4.1 This guide establishes the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities that a person must have to perform as a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member. No other skills are included or implied.

4.2 Every person who is identified as a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member shall have met the requirements of this guide.

4.3 This guide is to be used by individuals and agencies having jurisdiction that wish to identify the minimum training required for a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member.

4.3.1 The AHJ shall determine the depth or detail of training required to meet these needs.

4.3.2 Though this guide establishes the minimum standard of training, it does not imply that a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member is a “trainee,” “probationary,” or other similar term member of a team, organization, or agency.

4.3.3 Determining the requirements and qualifications for non-wilderness land search team members is the responsibility of the AHJ.

4.3.4 Nothing in this guide precludes an AHJ from adding additional requirements for its own members.

4.4 This guide can be used to evaluate a document or training program to determine if its content includes the topics necessary for training individuals to operate as a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member.

4.5 This guide does not stand alone and must be used with the referenced documents to provide the specific information needed by a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member or AHJ.

4.6 This guide by itself is not a training document. It is an outline of the topics required for training or evaluating a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member.

4.7 This guide can be used to evaluate a book or other document to determine if its content includes the information required for training a Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member. Likewise, the guide can be used to evaluate an existing training program to see if it meets the requirements of this guide.

4.8 The knowledge, skills and abilities defined in this guide are not presented in any particular order and do not represent a training sequence.

4.9 A Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member shall document his or her training by completion of a position task book, or equivalent, or by field demonstration under qualified supervision.

4.10 Unless stated otherwise, an ability or proficiency in a skill shall be demonstrated for initial qualification and then as often as required by the AHJ.

4.11 Except where a physical skill or ability must be demonstrated, the AHJ shall determine the best way to evaluate a person’s knowledge. This may be by written exam, oral exam, demonstration, or by some combination of the three.

1.1 This guide establishes the minimum training requirements for non-wilderness land search personnel as it relates to their general, field, and search specific knowledge and skills.

1.2 A Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Member searches on the surface of the land in non-wilderness areas only, including urban or disaster areas that may be isolated or have lost supporting infrastructure, in accordance with the limits identified in the Scope of this Guide.

1.3 This guide does not provide the minimum training requirements for searching in wilderness areas, partially or fully collapsed structures, in or on water, in confined spaces, or underground (such as caves, mines, and tunnels).

1.4 Personnel trained only to this guide are not qualified to perform rescue.

1.4.1 Basic rescue skills and knowledge are found in Guide F2751.

1.5 Personnel trained only to this guide are not qualified to operate in leadership positions.

1.6 Human land SAR resources that may utilize personnel trained to this guide are classified in Classification F1993.

1.6.1 Individuals trained to this guide are qualified to operate on teams or crews classified as Category – Land Search of Kind Non-Wilderness.

1.6.2 Further training may be required before Non-Wilderness Land Search personnel may participate on particular Category or Kind of SAR resource, depending on local needs, regulations, or policies of the authority having jurisdiction.

1.7 Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Members are not qualified to work around, or ride in, helicopters without helicopter safety training.

1.8 Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Members shall know the safety precautions and procedures to be employed when working around still and swift water in the normal area of operations.

1.8.1 Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Members are not qualified to participate in swift water operations.

1.9 Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Members are not qualified to perform field navigation and, therefore, shall not be deployed where that skill is required unless supervised in the field by qualified personnel trained in accordance with the provisions of Guides F2209, F2685, F2751, or F3193.

1.10 Non-Wilderness Land Search Team Members may be deployed on local incidents as determined by the AHJ.

1.11 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.