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Good morning Washington SAR Community,
Below are details for four upcoming search and rescue training opportunities in Washington:
- Washington State SAR Incident Commander Course- March 18-19, Bellingham
- Introduction to Search Management- May 3-4, Benton City
- Introduction to Search Management- May 17-16, Everett
- AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course- September 23-25, Camp Murray
Please read each course information in full, as the registration process differs for each course.
Tuition is free for those accepted; there are no travel/salary stipends available for these offerings, and all incurred costs are the responsibility of the attendee or sending organization.
Please let me know if reasonable accommodation is required for any course. We invite any person with a disability, access or functional need, as well as those who need to obtain course materials in an alternative format. Please indicate your need in the registration/RSVP process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Amy Allbritton at amy.allbritton@mil.wa.gov.
Washington State SAR Incident Commander Course
Tuesday March 18, 2025 to Wednesday March 19, 2025 (In-Person)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Whatcom County Emergency Operations Center
3888 Sound Way
Bellingham, WA 98226
Description
This 16-hour course provides deputies with the knowledge, techniques, and concepts to effectively respond to, investigate, and manage reports of persons missing in outdoor settings. Topics covered include an overview of the WA State SAR Program and SAR resources, incident commander role and function, leadership, search management concepts, key initial actions, missing person behavior, developing and implementing action plans and objectives, managing information, understanding search techniques including Visual Calibration and Critical Separation, managing risk using SAR GAR, family interaction considerations, and application of probability theory, georeferencing and SAR TOPO.
Course Objectives
- Understand the role and responsibilities of SAR Coordinator/Incident Commander in Washington State.
- Appropriately respond to and manage missing person reports.
- Formulate and implement effective decisions.
- Understand the importance of, and contribute to, the achievement of objectives.
- Effectively manage SAR resources.
- Explore key tactical concepts and tools.
- Manage risk.
- Understand the application and limitations associated with probability theories.
Target Audience
Primary registration priority is given to commissioned law enforcement SAR Coordinators for local, federal, and tribal agencies operating within the State of Washington. Secondary registration priority is given to Search and Rescue volunteers, land management employees, fire and emergency services personnel, and agency administrators involved in SAR incident management. Consideration will be given to out-of-state applicants as space allows.
Registration
Please email amy.allbritton@mil.wa.gov with the following information:
Full Name:
Phone Number:
Email:
Any Required Accommodations:
Name of your Organization:
Tribe or County your Organization is Affiliated With:
Current Title:
Describe How You Meet the Target Audience for This Course:
Introduction to Search Management (Two Offerings)
Benton County
Saturday May 3, 2025, to Sunday May 4, 2025 (In-Person)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Rattlesnake Mountain Shooting Facility
93315 N SR 225
Benton City, WA 99320
Snohomish County
Saturday May 17, 2025, to Sunday May 18, 2025 (In-Person)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center
720 80th Street SW, Bldg A
Everett, WA 98203
Description
The Washington State SAR Planning Unit (WASSPU) is offering a 2-day Introduction to Search Management course.
The course will provide an overview of search management concepts, with an emphasis on Lost Person Behavior, Initial Tasking, and Terrain Analysis, and their application to planning and managing initial search actions. This will be an in-person course, and training will be delivered via a combination of lecture and hands-on exercises.
Course Contents
- Lost Person Behavior
- Initial Search Actions
- Search Investigation
- Scenario Analysis
- Terrain-Based Planning
- Search Objectives and Tactics
- Area Search Planning
- Search Theory Concepts
- Clue Management
- The Planning P
- Assignment Management
- Search Coverage Assessment
Target Audience
This course is intended for volunteers, emergency managers, and law enforcement who are involved in wilderness search and rescue.
Register
To register for this course, send an email to Guy Mansfield jgmansfield@msn.com and include your name and county/team affiliation.
To participate, students must have purchased the Lost Person Behavior App from dbS Productions (available for Android and iPhone) and have it loaded on their phone.
Basic Inland SAR Course
Tuesday September 23, 2025 to Thursday September 25, 2025 (In-Person)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pierce County Readiness Center
20 Aviation Drive
Camp Murray, WA 98430
Description
The Basic Inland SAR Course (BISC) was developed in the 1970's to bring search management information to search mission managers in the Civil Air Patrol, State and Federal agencies within the United States. The course is administered by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC).
Academic areas of instruction include a Federal SAR Architecture Overview, AFRCC Overview and Mission types, SAR Resources, Introduction to Search Theory, and Mission Coordination. The course culminates with a scenario-based tabletop exercise. We also strive to provide an environment that will allow the attendees to discuss their past experiences, concerns for SAR and do that "all-important" networking that is needed to provide a cooperative SAR network.
Course Contents
- AFRCC Overview
- Resources & Mission Types
- SAR Tools
- Distress Beacons
- Mission Operations (to include family/media)
- Introduction to Search Theory and Lost Person Behavior
Target Audience
The course is designed as an entry level SAR management course for federal, state and local SAR responders (i.e., Incident Command leaders and planners) who are responsible for the planning, coordination, or conduct of air and ground search operations in the inland environment.
Registration
Register here: AFRCC Basic Inland SAR Course (BISC) - Sponsored by WA DEM
Amy Allbritton (she/her) *Please note, my phone number has changed.
Search and Rescue Program Manager
Emergency Management Division | Washington Military Department
Mobile: (253) 213-2764| amy.allbritton@mil.wa.gov
24/7 Alert and Warning Center SAR: (888) 849-2727
www.mil.wa.gov/search-and-rescue-sar-program
Typical Office Hours: Tues-Fri 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
To receive communications from Washington EMD on SAR and the Emergency Worker Program, please sign up for GovDelivery here.
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