Program Overview
By Don Stephens, 2nd Lt. CAP
CAPSAR Coordinator - Texas
23 September 2014
Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue (CAPSAR)
The CAPSAR program is the expansion of our mission to include the
assistance to local law enforcement in the search and rescue of the lost
and missing person.
The program will add to the extensive Civil Air Patrol training to include
specialized training and certifications for the lost and missing person
situation. We will act as a force multiplier, assisting as needed, the local
law enforcement agency in their investigation and search process for the
lost or missing person.
All CAP assets are included and available as needed:
> Fixed Wing Air
> Communications
> Ground Searchers
> Special Projects Group
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CAPSAR
The Texas Wing of Civil Air Patrol is establishing seven (7) task force teams in Texas for the
purpose of assisting local law enforcement in missing person search and rescue operations.
This specialized program will add to the Civil Air Patrol member training to better prepare for
the lost – missing person search situation and to meet and exceed the FEMA requirements to
be a recognized, typed asset for search operations.
All members who respond as part of CAPSAR are certified as a Search And Rescue
Technician Level 3 or more commonly referred to as SAR-Tech 3. Other CAPSAR members
performing field search assignments are certified to the more in depth Search and Rescue
Technician Level 2, commonly referred to as SAR-Tech 2. These certifications are established
by the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) and recognized by FEMA.
Extensive CAP training and the NASAR certifications are only a basic foundation. Additional
training includes; HazMat Introduction, Basic First Aid, CPR/AED, CERT, Texas EMS
certifications, crime scene awareness and much more.
Requesting agencies can be assured that they are using a resource that has been trained,
certified, background checked, insured, and equipped to assist in their investigation.
… so others may live.
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Search is an Emergency
Time and resource quality are critical when dealing with
the lost or missing person situation.
Our extremes in weather and terrain often justify an emergency response. The
Texas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has created a new resource for local law
enforcement and other official agencies in the search for lost or missing persons.
The Civil Air Patrol has the depth and scope of resources needed in these
labor intensive, time sensitive incidents.
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Civil Air Patrol has over 60,000 members nationally, 3400+ in Texas.
Our members are background checked and cleared by the FBI.
Members are insured when responding to an authorized mission.
Our basic training program for our Search and Rescue Ground Teams
include training in crime scene awareness and preservation should the lost
person search turn into a criminal matter.
Training and certification for our Search and Rescue Ground Team members
meet or exceed FEMA requirements.
Field search members are prepared for a minimum of 24 hours in the field
with minimal support requirements, freeing the agency to work on other
matters.
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Search and Rescue
Perhaps best known for its search and rescue efforts,
CAP flies more than 85 percent of all federal inland
search and rescue missions directed by the Air Force
Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force
Base, Fl. Outside the continental United States, CAP
supports the Joint Rescue Coordination Centers in
Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Just how effective are the CAP missions?
Nearly 100 people .are saved each year by CAP members.
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Search and Rescue
Highly Trained Ground Team Members
Civil Air Patrol ground team training standards have
been expanded for the lost – missing person search
operations of CAPSAR.
All members accepted into this program are trained and certified
as Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR-Tech) as established
by the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR).
Base and support members are certified as SAR-Tech 3 to
assure familiarity with the search environment. Field searchers
are certified to the more in-depth certification of SAR-Tech 2.
They also meet and exceed FEMA and DHS requirements,
search asset class and typing standards. Each member’s
training is well documented and regularly evaluated in mock
SAR scenarios.
Trained & certified to be part of the solution. . .
. . . not another problem to deal with.
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Search and Rescue
Fixed Wing Air Assets – Aircraft have always been a part of the Civil
Air Patrol. Texas has 30 aircraft stationed throughout the state for
rapid deployment to your incident.
These single engine, fixed wing aircraft use trained air observers to
help direct and oversee ground teams, perform aerial photography,
damage assessments, provide communications support,
transportation of specialized assets – plus much more.
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Search and Rescue
Trained Canine Teams – (limited availability by late fall 2014)
Currently in training, these team members will meet all
ground team training PLUS use a variety of canines in air
scent and tracking disciplines to help locate the victim.
All canines are certified to national standards and handlers
maintain complete training records to assure court
compliance should the need arise.
All canines are trained using positive
reinforcement methods and are tested by
AKC certification to be non-aggressive and
well mannered.
