"That Others May Live"

MEMBER REQUIREMENTS:

Flank Requirements

Approval from the Operations Leader

Crime Scene Preservation class

First Aid / CPR *

Full Member Status *

Identify K9 alerts/behavior on a 20-40 acre sector with an operational handler *

NIMS ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 *

Pack Check

Written land navigation test

Practical (field) land navigation test

Radio communications class *

SAR Tech II (NASAR) or equivalent

* It is expected that these above items be completed within the first year of membership.

Training assistance is offered by experienced MDRD members, and all new members are assigned a training Mentor to assist with training goals. It is preferred that handlers meet escort requirements prior to beginning their K9 certification process. This will allow the member to participate in searches as an escort, assisting an operational K9 handler with radio communications, navigation, observing the K9, subject assistance, and other vital tasks.

K9 Handler Requirements (for Area Search Certification – Live Find)

Obedience Assessment

Agility Assessment

AKC’s CGC Certification

Pack Check (including K9 items)

Open Field Assessment

Trail Assessment

Light Brush Assessment

Dense Brush Assessment

Night Assessment

Wilderness Area Search Certification Evaluation (2-4 subject, 5-7 hours) – MDRD requires that the team be

evaluated by at least one ARDA Team Evaluator from a different ARDA unit.

Certification as a Wilderness Canine Search Specialist Team under ARDA standards is a very stringent process. It ensures that MDRD provides only the most highly trained, well-equipped, professional, and proficient operational K9 teams for search requests. For an individual who has never trained a SAR K9 before, it may take two years or more of training before being ready to begin the certification process. Because the certification process is so demanding of handler, K9, and unit resources, it can take up to one full year to complete the certification process. Each assessment builds upon skills from previous ones, so handlers are encouraged to complete assessments as necessary training goals are met. Training timelines are not strictly adhered to, and are given as a guide only, as individual member and K9 needs will vary. However, the Operations Leader does have the authority to pull a K9 from training if it is not making sufficient progress in its training. We provide this information in the spirit of disclosure, so that those interested in volunteering with MDRD as a K9 handler understand the full commitment to this decision.