Canine Search Specialist Training

1
Canine Search Specialist Training

• STM Unit 7A
• Canine Search Operations and the Role of the
  Search Team Manager

2
Unit Objective

• Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to
  describe the Search Team Managers role in
  enhancing the effectiveness of canine search
  operations

3
Enabling Objectives

• Describe the Search Team Managers role in
  handler and canine training and certification
• Identify ways to integrate the search canine
  component into the task force team as a whole

4
Enabling Objectives (continued)

• List the duties and responsibilities canine
  handlers have within the task force
• Describe the Search Team Managers role in
  facilitating the successful completion of the
  canine handlers duties and responsibilities
  within the task force

5
Enabling Objectives (continued)

• Describe the canine search teams
  responsibilities before, during, and after a
  deployment
• Describe Search Team Managers role in
  facilitating the canine search teams successful
  completion of their duties before, during, and
  after a deployment

6
The STMs Role in Training

• Attending Training
• STM should attend as many canine training
  sessions as possible
• This involvement improves the working
  relationship and team camaraderie with the canine
  handlers

7
The STMs Role in Training (continued)

• Task Force Training
• It is important that canine handlers be involved
  in task force training as much as possible
• Training with the task force exposes the rest of
  the task force members to canine search teams

8
The STMs role in Certification

• Certification Evaluation
• Training and Certifying is an ongoing Mentoring
  process, which includes training at home and away
  from home
• Foundation Skills Assessment
• Certification Preparation
• Certification Evaluation
• Recertification

9
Other Considerations (continued)

• Task Force General Requirements
• There are FEMA system requirements for deployment
  
• Make sure that the handlers have met these
  requirements

10
Other Considerations (continued)

• Support
• Your teams will be only as good as the support
  you provide them
• Do not exclude them from the task force in any
  way
• Build a rapport with your teams
• This will ensure you are knowledgeable of your
  resources

11
Duties and Responsibilities

• Duties and Responsibilities
• Chain-of-Command
• Handlers need to follow
• Must not circumvent
• The handler needs to understand that they work
  for one person and that they must report to the
  STM

12
Team Work

• The canine teams are a part of the team, but not
  THE team
• If canines are not being used, they need to be
  secured
• Handlers should be tasked with any additional
  assignment needs the task force may have
• Make the handlers a part of the whole team

13
Cache

• Handlers should know the canine part of their
  cache
• Should also learn how to prepare the cache for
  deployment

14
Considerations During a Deployment

• At the POA
• Check-in
• For the canine handler, this means two check-ins,
  one for the handler and one for the canine
• Handler will usually have a veterinarian check
  the canine to get the health certificate
• News media will be there to report your
  deployment

15
Considerations During a Deployment

• At the POA
• The Veterinarian check
• Needs to be completed at the point of assembly
• Vet will issue a USDA health certificate
• Good idea for handler to carry copy of DoD letter
  permitting search canines to fly

16
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• At the POD
• Task Force Responsibilities
• Kennels should be used to keep the canines quiet
  
• Handlers should assist in preparation for
  departure

17
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• At the POD
• Logistics/Loadmaster (Military or Civilian)
  Loading of Canines
• STM and Logistics Manager confer
• Loadmaster has ultimate say on how canines will
  be transported
• If canines are flown commercially, they may
  travel in passenger compartment

18
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• At the POD
• Documentation
• DoD letter and health certificates should be
  readily available for loadmasters review
• Whether transported by air or ground make sure
  the canines are quiet and comfortable

19
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• BoO
• Canines kenneled in quiet area, which may be
  separate
• Handlers need to be a part of the team and given
  assignments as necessary

20
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• Cache
• Important that handlers assist during this
  operation
• It goes a long way toward acceptance as part of
  the task force

21
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• Transportation
• In some cases, ground transportation will be
  carried out with canines out of their kennels
• When in Type III configuration, transport the
  canines in kennels, if possible
• Still a judgment call for the handler, STM, and
  Logistics Manager to make

22
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• Operations
• Post-operations

23
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• Documentation
• STM needs to fill out the ICS Form 214s daily
• personal journal should also be kept
• After Action Report (AAR)
• STM needs to be objective in putting together AAR
  
• Note the good, bad, corrective action, and needs

24
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Onsite Operations
• Post-incident
• Critical part of the operations
• Can be very difficult time when word comes down
  that task force is standing down

25
Considerations During a Deployment (continued)

• Reassignment/Demobilization
• BoO
• Cache
• After Action Report (AAR)
• Documentation
• Veterinarian Check
• CISD

26
Assignments

• When search assignments are tasked, make sure the
  handlers know their role and who they report to

27
Documentation

• Documentation includes
• Identification
• Health certificate
• DoD letter

28
The Media

• The canine teams are camera magnets
• If media approaches a handler, they should direct
  media to their STM, to PIO or have been given
  specific talking points
• The media should not be distracting the canine

29
Care of Canines

• Canines should be placed in a quiet area away
  from the distractions of preparing for deployment
  
• Best way to do this is to house them in their
  kennel
• STM should ensure that the canine needs are being
  met

30
Unit Summary and Evaluation
31
Unit Summary

• Describe the Search Team Managers role in
  handler and canine training and certification
• Identify ways to effectively integrate the search
  canine component into the Task Force

32
Unit Summary(continued)

• List the duties and responsibilities canine
  handlers have within the task force
• Describe the Search Team Managers role in
  facilitating the successful completion of the
  canine handlers duties and responsibilities
  within the task force

33
Unit Summary(continued)

• Describe the canine search teams
  responsibilities before, during, and after a
  deployment
• Describe Search Team Managers role in
  facilitating the canine search teams successful
  completion of their duties before, during, and
  after a deployment

34
Unit Evaluation

• Please fill out the evaluation form for this unit