SAR Unit Leader™

SAR Unit Leader™ COURSE (L-SAR™)

SAR UNIT LEADER™ is a 16 hour, awareness level course for responders who wish to acquire the basic knowledge and skills to be effective leaders on a SAR field team.  This course focuses on presenting the concepts needed to effectively lead small units and serves as the foundation to increasing responsibilities within the Incident Command System.  Developed from an amalgam of military and civilian leadership programs SAR Unit Leader™ prepares you with knowledge and techniques to understand leader-subordinate relationships, and to provide purpose, direction, and motivation to your team.  Scenario based discussions utilizing real-world incident operations reinforce each lesson.  The graduate will be prepared to lead SAR teams in Lost & Missing Subject Search Incidents.

PRE-REQUISITES (Documentation must be brought to class)

FEMA Courses:          IS-100, IS-200, IS-700

Medical Courses:        Adult & Child CPR, Basic First Aid

ICS Experience:          Incident Exercises; or Actual Incident Experience Recommended

Incident Credentials:  Student is minimally required to hold a Level 2/1 Certification from an approved SAR Training Organization (e.g. AERIE SARResponder™ 2, NASAR SARTech I, etc.)

COURSE OBJECTIVES

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

• Define and differentiate Leadership and Management

• Describe how to lead in a direct, face-to-face mode.

• Describe the roles of tactical and technical competence.

• Develop a plan to train subordinates, including the benefit of sharing experience and expertise.

• Describe and perform bi-directional communications with subordinates.

• Understand and describe situational leadership styles and their appropriate use.

• Describe the actions and duties required of effective leaders.

• Describe the concept of risk management and its role in Incident Response.

• Plan for ensuring safety for Field Responders.

• Understand leadership considerations for Critical Incident Stress

• Develop systems for evaluating your subordinates’ and team’s performance

• Understand the Chronology of a SAR Incident – Requirements of the SAR Unit Leader

• Identify and describe activities that provide a unit with Purpose, Direction, and Motivation.

• Describe the concept of Unity of Command and the structure of Chain of Command in the Incident Command System.

• Describe the role and responsibilities of leaders in setting and enforcing standards.

• Describe the leader’s role and responsibilities in preparing for and ensuring the well-being of the unit’s members.