SAR FUNDAMENTALS EXAM 2026
WITH 100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
What criteria should be considered when selecting the OSC - Precise Answer ✔✔On scene
capabilities, familiarity with SAR, first SRU on scene
What is the abbreviation designation for an expanding square, single unit search pattern -
Precise Answer ✔✔SS
What are the four most important pieces of information that should be gathered first? - Precise
Answer ✔✔Last known Position LKP, Nature of Distress NOD, Persons on Board POB and
Description
In what direction does the second unit commence their search in a Sector Search Multi Unit VM
- Precise Answer ✔✔90 degrees to the left
When is the OSC required to send a SITREP to the SMC - Precise Answer ✔✔Once a day
What is the formula for calculating POS (success) - Precise Answer ✔✔POD (direction) x POC
(containment)
Wind currents should be determined when water depths exceed 100 feet, and distance from
shore is greater than how many miles - Precise Answer ✔✔20 NM
What search pattern is but used when there is high confidence in datum within a small search
area - Precise Answer ✔✔Sector Search
After determining that you have an overdue or unreported vessel, the next action should be
what - Precise Answer ✔✔Issue an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast UMIB
What type of search pattern is used to search a large are uniformly, covering one end of the
search are first - Precise Answer ✔✔Creeping Line
What risk management model identifies the risk factors to consider - Precise Answer
✔✔Planning
Event
Asset
Communication
Environment
Who can be an official Coast Guard spokesperson - Precise Answer ✔✔Any Coast Guard
member
,You collect and analyze SAR information as a function of what component of the SAR system -
Precise Answer ✔✔Documentation
What risk management model is used to identify options in order to reduce operational risk -
Precise Answer ✔✔Spread out
Transfer
Avoid
Accept
Reject
What type of resources includes fishing vessels - Precise Answer ✔✔Non-traditional
A case where the subject reported to be in distress is confirmed not to be in distress and not in
need of assistance is a what - Precise Answer ✔✔False report
Where is the Commence Search Point CSP located on a Creeping Line or Parallel Search Pattern
- Precise Answer ✔✔1/2 track space (S) in from the sides
Does the Coast Guard have the right to enter posted "Private Property" to conduct SAR -
Precise Answer ✔✔Yes
A barrier search is used when - Precise Answer ✔✔A strong current exists
What factor is not considered in the GAR model - Precise Answer ✔✔Severity
An SRU should contact the OSC how many minutes prior to arrival in their search area - Precise
Answer ✔✔15 minutes
A concerned citizen just reported a flare with a rapid rise and fall. The reporting source
described a what - Precise Answer ✔✔Meteor Flare
You should release information to the public early in a SAR incident to reduce inaccurate public
speculation about the search - Precise Answer ✔✔True
In cases involving towing by the Coast Guard or Auxiliary, the vessel being assisted will
normally be taken where - Precise Answer ✔✔The nearest safe heaven
You are being interviewed on a recent boating mishap involving injuries. What technique would
you use to address the importance of wearing flotation devices - Precise Answer ✔✔Hooking
What component of the SAR system would cover the centralized control and coordination -
Precise Answer ✔✔Organization
When you communicate with the media you should do what - Precise Answer ✔✔State only the
facts
When you are notified of a situation that needs to be mentioned or needs more information, but
, does not require dispatching resources, you would classify the mergence phase as - Precise
Answer ✔✔Uncertainty
The flare type that has no apparent rise or fall is what kind of flare - Precise Answer
✔✔Handheld
When conducting a parallel search, how are the search legs to the major axis - Precise Answer
✔✔Parallel
The STARR model is used to - Precise Answer ✔✔identify options
The first leg of a sector search is normally in the direction of - Precise Answer ✔✔Total Surface
Drift
The distance between two adjacent parallel search legs is called what - Precise Answer
✔✔Track spacing
You receive a report of a vessel fire from the dock master of a local marina. The incident is a
what kind of distress - Precise Answer ✔✔Actual
When is the SAR system deactivated or shutdown - Precise Answer ✔✔When all is lost, when
determined to be a false alarm, survivors are rescued
A capsized boat was located off shore. The boat operator is missing. The search was
unsuccessful. the body of the missing boater was later found outside the search area. During an
interview, a reporter raises the question of liability what is your response - Precise Answer
✔✔The matter is under investigation
The equipment you use to receive and coordinate SAR response is part of the what component
of the SAR system - Precise Answer ✔✔Communications
What is another term for Directional Uncertainty - Precise Answer ✔✔Divergence
What best describes the Coast Guards relationship with a commercial salvor - Precise Answer
✔✔The Coast Guard can pass a tow off to a commercial salvor if he is capable and can
intervene with their operations the situation is not under control, assisting until remedied or
relieving if necessary
You deploy resources, implement your search plan, and resource survivors during the what
stage of the SAR system - Precise Answer ✔✔Operations
What keyword is associated with the ALERT Emergency Phase - Precise Answer
✔✔Apprehension
What search pattern is best used when you are searching a track or bearing - Precise Answer
