SARResponder™ 2

SEARCH & RESCUE TECHNICAL LEVEL CERTIFICATION (SARResponder™ 2)

The SARResponder™ 2 CERTIFICATION is conducted as a combination of a written and a practical (field skill) examination.  the written examination is offered as a part of the SARResponder™ Course and serves as the final exam for that class.  The written examination tests the candidates knowledge of the concepts presented in the SARResponder™ Course.  For candidates graduating from another approved training provider (e.g. NASAR FunSAR, MRA 105-RESCUE, ETC.) course, it will be necessary to take the AERIE SARResponder™ 2 written exam also.

 The candidate for this certification is then required to complete a series of six skill stations.  The stations are comprised of: sar ready pack, day point to point navigation, search tactics, rope and rescue techniques, man-tracking/sign awareness, and night navigation.  The stations are described below.  The SARResponder™ 2 CERTIFICATION examination evolution requires an entire day and the evening, to complete.

 Each candidate is allowed to retest (time permitting) one station only, with the exception of the sar ready pack, and night navigation events.  Only one attempt is allowed for the sar ready pack and the night navigation events.  Should the candidate be unsuccessful in completing the entire evolution of testing stations, he/she is entitled to  retest those stations not completed, one time, at a future SARResponder™ 2, conducted within 12 months of the date of the unsuccessful event.  There will be no additional charge for this retest.   Should the candidate be unsuccessful during this retest, they must then retake the entire SARResponder™ 2 CERTIFICATION, including the written examination.  The candidate will be required to pay for any testing after the one retest.

DESCRIPTION OF SKILL STATIONS TESTING

1. SAR Ready Pack – this station confirms the candidate has a suitable field pack with the categories (required) as included on the suggested “24 Hour Personal Equipment – Level 2”  Once this station has begun, the candidate cannot retrieve any forgotten articles, or borrow from another candidate.  While specific items are only recommendations, the candidate must satisfy each category of gear in a safe and defensible manner.

2. Day Navigation – this station confirms the candidate’s ability to successfully navigate to a series of 6 targets. There is no confirmation of successfully acquiring a target during the testing event.  The candidate is only given a bearing to follow for each leg.  The candidate must then document the identity of each target and the distance between each target (leg length).  The total distance navigated will be between 1800 and 2000 meters and will occur in a wooded area where the targets cannot be seen from previous/subsequent targets.  Should the candidate fail to complete the entire route, or incorrectly identify/locate a target, the event will be graded as a failure.  The candidate will have latitude on the leg length of plus/minus 10%.  It is strongly recommended the candidate utilize the 100 meter pace count course established for each SARResponder™ 2 Certification to measure his/her pace count.

3. Search Tactics – this station confirms that the candidate can successfully combine clue seeking techniques with both compass and terrain navigation.  The course is of a specified length and width (lane), and the testing event is timed.  The candidate is required to navigate a course intermittently using a compass and terrain features, while searching for clues (e.g. playing cards, miscellaneous items, etc).  The candidate must locate and document (including a description of the location) the items found.  Credit is deducted for items “found” that are not located within the candidate’s course.  The candidate must have an overall POD of 60% or better.

4. Rope and Rescue Techniques – this station confirms the candidate’s ability to tie certain knots and then use knots, as well as lifeline, webbing, carabiners, “Parachute” cord, and Prussik cord, to complete several rope structures.  The knots include the “Family of 8s”, Overhand knot, Square knot, Water knot, Double Grapevine knot, Clove Hitch, and Munter Hitch.  The candidate will then variously combine these to construct; an improvised harness, an improvised litter and a hazardous terrain crossing unit with anchor.  Failure to properly tie or secure (safety knot) or dress a knot, or incorrectly constructing a rope/webbing unit, will result in the candidate failing this station.

5. Man-Tracking – this station confirms the candidate’s awareness level ability to recognize sign and to utilize the step-by-step tracking technique taught in the in the AERIE SARResponder™ course.  In the first phase, the candidate is taken to an area containing varied vegetation and must locate and identify sign indicating human travel.  The candidate must successfully locate 50% of the sign present.  In the second phase the candidate is taken to an area containing numerous human tracks.  The candidate must successfully identify and perform all the required measurements to confirm 10 prints of the same track.  The candidate is required to pass both phases.

6. Night Navigation – this station evaluates the candidate’s ability to combine map & compass skills with field navigation skills to perform orienteering type travel in wooded terrain, at night.   The candidate is given a series of six (6) UTM/USNG coordinates which he/she must locate on the provided map.  The candidate must then calculate the bearings and distances between the (coordinates) points.   Once the Examiner is satisfied with the candidate’s map work, the candidate is sent to navigate the route.  The length of the entire route will be between 1500 and 2000 meters.  When possible, the route will also include a minor water crossing.  The candidate must successfully navigate to each point where he/she will find a labeled target.  Upon completion of the route, the candidate will submit the list of targets to the Examiner.  The candidate must have successfully identified all six (6) targets in the allotted time.   The candidate is only given one attempt to complete this station.