4.1 This guide establishes the minimum standard for training Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leaders as it relates to their general, field, and search and rescue specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.

4.2 This guide is to be used by individuals and AHJs that wish to identify the minimum training required for a Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leader.

4.3 Every person who is identified as a Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leader shall have met the requirements in this guide.

4.4 It is the responsibility of the AHJ to determine the depth or detail of training needed to meet the requirements in this guide and it may include additional requirements for its own members.

4.5 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is an outline of the topics required for training or evaluating a Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leader. It can, however, be used to develop, or as part of, a training document or program.

4.6 This guide does not stand alone and must be used with the referenced documents to provide specific information needed by a Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leader.

4.7 This guide can be used to evaluate a document to determine if its content includes the topics necessary for training a Land Search and Rescue Strike Team/Task Force Leader. Likewise, this guide may be used to evaluate an existing training program to see if it meets the requirements in this guide.

4.8 The knowledge, skills, and abilities presented in the following sections are not in any particular order, and do not represent a training sequence.

4.9 The AHJ will determine the evaluation process to assess a person’s knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or other means specified by the AHJ.

1.1 This guide establishes the minimum training for Land SAR Strike Team/Task Force Leaders as it relates to their general, field, and search and rescue specific knowledge, skills, and abilities.

1.2 A Land SAR Strike Team Leader/Task Force Leader is responsible for direct supervision, general leadership, wellness, and safety of multiple SAR teams and resources operating on all land and water environments, including intertidal areas, but not oceans or swiftwater.

1.3 Type I-IV teams which may utilize personnel trained to this guide are Kind A (wilderness), Kind B (urban), and Kind C (mountainous/alpine), Kind D (disaster/collapse), Kind E (inland water), Kind G (cave), Kind H (mine), Kind I (avalanche), Kind J (evidence/cadaver), Kind K (aircraft), and/or Kind L (unclassified). See ASTM F1993.

1.4 A Land SAR Strike Team Leader/Task Force Leader may work in remote areas including urban or disaster areas that may be isolated or have lost their infrastructure.

1.5 Further training may be required depending on the regulations or policies of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use or as defined within a (regional or geographical) response region or by the AHJ.