✔✔Track line
WITH 100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
What criteria should be considered when selecting the OSC - Precise Answer ✔✔On scene
capabilities, familiarity with SAR, first SRU on scene
What is the abbreviation designation for an expanding square, single unit search pattern -
Precise Answer ✔✔SS
What are the four most important pieces of information that should be gathered first? - Precise
Answer ✔✔Last known Position LKP, Nature of Distress NOD, Persons on Board POB and
Description
In what direction does the second unit commence their search in a Sector Search Multi Unit VM
- Precise Answer ✔✔90 degrees to the left
When is the OSC required to send a SITREP to the SMC - Precise Answer ✔✔Once a day
What is the formula for calculating POS (success) - Precise Answer ✔✔POD (direction) x POC
(containment)
Wind currents should be determined when water depths exceed 100 feet, and distance from
shore is greater than how many miles - Precise Answer ✔✔20 NM
What search pattern is but used when there is high confidence in datum within a small search
area - Precise Answer ✔✔Sector Search
After determining that you have an overdue or unreported vessel, the next action should be
what - Precise Answer ✔✔Issue an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast UMIB
What type of search pattern is used to search a large are uniformly, covering one end of the
search are first - Precise Answer ✔✔Creeping Line
What risk management model identifies the risk factors to consider - Precise Answer
✔✔Planning
Event
Asset
Communication
Environment
Who can be an official Coast Guard spokesperson - Precise Answer ✔✔Any Coast Guard
member
,You collect and analyze SAR information as a function of what component of the SAR system -
Precise Answer ✔✔Documentation
What risk management model is used to identify options in order to reduce operational risk -
Precise Answer ✔✔Spread out
Transfer
Avoid
Accept
Reject
What type of resources includes fishing vessels - Precise Answer ✔✔Non-traditional
A case where the subject reported to be in distress is confirmed not to be in distress and not in
need of assistance is a what - Precise Answer ✔✔False report
Where is the Commence Search Point CSP located on a Creeping Line or Parallel Search Pattern
- Precise Answer ✔✔1/2 track space (S) in from the sides
Does the Coast Guard have the right to enter posted "Private Property" to conduct SAR -
Precise Answer ✔✔Yes
A barrier search is used when - Precise Answer ✔✔A strong current exists
What factor is not considered in the GAR model - Precise Answer ✔✔Severity
An SRU should contact the OSC how many minutes prior to arrival in their search area - Precise
Answer ✔✔15 minutes
A concerned citizen just reported a flare with a rapid rise and fall. The reporting source
described a what - Precise Answer ✔✔Meteor Flare
You should release information to the public early in a SAR incident to reduce inaccurate public
speculation about the search - Precise Answer ✔✔True
In cases involving towing by the Coast Guard or Auxiliary, the vessel being assisted will
normally be taken where - Precise Answer ✔✔The nearest safe heaven
You are being interviewed on a recent boating mishap involving injuries. What technique would
you use to address the importance of wearing flotation devices - Precise Answer ✔✔Hooking
What component of the SAR system would cover the centralized control and coordination -
Precise Answer ✔✔Organization
When you communicate with the media you should do what - Precise Answer ✔✔State only the
facts
When you are notified of a situation that needs to be mentioned or needs more information, but
, does not require dispatching resources, you would classify the mergence phase as - Precise
Answer ✔✔Uncertainty
The flare type that has no apparent rise or fall is what kind of flare - Precise Answer
✔✔Handheld
When conducting a parallel search, how are the search legs to the major axis - Precise Answer
✔✔Parallel
The STARR model is used to - Precise Answer ✔✔identify options
The first leg of a sector search is normally in the direction of - Precise Answer ✔✔Total Surface
Drift
The distance between two adjacent parallel search legs is called what - Precise Answer
✔✔Track spacing
You receive a report of a vessel fire from the dock master of a local marina. The incident is a
what kind of distress - Precise Answer ✔✔Actual
When is the SAR system deactivated or shutdown - Precise Answer ✔✔When all is lost, when
determined to be a false alarm, survivors are rescued
A capsized boat was located off shore. The boat operator is missing. The search was
unsuccessful. the body of the missing boater was later found outside the search area. During an
interview, a reporter raises the question of liability what is your response - Precise Answer
✔✔The matter is under investigation
The equipment you use to receive and coordinate SAR response is part of the what component
of the SAR system - Precise Answer ✔✔Communications
What is another term for Directional Uncertainty - Precise Answer ✔✔Divergence
What best describes the Coast Guards relationship with a commercial salvor - Precise Answer
✔✔The Coast Guard can pass a tow off to a commercial salvor if he is capable and can
intervene with their operations the situation is not under control, assisting until remedied or
relieving if necessary
You deploy resources, implement your search plan, and resource survivors during the what
stage of the SAR system - Precise Answer ✔✔Operations
What keyword is associated with the ALERT Emergency Phase - Precise Answer
✔✔Apprehension
What search pattern is best used when you are searching a track or bearing - Precise Answer
✔✔Track line
