Madison County Search & Rescue

1. Madison CountySearch & Rescue Planning Manual and Mission Plan

2. Elements of a Long Range Plan Management & Incident Command System (ICS) Communications Medical Man tracking & Ground pounders Horse 4 wheeler or All Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) Snow Machine Avalanche Water Rescue & Recovery Page 4-14 Page 17 Pages 18-32 Tables of contents

3. Elements of the Long-Range Plan • External Trends: • Mission: • Vision: • Value: • Measurements & Goals: • Financial: • Operational: • Major Strategies: • Strengths: • Weaknesses: • Major Action Plans:

4. Answers the question,” What might we expect to be deployed on. Are we capable? Where should we emphasize our training, and where do we gather our expertise?” External Trends

5. Answers the question, “What do we do?” This defines who we serve, and how. It also describes why we exist, and should include some of how we function. Mission Statement:

6. Mission Statement: • The Madison County Search & Rescue, Madison Unit, is committed to provide trained emergency response to any person lost, stranded, or injured in any environment hostile to themselves or their loved ones in our area. • Our objective is to promote education in wilderness applications to those of all genders and ages. If necessary to provide trained and competent volunteers, under the authority of the local Sheriff’s department, to assist in man tracking, water rescue, snowmobile, ATV, horse, K-9, avalanche, and medical support, to find and recover the lost souls from, and or visiting our community. • We are a nonprofit organization striving to provide the most professional service which will not impact the economy in which we live.

7. Defines; “ What we hope to be in the future?” Our objectives and reasonable expectations of where we are going and how to get there. Vision:

8. Vision Statement • Madison County Search & Rescue is committed to training and deploying the very best people for our operations. Establishing itself as the “Right Choice“, agencies will call, providing the most dedicated teams available throughout Southwest Montana.

9. “How do others in our community see us. Will they support us in what we are doing? Are we progressing with all of the values others and ourselves place on us?” Value:

10. Answer the Question; “ How do we measure our results?” Measurements & Goals:

11. Scope of financial health based on all the elements of the long range goals, and how are we to meet those goals. Financial:

12. Scope developed by the administrative team, and explains in detail the scope of the operation for each specific team and team leader. Operational:

13. “How will we achieve our mission / vision?” Should a strategy for each of the major areas of the organization be in place? Should the individual team leaders help in the development of these strategies? Major Strategies:

14. What are our strengths, and how do we develop a means to better the team on what we already have. What can we build on, or learn from, to add additional depth? Strengths

15. We should list specific weaknesses based on the above outline, and work on 3 or 4 of them, then move them to our strengths column. Continually update this list and move as assets and the evaluation of our weaknesses change. Weaknesses:

16. “What specific actions will we undertake to achieve our plan?” How and when do we start action plans? What areas or teams? Major Action Plans:

17. Management & Incident Command System (ICS)

18. Horse Applications

19. External Trends: Mission: Mission objective Vision: Value: Measurements & Goals: Financial: Operational: Major Strategies: Strengths: Weaknesses: Major Action Plans: Action Plan Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Horse Table of Contents

20. External Trends: • Cover ground faster than one on foot • Applications on Hasty teams • Observation points of natural boundaries, and high points • Different applications than ATV’s • Higher vantage point than either ATV rider, or man tracker • Pack in tools: Repeater, food, supplies for evacuation • Extract victim if able to ride • Stay in for longer durations than ground units, without covering the same ground • Possible training of air scenting horses

21. Mission Statement: • The horse response team seeks to provide manpower, horsepower, equipment and training to find and recover those lost or injured in our county. To work with all other departments and teams in obtaining the objective set by the Operations Leader (OL), in the most professional and competent method possible.

22. Mission Objective • Training horses and personnel to be implemented into a Search or Rescue. • The range of activities to include, or expedite the finding, supporting and recovering of a lost soul. • Understanding, without exceeding, the limits of either ourselves, our animals or our equipment. • Making a contribution which saves lives, and limits the risk of our team mates, and a positive reflection of the team as a hole.

