This is the foundational course for members of search and rescue teams that have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Emergency Management Search and Rescue Program.  This course provides the foundational skills needed to perform as a member on any type of search team and provides the basis that all other advanced skills are built from.  The class is  approximately 40 hours of mixed content classroom and hands on field skills.
This class is conducted regardless of weather and participants should be prepared for the conditions present. 

Participants will cover a broad range of topics to include:

• Incident Command Principles

• Land Navigation  - Maps, Compass, and GPS Use

• Lost Person Behavior

• Modes, Strategies and Tactics,

• Self-care and personal Readiness

• Rescue Skills

• Patient Packaging and Litter Handling

• Communications

• and many others

Upon successful completion of the course and the other requisite courses attendees may achieve certification as a Search Team Member (STM). 

This course is a pre-requisite for all other SAR Academy courses. 

• Member of a MOU'd SAR Group

• This course can be physically demanding required lifting, climbing and navigation through all types of terrain. If you have a physical impairment that restricts your ability to do any of these things it is important you contact the training staff ahead of the class to discuss accommodations. training@covsar.org

The following are required for certification and strongly recommended prior to SAR Academy attendance:

• CPR / First Aid

• ICS 100

• ICS 700

• ICS 800

• Body Fluid Exposure Prevention Course