TROTSAR Mounted Search and Rescue Team, Inc

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Thank you for expressing an interest with the TROTSAR Mounted Search and Rescue Team Inc., our mounted search & rescue squad has approximately 20 members. We currently conduct training exercises on a rotating basis within Northern Virginia (near Warren County), Central Maryland (near Carroll County) and Southern Maryland (near Charles County) and dues are $10 dollars per year. Training is generally conducted on the second weekend of the month, alternating between Saturday and Sunday, on some occasions both days as part of an overnight exercise. We only evaluate equines during our team Horse and Rider Evaluation (HRE) and only with those persons who have formally applied for the team.

Be advised that this is a demanding 24/7 commitment similar to any other rescue squad. Your equine must be sociable and controllable in situations involving; parked vehicles, various riding environments, flares, crowds, noise, traffic, other horses, dogs or other domestic animals, and other distractions encountered during an assignment as a public service equine. Below is some information that may help you to decide if this is a volunteer public service commitment that you would like to pursue. Membership progression is Applicant, Trainee to Operational.

PREREQUISITES: To be accepted into the training program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 21 years old and have ownership privileges to a suitable mount
• Possess skills to pass the Horse and Rider Evaluation (HRE) with your horse (Riding Helmets Required)
• Hold a valid State issued driver's license
• Submit to a criminal background check
• Have ready and easy 24/7 access to a registered tow vehicle and horse trailer
• Commit to a minimum of 40 hours of Team training per year
• Must have regular access to email, text messaging and a cell phone
• Horse and rider must have the physical ability to work under saddle for a minimum of 6 continuous hours and without assistance tack, mount and dismount your own horse

• Basic First Aid (Minimum)
• CPR
• FEMA Course IS-100.a, Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS)
• FEMA Course IS-200.b, ICS For Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
• FEMA Course IS-700.a, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• FEMA Course IS-800.b, An Introduction to the National Response Framework
• FEMA Course IS-809, Emergency Support Function (ESF) #9 - Search and Rescue
• Citizen Corps Course IS-317, Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
• Pass the TROTSAR MSAR written test
• Signed a liability waiver
• Signed a confidentially agreement
• Completed and submitted all forms for a basic criminal background check

Please submit a PDF copy of each required certificate and form to our Team Officers at officers@trotsar.org. The written MSAR test will be emailed to you, after the completed application forms, waivers, back ground check, and certificates have been submitted. Send your request for application to our team officers via email. Once these milestones have been completed, you will be classified as an applicant and able to attend the HRE mounted test. Note - your local Red Cross Chapter can provide information about First Aid and CPR classes. Information about the FEMA courses can be found at the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Independent Study Program (ISP) website (www.fema.gov). Upon successful completion of the HRE, you will be reclassified as a Trainee and assigned a TROT ID number.

Trainees seeking promotion to Operational Status must successfully complete a recognized 40 hour Fundamental Search and Rescue Search Team Member Course from at least one of these groups:

• NASAR SAR TECH III Certification and Fundamentals of Search and Rescue FunSAR Certification, or
• Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Search Team Member Course, or
• Maryland Natural Resource Police (MNRP) Search Team Member Course, or
• NASAR SAR TECH II Certification.

Information about these courses can be found online at WWW.NASAR.ORG or WWW.VASARCO.ORG.

If you are moving into the Maryland or Virginia area and were an operational member with another recognized Mounted SAR team, please contact the Team Officers to discuss becoming a member of our Team.

Our Mounted Team has formal (24/7) response MOU's with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Maryland State Police and the Maryland Natural Resources Police. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit, community service, non-government organization (NGO) first responder resource. We only respond to an incident at the request of an Authority Having Jurisdiction over the search. If you are up to such a challenge please let us know.

Last Updated: Thursday, September 22, 2011 9:00 AM