able to keep themselves safer in the hills and mountains. Our navigation courses can be adapted to suit the clients’ aims and objectives or be included / incorporated as an element on a longer course designed specifically for the client. Theses courses can be provided anywhere in the world if needed, but we use our training centre at Abergwyngregyn as a base. Courses can be run in all weather and visibility conditions, day or night as well as in the harshest winter. The course content, its location and the environment can all be tailored to specific needs, from simple techniques in an urban or low land hill environment right through to full on navigation in white-out winter conditions.
Some basic traditional map and compass work is included in the course so that the benefits and short falls of GPS can be seen in real terms. Mapping software is a separate module looking at the use of MemoryMap and its use and functions as well as plotting and downloading information to a handheld GPS for use in a short navigation exercise. Also covered is the uploading of data from a GPS to PC as a method of plotting where you have been. Both modules are initially one day course but in essence this can be extended to cover more in depth uses for GPS and mapping Software. National Navigation Awards (NNAS) – The NNAS navigation courses are a certificated course for personal navigation ability. The awards are recognised nationally and are split into 3 levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. The course content for each level is quite rigid and offers a module style progression of skill and ability. The awards are not for leading or teaching groups but to help to show that an award holder has been assessed at a recognised standard. You can download a full PDF copy of IRTCW's Training Course Portfolio below
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GPS and mapping software - This course is split into 2 modules, hand held GPS and Mapping software. Covering the basics of GPS use, the limitations of GPS units, programming and marking of tracks, way points and paths, through to programming and following simple and complex routes using OS grid co-ordinates taken from traditional maps.