SAR FUNDAMENTALS EXAM 2026
WITH 100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
Define Search and Rescue - Precise Answer ✔✔The use of available resources to assist persons
and property in potential or actual distress.
Eight Major Duties of SAR Coordinator (SC) - Precise Answer ✔✔1.Identify all SAR resources in
area.
2.Establish close liaison with other services and agencies for SAR.
3.Prepare a comprehensive SAR plan.
4.Establish Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC).
5.Ensure operations conform to the National SAR Manual.
6.Conduct SAR.
7.Suspend SAR cases when necessary.
8.Report results to the parent operating command.
Who is responsible for planning the SAR mission? - Precise Answer ✔✔SAR Mission Coordinator
(SMC)
*Designated by the SC to manage a specific SAR mission and has full operation authority of the
SAR Coordinator.
What function does the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) perform during a SAR mission? -
Precise Answer ✔✔The SAR Coordinator (SC)
*District Commander
How many minutes prior to arrival on scene should a SAR unit (SRU) notify the OSC? - Precise
Answer ✔✔15 minutes
What are the five response stages? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Awareness
2. Initial Actions
3. Planning
4. Operations
5. Conclusion
What are the four most important pieces of information obtained during the awareness stage? -
Precise Answer ✔✔1. Type of incident and nature of emergency
2. Location and time of the incident
3. Target description
4. Number and condition of the people involved
What are the five components of the SAR system? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Organization
2. Resources
3. Communications
, 4. Emergency Care
5. Documentation
What are the three emergency phase classifications? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Uncertainty- Key
word is DOUBT
2. Alert- Key word is APPREHENSION
3. Distress- Key word is DANGER
Define Datum - Precise Answer ✔✔The most probable location of the search object corrected
for movement over time.
*The two major forces needed when calculating datum is Total Water Current and Leeway.
What is the best source of total water current information? - Precise Answer ✔✔DATUM Marker
Buoy (DBM)-inserted around the last known position of the target.
What are the four currents that may be involved in determining total water current? - Precise
Answer ✔✔1. Sea Current- the main large scale flow of ocean water
2. Tidal Current- mostly within 3 miles of the shoreline and within bays and sounds
3. Wind Current- generated by the wind acting on the water surface over a period of time
4. Lake and River Currents- normally obtained from local knowledge, charts, table or computer
models
Define Leeway (LW) - Precise Answer ✔✔LEEWAY (LW)- the movement through the water
caused by winds blowing against the exposed surfaces of the search object
Tidal Currents - Precise Answer ✔✔One of the biggest contributing factors to total water
current in the coastal/inland environment.
What can you refer to obtain the direction and velocity of tidal currents in any area? - Precise
Answer ✔✔Tidal Tables
In order for wind current to be a factor in drift calculations, the depth of the water must be at
least ______ and the uninterrupted flow of the wind over the water (fetch) must be at least
_____? - Precise Answer ✔✔100 Feet
20 Nautical Miles
A search area where the latitude and longitude of each corner of the search area is given is
called? - Precise Answer ✔✔Corner Point Method
A search area where the sides of the search area are oriented North/South and East/West and
the latitude and longitude of the sides are given is called? - Precise Answer ✔✔Boundary
Method
A search area where the latitude and longitude of the departure point, turn points, and
destination points are given with a specific width along the track is called? - Precise Answer
✔✔Trackline Method
WITH 100% ACCURATE ANSWERS
Define Search and Rescue - Precise Answer ✔✔The use of available resources to assist persons
and property in potential or actual distress.
Eight Major Duties of SAR Coordinator (SC) - Precise Answer ✔✔1.Identify all SAR resources in
area.
2.Establish close liaison with other services and agencies for SAR.
3.Prepare a comprehensive SAR plan.
4.Establish Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC).
5.Ensure operations conform to the National SAR Manual.
6.Conduct SAR.
7.Suspend SAR cases when necessary.
8.Report results to the parent operating command.
Who is responsible for planning the SAR mission? - Precise Answer ✔✔SAR Mission Coordinator
(SMC)
*Designated by the SC to manage a specific SAR mission and has full operation authority of the
SAR Coordinator.
What function does the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) perform during a SAR mission? -
Precise Answer ✔✔The SAR Coordinator (SC)
*District Commander
How many minutes prior to arrival on scene should a SAR unit (SRU) notify the OSC? - Precise
Answer ✔✔15 minutes
What are the five response stages? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Awareness
2. Initial Actions
3. Planning
4. Operations
5. Conclusion
What are the four most important pieces of information obtained during the awareness stage? -
Precise Answer ✔✔1. