MLMS

Managing Lost & Missing Subject Incidents (MLMS)™: MLMS™ is 4-day course is designed for those who have the responsibility to plan and manage search incidents.  Two versions are offered.  One covers concepts appropriate to both lost and missing subjects, but focuses on missing persons, including Alzheimer’s and small children subjects in urban, suburban and rural/wilderness environments.  The other focuses predominately on lost subjects in the wilderness environment.  Both courses were designed to provide a comprehensive methodology in search for use by local governments and other land management jurisdictions. These same methodologies are also being used for subject and evidence searches in both small and large-scale Law Enforcement operations. 

This is not a field skills course. It is management oriented. Participants will learn how to plan for, organize and manage a search effort for missing persons using incident management (ICS) structure. The emphasis is on using the right resources to do the job, reflex tasking for every response, accessing international data for missing and lost person behavior and lastly, the correct application of the “science” of search theory. Small group discussion and (at a minimum) 2 actual case study tabletop map exercises are used throughout the course.

Participants, who successfully complete this course, should be able to properly manage a search effort for a lost or missing person in the most efficient and productive manner possible.  The management skills taught here are consistent with requirements for managing NIMS Level 2 SAR Incidents.   It is highly recommended that students gain experience managing less complex incidents (Level 3) prior to assuming full responsibility for Level 2 Incidents.

PRE-REQUISITES (Documentation must be brought to class)

FEMA Courses:          IS-100.b, IS-700 Required (IS-300, IS-400 Recommended)

Medical Courses:        CPR & Basic First Aid

SAR Experience:         Level 3 SAR Incident Experience (ICS conducted) or Awareness Level SAR Training (e.g. SARAware™)

ICS Experience:          ICS conducted Incidents or Exercises Recommended

ICS Education:           Planning Section or Ops Section Courses or Experience Recommended

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Manage a Level 3 search as the Search Manager on a search effort for single or multiple missing or lost persons.
2. Participate as an overhead team member in a search, for a missing or lost person.
3. Explain reasonable expectations of and by Agency Administrators.
4. Discuss the essential elements of a written search preplan and describe its importance for a successful mission.
5. Discuss the common types of search resources, including their function and limitations, given various environmental considerations.
6. Discuss the planning process for development of the most productive and efficient strategies, objectives and tactics for use in search for lost or missing persons in either wilderness, rural, suburban or urban environments.
7. Describe the process of reflex tasking for initial actions in applying SAR resources to locate missing or lost subjects.
8. Describe the functions of clue consciousness, target orientation, and briefings as they relate to field search, detection and recognition.
9. Describe the functions and responsibilities within the organizational structure of the Incident Command System relating to a SAR incident.
10. Demonstrate the ability to establish a realistic, segmented search area and the process used to establish priorities in allocating resources
11. Perform Level 3 and Level 2 Search Incident Planning including both immediate on-scene Action Planning (Reflex Tasking) and Level 2 Formal Search Planning.
12. Identify the key factors involved in deciding to suspend a mission.In addition, each participant should be able to assist his/her local jurisdiction in the following areas:
    1. Assist local Emergency Management Coordinators/Managers in developing local emergency response plans for all search and rescue operations.
    2. Identify and Coordinate necessary training with and for other agencies, personnel, and volunteers assigned Search and Rescue operational duties.
    3. In consultation with the local Emergency Management Coordinator, develop the local SOPs for the Community Emergency Operations Plan that deal with both the search and rescue functions.