Training Requirements and Opportunities
MANDATORY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Active TSAR members are required to maintain certain qualifications to remain on active status. These certifications include:
- Basic First Aid
- CPR
TSAR offers opportunities to maintain these certifications throughout the year. Many members choose to go a step beyond Basic First Aid and CPR by attaining Wilderness First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer certifications, for which TSAR also provides training opportunities.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training
The following NIMS training courses provided through FEMA are mandated requirements per the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and TSAR. Call Out Qualified (COQ), Field Team Member (FTM) and Field Team Leader (FTL) must complete IS-100, 200, 700, 800b and 809 prior to being activated for searches. Search Manager and Incident Staff are encouraged to complete IS- 300 and 400 courses. Completed certificates must be turned into the Group Commander and Training Officer. There are no charges for taking any of the classes and all total will take about 8 hours to complete. You are not required to do them all one right after the other but the sooner you complete them, the sooner you will become compliant.
- IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System
- IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
- IS-800 National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
- IS-809 National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
Skills References
Training Links to Other Organizations