Army Regulation 500–2

Emergency Employment of Army and Other

Resources

Search and
Rescue (SAR)
Operations

Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
15 January 1980

Unclassified
SUMMARY of CHANGE
AR 500–2
Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations

This is a transitional reprint of this publication which places it in the new

UPDATE format. Any previously published permanent numbered changes have been
incorporated into the text.
Headquarters *Army Regulation 500–2
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
15 January 1980 Effective 15 February 1980

Emergency Employment of Army and Other Resources

Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations

time, no changes have been issued to amend changes on their expiration dates unless
the original. sooner superseded or rescinded.
Summary. This revision updates policy,
procedures, and responsibilities for SAR op- Suggested Improvements. The propo-
erations. nent agency of this regulation is the Office of
Applicability. See paragraph 2. Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and
Proponent and exception authority. Plans. Users are invited to send comments
Not applicable and suggestions for improvement on DA
Form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publi-
Army management control process. cations and Blank Forms) directly to
Supplementation. Local supplementation HQDA(DAMO–ODS), WASH, DC 20310.
of this regulation is prohibited, except upon
approval of the Deputy Chief of Staff for
Distribution. Active Army, ARNG, and
Operations and Plans.
USAR: To be distributed in accordance
Interim changes. Interim changes are not with DA Form 12–9A requirements for AR,
official unless they are authenticated by The Emergency Employment of Army and Other
History. This UPDATE issue is a reprint of Adjutant General. Users will destroy interim
the original form of this regulation that was Resources—D.
published on 15 January 1980. Since that

Contents (Listed by paragraph and page number)

Purpose • 1, page 1
Applicability • 2, page 1
Explanation of terms • 3, page 1
Policies • 4, page 1
Responsibilities • 5, page 1
Concept of operations • 6, page 2
Types of SAR missions • 7, page 2
Use of USAR and ARNG assets • 8, page 2
Rescue Information Report (RCS HAF–XOO (D&AR) 7119) • 9,
page 2
Funding • 10, page 2

*This regulation supersedes AR 500–2, 28 January 1975.

