National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search and Rescue

NASAR
State SAR Coordinators Meeting
Reno, NV

Department of Interior and NPS

2010 NPS Search and Rescue Statistics
3849 SARs on NPS lands
489 SARs on State/Local lands - Mutual Aid
Cost $5.6 million (does not include salaries)

2011 Program Updates

New NPS On-line Search and Rescue
Technician 3 (SRT3) Course
DOI/NPS Position and Qualifications Guide
DOI SRT3 Position Task Book
DOI 2011 AD Pay Plan includes 27 SAR
positions

On-Line Search and Rescue Course

Basic Search and Rescue Course Objectives
1. Identify how the incident command system (ICS) is applied on a
search incident.
2. Describe best practices for searcher safety.
3. List common human errors that affect the safety of incident
personnel.
4. Identify effective incident communication strategies.
5. List contents and build a personal pack for search operations.
6. Describe and demonstrate effective litter carryout procedures.
7. Describe common search team techniques.
8. Identify common coordinate systems used in search incidents.
9. Operate map and compass to plot a field location.
10. Describe the progression of a multi-day search incident.

On-Line Search and Rescue Course

NPS Basic Search and Rescue Course
Six (6) hour on-line course
Internal and external access
14 on-line modules
60 question test
Completion requires 8 hour classroom session
Includes practical exercise
Fulfills approximately 60% of SRT3 Task Book
requirements
418 Persons have taken this course since May 16th,
2011 (143 NPS, 275 Non-NPS)

DOI Position and Qualifications Guide

All-Hazards Position and Qualifications Guide
The Department of the Interior All-Hazards Incident Positions and
Qualifications Guide establishes minimum standards for DOI
incident personnel using national all-hazard standards. (released
April 2011)
Performance-based qualification system based on completion of
required training and demonstrated successful position
performance through the completion of the applicable position
task book.
There are 14 SAR positions listed in the current catalog.
Naming of these 14 SAR positions has been approved by the
NWCG and USFA position naming board.
All of the DOI All-Hazards Incident Positions and Qualifications
Guide positions will be in the Incident Qualifications and
Certifications System (IQCS) and the Resource Ordering and Status
System (ROSS).

Search and Rescue Technician 3

Search and Rescue Technician 3 SRT3
REQUIRED
NPS Basic Search and Rescue Course or equivalent
IS-700a: National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), An
Introduction
ICS-100: Introduction to ICS
Moderate Fitness Level
Current CPR Provider Level & First Aid

RECOMMENDED
IS-809 Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 Search and Rescue
First Responder or higher
Aviation Safety B-3 Trained (optional based upon local unit
aviation activity)

Search and Rescue Technician 3

SRT3 Position Task Book (PTB)
Part of the competency based qualification system identified
within the DOI/NPS All-Hazard Position and Qualifications
Guide.
The SAR3 PTB lists the competencies, behaviors and tasks
required for successful performance in this position.
Trainees must be observed completing all tasks and show
knowledge and competency in their performance during the
completion of the PTB.
Trainees are evaluated during this process by qualified
evaluators, and the trainees performance is documented in
the PTB for each task by the evaluators initials and date of
completion.
POSITION PERFORMANCE REQUIRED ON A SEARCH AND
RESCUE ASSIGNMENT FOR COMPLETION

DOI AD Pay Plan - 2011

DOI Administratively Determined Pay Plan
Provides legal authority to hire and pay All-Hazards personnel,
such as SAR responders during emergencies and disasters.
(released May 2011)
27 SAR and Structural Firefighter positions have been added as
part of the new 2011 pay plan.
By hiring personnel under this authority, DOI can help protect
individuals from legal action and cover them for injuries.
Example: SRT3 is paid $15.64/hour as an AD pay rate B.
Pay is based on straight-time only, no overtime rate.
Personnel deployed under this plan may be eligible for travel and
per diem costs as defined by the Federal Travel Regulations.

Resources and Reference Materials

NPS Basic SAR Course On-line
http://connectpro77254837.adobeconnect.com/sar

Includes links to:

NPS Basic SAR Course and Student Materials
Position and Qualifications Reference
2011 AD Pay Rates
SRT3 Position Task Book

DOI Administratively Determined Pay Plan

http://www.nwcg.gov/branches/pre/ibc/documents/personnel/doi_ad_payplan.pdf

LandSAR Incident Management Team

NPS Type I LandSAR IMT
Overhead 17 Persons
Wide-Area SAR Crews (x3) 60 Persons
Boat Crews (x3) 24 Persons/15 Boats
Aviation Crew 6 Persons/1 Type II Helicopter
EMS Team 6 Persons
Total 113 Members

NPS Type II LandSAR IMT

Overhead 10 Persons
Wide-Area SAR Crews (x1) 20 Persons
Boat Crews (x1) 8 Persons/5 Boats
Total 38 Members

Contact Information
Division of Law Enforcement,
Security, and Emergency Services
Dean A. Ross
Deputy Chief
202-513-7093 COM
dean_ross@nps.gov

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior