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

C. When air and ground SRUs are used on the same mission,
consideration must be given to time differences required for each to be
dispatched and reach the scene.
1. If aircraft are the primary search resource, ground units
should be put on standby at the same time, or preferably be
dispatched to advance positions. Sudden weather changes may
force suspension of the air search, and if ground units have
not been alerted, considerable time can be lost in organizing
them. Should the aircrew make a sighting and ground SRUs are
not immediately available, valuable time is lost in organizing
and transporting units to the area.
2. If ground SRUs are the primary resource, but air SRUs may be
needed, the air units should be alerted at the beginning of
the search. Besides time needed to locate proper aircraft,
time is needed by aircrews to get to the aircraft, preflight
them, and launch. This is true of both military and civilian
air resources.
D. Personnel. SAR personnel should be selected for physical
stamina, knowledge of the outdoors, and search experience. The size and
number of search parties will be governed by available personnel and
type of terrain to be searched. Volunteers may be enthusiastic but
underqualified, and should be used accordingly.
1. Use of team leaders is recommended for typical land search
operations. Leaders should be selected on the basis of
experience and knowledge of SAR operations. As a minimum,
they should be equipped with radios, portable loud hailers,
whistles, and maps of the search area.
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