CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Marietta, Ga., Feb. 07, 2012 – Search and rescue (SAR) for lost or missing persons, aircraft, vehicles, or evidence is an ever-present mission. Most communities do not have properly trained SAR-qualified personnel in numbers large enough to support large-scale SAR missions. SAR is not only a natural fit for the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), but it has become a prime mission and essential task as well.

The GSDF began training heavily for SAR duties in 2010 with the introduction of the first SARSPEC II course presented by the 1st BDE in Toccoa, GA. This first course was based on the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) manual. Rappelling and a work capacity test adapted from the wildfire service were incorporated into the course. Through course evaluation it was decided that the NASAR course not only needed modification but that more field work and less classroom time would better suit our training needs.

GSDF created a SAR committee to manage and grow the SAR program within GSDF. The committee consisted of select personnel from operations (G3), and officers and enlisted personnel for each GSDF unit. The GSDF adopted 3 levels of SAR training. SARSPEC I is basic SAR management and is designed to be, presented in officer candidate school, and basic and advanced NCO courses. SARSPEC II, field training (for actual SAR Team Members), is presented through the special training branch of G3. SARSPEC III presents the basics of SAR similar to the GEMA Rescue Specialist course. SARSPEC III is designed to be incorporated into IET for all troops.

G3 presented the second GSDF SASRPEC II Course in 2010. This course was presented as a field course with limited classroom instruction. As with the first course, SARSPEC II was a huge success but identified a problem. The courses taught by 1st BDE and G3 differed and there were no established tasks, conditions, or standards, (TCS), to train by. As a military unit, the GSDF needed a measurable standard and a course that met the specific needs of the GSDF mission. Trial and error also found that the packing list was not suitable for our military operations.

In 2011, the GSDF started work on a defined TCS for the program and determined a field manual, (FM), or training manual, (TM), was needed to define training and doctrine. With the completion of this manual and the TCS GSDF will have a controllable repeatable training program that will ensure that each SARSPEC II graduate will be trained to the same standards and have the same qualifications.

As of this writing, the GSDF TM350-1SARII manual is near completion and expected to be published by late winter 2012. The first course under the new program is planned for April 2012.

Story by SDF Lt. Col. Lan Skalla

Division Chief Operations Branch

HQ G3 GSDF

Photos by SDF Cpl. Ted Burzynski