23. Vision: • Training horses and personnel to be implemented into a Search or Rescue. • The ability of the horse and rider to work together, adding to the resources of the team. • Covering ground faster, with more gear necessary to aid in the recovery of the lost or injured.

24. Value: • Using this tool to increase our effectiveness in the field. • Increase speed; hasty team, beat a storm or exposure time of victim. • Ability to carry a repeater to improve communications. • Assist victim out when found, further reducing stress, injury, time. • Ability of K-9 handlers to either deploy dogs closer to search area, or keep up with dogs in extended search areas. • Re-supply members in the field with provisions needed from base camp. • Different perspective and field of vision. • Possible use of animals senses in locating victim. • Searching areas closed to motorized vehicles.

25. Measurements & Goals: • As stated in the mission statement for the horses. Train, test, and evaluate horse, rider and equipment to provide the services outlined in the mission objective. • Set training parameters and performance evaluations based off training procedures and participation. Note, and document progress from last training to judge progress. • Rider following “job description” as outlined, and review progress to the understanding, and implementing of procedures.

26. Financial: • No financial draw on team from horse team, with one exception. Pack saddle design needs to accommodate repeater size and weight requirements. • Possibility of scale to balance load prior to transportation of repeater. • Hay if weather, or extended search occurs where grazing is either limited, or restricted. • Water, or the transportation of water if the above is impacting a search.

27. Operational: • Site planning and security. • Pre check at the place of deployment will accommodate number and types of vehicles and load up requirements. • Terrain and ground conditions explained and discussed. • Wildlife impact on search and safety of personnel involved. • Feed and water conditions for extended search. • Proximity of other search teams with different types of applications. • Way points and areas of search patterns or techniques. • Communications and restrictions due to terrain. • Projected weathers impact on trails and search patterns.

28. Major Strategies: • Training and procedures manual. • Training mission attendance. • Fitness checks. • Equipment checks. • Mentoring or partnering of horses and riders. • Visual recognition in the field • Communications, first aid, map and compass cross training requirements.

29. Strengths: • 4 members at this point who have worked together, with each others animals that meet Measurements & Goals as outlined. • Members with multiple horses who have stock horses that can be loaded for additional equipment and supplies. • Horses are in ready shape to be deployed at a moments notice. • Team members would be willing to create training manual and procedures that are in line with the teams vision.

30. Weaknesses: • 2 members have multiple talents and may be needed in other areas of a search parameter. • All members need medical and man tracking training as outlined in the major strategies part of this outline. • Need to increase depth of resources, (personnel) to increase effectiveness and ability of team.

31. Major Action Plans: • Purpose: To help team members to draft a plan of action towards accomplishing their goals. A format to make future collation and editing simpler. • Usage: To display for all to see, and identify each goal at hand. • Suggestion: Hand out copies so individuals may change it while an idea is fresh in their mind. Then edit it at the next meeting.

32. Template of Action Plan

33. Horse Team Standards Test • Date: ___/___/___ • Team member: _________________ • Qualifying Horse:____________, ___________ • Pack Horse: ___________, _____________ • Gender: (For the above listed);___,___/___,___ • Location:___________________________ • Terrain: ____________________________ • Elevation Change: ___________________________ • Weather: __________________________________ • Day / Night: _____, Miles Ridden:____________ • Start Time:___________ Finish Time:___________

34. Horse Team Standards Day / Night Evaluation: pre trip Truck and trailer meet safety standards. Load and unload horse without help. Tacking horse (s), as needed. Horse works well with other members. Horse will lead, on and off horse back. Rider can prove physical ability to ride. Rider checks horse for physical condition. Equipment check prior to departure. Loads well balanced, tied down equip. Has meet equipment requirements. Rider meets cross training requirements. Horse is calm while tied to trailer.

35. Horse Team Standards Day / Night Evaluation: Trail Turn left, then right, stop, start, back up. Cross streams, rivers Cross bogs, and remain in control. Negotiate down fall, while off the trail. Put on rain gear or coat while riding. Walk single file, and double on a trail. Demonstrate map and compass or GPS. Allow another to lead your horse. Separate your horse from the group. Mount is in control with trail obstacles. Secure horse, as if engaged on ground. Horse must remain calm during absence.

