JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

U.S. COAST GUARD CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
Washington, D. C. 20593-0001 Washington, D.C. 20318-0200
MEMORANDUM FOR: Distribution List
Joint Pub 3-50
COMDTINST M16120.5A
1 February 1991
Subject: National Search and Rescue Manual, Vol I: National Search and
Rescue System
1. This Manual has been prepared under the direction of the Interagency
Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR). It describes in detail the
national search and rescue (SAR) organization and provides consolidated
guidance to U.S. federal forces, military and civilian, with civil SAR
responsibilities under the National Search and Rescue Plan for planning,
coordinating, conducting or otherwise supporting SAR operations.
2. ICSAR has overall responsibility for this Manual and has assigned
coordinating responsibilities for all changes to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Recommendations for changes should be forwarded through appropriate
channels to Commandant (G-NRS-1), U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.
20593-0001. Proposed changes will be distributed to all ICSAR member
agencies for coordination within their respective agencies.
3. Military Services can obtain additional copies of this Manual
through their respective servicing Manual centers.
4. With this transmittal, this Manual, previously promulgated under
U.S. Army FM 20-150, U.S Navy NWP-19, and U.S. Air Force AFM 64-2, has
been administratively repromulgated within the Joint Publication System.
The U.S. Coast Guard directive number (COMDTINST M16120.5 series)
remains unchanged due to the interagency nature of this Manual.
5. The National Search and Rescue Manual, Volume I (FM 20-150, NWP-19,
AFM 64-2, and COMDTINST M16120.5) of 1 August 1986 is superseded and
cancelled. Stocks of old manuals shall be destroyed without report.
6. The major changes to Volume I included in this revision are:
a. Complete rewrite of Chapter 8, Inland SAR Operations
b. Inclusion of information on the Incident Command System, used
by some federal, state, and local agencies to manage a SAR mission
at the scene.
c. Expansion and update of information on the COSPAS-SARSAT
system, and EPIRBs and ELTs.
d. Expansion and update of information on the Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System.