AR 500–2 • 15 January 1980 i

Unclassified
 RESERVED

ii AR 500–2 • 15 January 1980

1. Purpose k. SAR mission. A mission executed to search for and recover/
This regulation establishes policies, procedures, and responsibilities rescue persons in distress. The object of a SAR mission is usually in
for providing Department of the Army resources and assistance to an unknown location, with an unknown medical condition or injury.
civil authorities in support of search and rescue (SAR) operations l. SAR Mission Coordinator. The official designated by the SAR
within the continental United States (CONUS) during peacetime Coordinator for coordinating and controlling a specific SAR
conditions. mission.
2. Applicability 4. Policies
This regulation applies to the Active Army and US Army Reserve a. The Armed Forces of the United States provide SAR support
(USAR). It applies to the Army National Guard (ARNG) when in a for their own operations. In addition, they have traditionally ac-
federalized status. cepted, to the extent possible, a moral and humanitarian obligation
to aid nonmilitary persons and property in distress.
3. Explanation of terms b. The Department of the Army will make Army resources avail-
a. Civil Air Patrol (CAP). The CAP is the worlds largest inland able to support the National SAR Plan, as required, on a noninter-
volunteer civilian SAR organization. It provides SAR services as an ference basis with primary Army missions. Army resources will be
official auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). The CAP effectively integrated and coordinated in support of the National
represents the primary SAR resource available to the civil sector. SAR Plan.
b. Imminent serious condition. An incident which is of such grav- c. Authority for conducting SAR missions in support of military
ity as to require immediate assistance to save human life, prevent operations is delegated to local commanders. This authority also
immediate human suffering, or mitigate major destruction or dam- extends to imminent serious conditions and when Federal Aviation
age to property. Administration (FAA) air traffic control agencies request in–flight
c. Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) Program. Army aircraft to provide immediate assistance to aircraft in distress.
The MAST Program is an interdepartmental program of the Depart- All other direct requests for SAR assistance from civil authorities
ments of Defense, Transportation, and Health, Education, and Wel- will be referred to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
fare. The MAST Program provides military medical and rescue (AFRCC) or appropriate USCG RCC.
helicopters, paramedical personnel and medical equipment to re- d. Army aircraft with a primary mission of aeromedical evacua-
spond to serious civilian medical emergencies. tion normally will not be used to conduct lengthy search operations.
d. MAST mission. An emergency helicopter transport mission Nor will they be used in the recovery of human remains unless the
which may include the recovery of persons injured in traffic–related conditions in g(3) below apply. This does not preclude commanders
and other accidents, interhospital patient transfer, or movement of from assigning responsibility to aeromedical units under their com-
emergency blood and medical supplies, medical personnel, or donor mand for providing SAR support to local military operations.
organs. MAST missions normally involve a recovery of a patient, e. The search phase of SAR operations involving Army aviation
with a known medical condition or obvious injuries, from a known resources should be accomplished by the most cost effective aircraft
location. available with maximum use of observers.
e. National Search and Rescue (SAR) Plan. The document of f. The rescue or recovery phase of SAR operations should be
national policy which outlines broad responsibilities for the effective accomplished by aircraft equipped to provide required medical or
use of all available facilities for all types of SAR missions. The life–sustaining support.
National SAR Plan identifies the following regions and coordination g. The recovery of human remains is the responsibility of civil
responsibilities: authorities. Army assistance in this area should only be considered
(1) Inland region. The inland area of the continental United when—
States, except the inland area of Alaska and waters under the juris- (1) Requested by authorized local authority.
diction of the United States. The USAF is the responsible SAR (2) Military resources represent the only means of recovery (i.e.,
coordinator for this area. The Commander, Aerospace Rescue and inaccessible, remote crash site, unavailability of commercial/civilian
Recovery Service (ARRS) is designated as the USAF Executive resources).
Agent for SAR operations in the Inland Region. (3) The recovery of human remains can be accomplished concur-
(2) Maritime region. The waters subject to the jurisdiction of the rently with the recovery of survivors, if such action does not jeop-
United States, the State of Hawaii, the territories and possessions of ardize the survivors.
the United States (except the Canal Zone), and the high seas. The h. The provisions of this regulation are not intended to limit the
United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the SAR coordinator for this prerogative of local commanders in providing SAR assistance in
region. support of US forces within their area or under imminent serious
(3) Oversea regions. Unified command areas overseas, including conditions.
the inland area of Alaska, which are not included within the Inland
or Maritime Regions. Unified commanders are designated coordina- 5. Responsibilities
tors for SAR activities in these regions. They have the primary a. The Commander, USAF Aerospace Rescue and Recovery
responsibility for developing plans and providing facilities to meet Service (ARRS), Military Airlift Command, is designated the USAF
SAR needs of US military forces. Also, they have the ancillary Executive Agent for the coordination of SAR operations in the
responsibility of representing all US SAR interests in their area. Inland Region. The AFRCC at Scott AFB, IL, performs for the
f. On–Scene Commander (OSC). The official designated by the Commander, ARRS the functions shown below to assist both mili-
SAR mission coordinator for coordinating and controlling a specific tary and civilian persons in distress.
SAR mission at the scene. (1) Serves as the single Federal agency for coordinating SAR
g. Rescue Coordination Center (RCC). A center established by activities within the Inland Region.
each SAR Coordinator within their area of operational responsibility (2) Processes all SAR incidents requiring Federal assistance re-
for coordinating and controlling SAR operations. gardless of the source of request or Federal resource responding.
h. Search and rescue. The employment of available personnel (3) Maintains a SAR network capable of rendering assistance to
and facilities in rendering aid to persons and property in distress. persons in distress regardless of whether or not military forces are
i. SAR Coordinator. The official (or agency in the case of available.
regions) responsible for the SAR organization within a given area (4) Formulates and formalizes SAR agreements with Federal,
and for the coordination of SAR operations within that area. State, local, and private agencies having SAR capability to make the
j. SAR facilities. Any unit, command, device, or system used for National SAR network a viable entity.
SAR operations. b. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and