36. Ruby Valley Certification Standard standards for Mounted SAR Basic Field Test: __/__/__ training officer____________ Advanced Field Test: __/__/__ training officer____________ Cross Training Test (s): __/__/__ training officer____________ _____________ date __/__/__ training officer____________ _____________ date __/__/__ training officer____________ _____________ date __/__/__ training officer____________ Team leader Test: __/__/__ training officer____________

37. Ruby Valley Mounted SAR Team Certification and Standards I Introduction A. To be the standard for the community, County, State for mounted SAR. To develop, and improve the standards for mounted search teams used in all incidents that apply. B. This proposed standard is intended to be the minimum requirements necessary of our team. This must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. C. This certification issued under this standard is the requirement for those horse and rider teams that with to participate in SAR incidents managed by the Madison Co. Sheriffs Department. D. Testing of a team member for certification will be done within the unit of which the rider is a member, utilizing the procedures set forth herein.

38. I E. These standards apply only to wilderness searches. Any other applications are not yet covered in this document. Any other needs should be looked at and added as the foreseeable need arises. II Certification A. Certification shall be for any horses of any gender, and meet all of the requirements set forth. This should include mules, and pack animals such as Lama’s, Jacks etc. B. This certification shall be under the control of the training officer, and the team leader of this unit. C. I suggest that a certification period of 3-5 years be set forth, and must be renewed after that time. Any animals used must be certified with their rider. D. Limit certification to those people who will make all efforts to cross train in all areas of SAR. This unit has specific applications, and therefore it’s members will be encouraged to contribute in other areas of the team.

39. II Certification E. To apply for certification, one must do the following: 1. Request in writing to apply for the mounted team, and be approved by either the team leader, training officer, or both. 2. Be requested by either the team leader, and approved by the training officer. F. Suspension of Certification a. If any member, due to the loss of their mount, or the inability to train and perform on missions, for a period of 6 months, will be placed on an inactive list for this area of the team. This does not affect their rights on the search team, just the mounted SAR. b. The training officer, or executive committee may suspend certification when one or more of the following deficiencies, either impedes, or reflects on the overall team in general.

40. F. Suspension of Certification 1. When a report of a team’s deficiency is brought to the executive committee's attention. The rider in question will be questioned with the team leader as to the nature of the complaint. Only after this time will action be taken. 2. The rider in question has the right to challenge any report of deficiency and to know, and confront the person or persons making the report. If a dispute persists, then a written record of the events will be taken. 3. A Committee may take the following course of action upon the challenge of a team’s competence. a. The committee may confirm the team’s continued certification. b. The committee may require the team in question complete a re-certification at that time.

41. F. Suspension of Certification 4. On all occasions, the team leader and training officer, may wish to include the executive committee in reviewing procedures and training standards. At that time, in writing, submit a review to clear the rider, or a change to be implemented by the mounted team. 2. Revocation The serious misconduct or gross negligence on behalf of the team or it’s leader. This action which reflects in a negative manner for the S.O., Team, and Community, or endangers the operation and credibility of the SAR team and it’s members. III Recertification A. Members must recertify every 3 years, or as their mounts or pack animals change. B. Members and their animals must pass the most current standards test.

42. IV Documentation and Re-Certification A. The applicant must have first joined Madison County SAR, and be accepted, prior to their application for the mounted team. 1. Documented that the horse has demonstrated the ability to be well mannered and non-aggressive to others. I.e., people, horses, dogs etc. 2. Proof that the team has passed both parts of the tests listed below. B. The applicant must show / pass the following: 1. Proof of training in the following areas;

43. IV Documentation and Re-Certification a. Successful continuing training, though, either in house, or external courses agreed upon by either the team leader, training officer, or both. b. Successful completion of courses in equestrian SAR related subjects, which includes all exercises that encompass the requirements of the written and practical expectations outlined in this standards outline. c. Active participation in the activities outlined by this specialty, and those of the Unit as a whole. Including business meetings, trainings; be it horse related, or general trainings. d. A mounted team which does not recertify, or meet the above listed requirements, must reapply, and meet all of the basic certification process.