Used early, one highly trained
canine and handler can do the work
of 30 to 40 ground searchers with a
higher probability of success.
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Search and Rescue
Communications – aside from training and
preparation, communications are key to safety in
the field and for the rapid deployment of rescue or
medical resources when needed.
Each CAPSAR ground team member is equipped
with special “member to member” communications
equipment for local field team interface. Each
CAPSAR field team leader is equipped with VHF
secured communications to a base location for
Incident Command matters.
In general, we can communicate locally or
nationally as needed to provide support
for your incident.
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Search and Rescue
Search Management –
Exceeding the standard FEMA ICS / NIMS training, our
search managers are trained for the missing person
search. Search managers are trained in the latest
search techniques through the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center (AFRCC), National Association for
Search and Rescue (NASAR) and Emergency
Response International (ERI).
However, your search is ALWAYS YOUR SEARCH.
You are the incident commander. Our job is to assist,
not take over, search operations. You have full control
of your incident.
As you direct, our search managers can fully manage the search,
act as a liaison for input in using CAP assets, or simply consult
as requested.
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Search and Rescue
Disaster Relief -Another important service CAP performs is disaster-relief
operations.
CAP provides air and ground transportation and an
extensive communications network. CAPSAR ground search
members are trained and equipped to reach remote
locations and provide manpower and leadership to local,
state and national disaster-relief organizations. CAP has
formal agreements with many government and humanitarian
relief agencies including the American Red Cross, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation
Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and
the U.S. Coast Guard.
Our CAPSAR members are trained and certified to exceed
FEMA search job class requirements for search and rescue.
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Who are our members ?
Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adult members, known as Senior
Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact less than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or
aircrew members. CAP adult members come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses,
paramedics, or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer
programmers, and other business professionals and executives. Mechanics, cooks, teachers, police
officers, clergy, parents, really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the
ranks of the CAP adult membership.
CAPSAR Ground Team members can begin their training as early as age 16.
However, only adult members meeting our strict training standards, age 18 or older,
will be allowed to perform field search assignments to your call for assistance.
All members are non-paid volunteers.
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Cost?
What does this cost my agency or the family involved?
When properly requested through the Air Force Rescue Coordination
Center (AFRCC) and if the request meets their guidelines (saving of Life,
no confirmed criminal or body recovery searches) they will issue a mission
number which covers our expenses (fuel, insurance, etc.) for your
incident.
The United States' inland search and rescue (SAR) coordinator, the Air
Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) serves as the single agency
responsible for coordinating on-land federal SAR activities in the 48
contiguous United States while also providing SAR assistance to Mexico
and Canada.
The AFRCC, located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., is assigned to 1st Air
Force (Air Forces Northern) and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
If the incident does not meet the AFRCC guidelines we may still be
activated through the Texas Department of Emergency Management
as a state resource.
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Contact Info
How do I contact you?
If you have an incident, time is critical. The sooner you activate us, the better.
There are multiple ways to activate the Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue resources. If you have a
request for EMERGENCY assistance you can contact the AFRCC at the numbers listed below.
Requests to the AFRCC should be made for life and death situations requiring immediate intervention.
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
Console Operations
650 Florida Ave (Stop 73)
850-283-5955 (SAR Controllers)
Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5017 (Bldg 486)
800-851-3051 (official Use Only)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------State of Texas -Another avenue for Civil Air Patrol response is through the Texas Department of Emergency
Management. Please contact your Disaster District Coordinator, please refer to your district
coordinator map at: (https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/FieldResponse/DistCoordMap.pdf)
or contact:
Texas State Operation Center
512-424-2208.
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Contact Info
For further response questions, consultations, pre-planning or general information, feel
free to contact:
Civil Air Patrol:
Texas Wing Commander
Brooks Cima – 281-513-3974 [email protected]
Texas Wing Emergency Services Director
Ricky Pena – 915-2415233 [email protected]
CAPSAR Coordinator / Search Manager
Don Stephens – 903-578-4911 [email protected]
For Questions Regarding State Response Matters
Jack Jackson – 830-377-8082 [email protected]
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Civil Air Patrol Advanced Ground Teams Search and Rescue Resource Offer a comprehensive approach to Search and Rescue Missions using
tools not readily available to private SAR teams.
… so others may live.