AR 500–2 • 15 January 1980 1

 (1) Develop policy for the use of Army resources in providing (4) Measures to be taken to protect property and livestock.
SAR assistance to civil authorities.
(2) Approve the use of Army resources for the recovery of hu- 8. Use of USAR and ARNG assets
man remains. USAR units or any of their assets may be used to perform SAR
c. The Commanding General, US Army Forces Command (CG, operations only under the following conditions:
FORSCOM) is responsible for the coordination of Army SAR as- a. When ordered to active duty (AD) as a result of a declaration
sistance provided to civil authorities. As the Army SAR coordinator, of a national emergency in accordance with Section 672 or 673 of
CG, FORSCOM may task installation commanders directly to pro- title 10 United States Code.
vide SAR resources and assistance as needed. Coordination with the b. When ordered by HQDA on recommendation of the CONUS
appropriate major Army command (MACOM) will normally be Army commander as annual training (AT). When recommending the
made before tasking if the urgency of the situation permits. use of USAR assets to HQDA, the following information will be
d. Installation commanders will— provided:
(1) When tasked by FORSCOM, provide SAR resources within (1) A brief statement of the situation.
their capabilities. (2) Assistance being provided by the State and local authorities,
(2) Designate at least one primary and two alternate installation to include the National Guard.
SAR coordinators. (Designation as Installation SAR Coordinator (3) Support required and estimate of duration.
will be an additional duty.) (4) If commercial resources are not used, a statement that mili-
(3) Establish and publish local SAR operating procedures. tary assistance will not be in competition.
e. Installation SAR coordinators will direct local SAR operations (5) Whether or not assistance has been requested from or pro-
and act as liaison between the installation commander and the ap- vided by other military departments.
propriate civilian SAR coordinator. c. When approved on a voluntary basis by HQDA upon recom-
mendation of the appropriate CONUS Army commander in an ac-
6. Concept of operations tive duty for training (ADT) status. USAR units or their assets may
a. FORSCOM will serve as coordinator for all Army SAR sup- not be used to perform SAR operations as inactive duty training
port of the National SAR Plan within CONUS. Wartime SAR pro- (IDT).
cedures and responsibilities are in AR 525–90. SAR operations d. When approved on a voluntary basis by CG, FORSCOM on
outside of CONUS will be accomplished as determined by the the findings that an imminent serious condition exists and the delay
appropriate unified command. caused by obtaining HQDA approval is unwarranted. This authority
b. Requests for Army SAR assistance will be transmitted to may be further delegated by CG, FORSCOM as necessary to mini-
FORSCOM by the AFRCC or USCG RCC. FORSCOM, in turn, mize reaction time. Any action taken under those circumstances will
will task the appropriate MACOM or Army installation to provide be reported to HQDA as soon as possible.
the required assistance. e. ARNG personnel are considered State assets and will remain
c. Upon receiving FORSCOM tasking, the installation SAR Co- under the control of the governor of the respective State when not
ordinator will coordinate directly with the local civil SAR Coordina- on active Federal duty. Any request for the use of ARNG personnel
tor or organization requiring assistance. must be coordinated with the governor. This is normally accom-
d. Requests for SAR assistance outlined in paragraph 4g must be plished through the office of the State Adjutant General.
approved by HQDA(DAMO–ODS). If the conditions in paragraph
4g(3) apply or overriding humanitarian considerations preclude ob- 9. Rescue Information Report (RCS HAF–XOO (D&AR)
taining prior approval, HQDA will be telephonically notified 7119)
through appropriate Army SAR channels. In SAR operations involv- a. The format for opening, daily progress, and closing reports on
ing the recovery of human remains, safety will be the primary SAR missions is outlined in volume 5, part 2, chapter 10, JCS Pub
consideration, and such assistance must be in accordance with local 6. This report provides information on rescue mission activity and
and State law. mission status. The AFRCC is responsible for preparation and distri-
e. Army SAR assistance will terminate when any of the follow- bution of rescue information reports on Inland Region SAR
ing occurs: missions.
(1) The SAR object is recovered. b. Information on Army SAR assistance provided by CONUS
(2) The AFRCC/USCG RCC or FORSCOM terminates the installations will be reported by telephone to FORSCOM Operations
mission. Center (FOC) according to Annex B, FORSCOM Military Assist-
(3) Military mission requirements prevent providing further ance to Civil Authorities Plan (MACAP). The FOC will then trans-
assistance. mit this information to the AFRCC (or appropriate USCG RCC) for
inclusion in SAR reports as appropriate.
7. Types of SAR missions
Missions that may be performed by Army aircraft in support of 10. Funding
SAR operations (to include those in support of disaster relief) in- The provision of SAR assistance by Army units is an unprogramed
clude, but are not limited to the following: requirement for which the Department of the Army does not budget
a. Aerial drop of medicine, food, emergency supplies, and live- or retain fund reserves. Commands/installations providing SAR as-
stock feed. sistance must absorb costs incurred in SAR operations within exist-
b. Aeromedical evacuation of the sick and injured. ing funds. The impact of such costs will be reported in normal
c. Rescue of stranded personnel. budget reports.
d. Transport and guidance of surface rescue parties.
e. Message drop and pickup, courier service, and
communications.
f. Wire–laying for emergency communications.
g. Illumination for night operations.
h. Photographic and reconnaissance missions.
i. Insect control.
j. Providing warning or information on—
(1) Areas to be evacuated.
(2) Transportation facilities.
(3) Available evacuation routes.

2 AR 500–2 • 15 January 1980

Unclassified PIN 003311–000
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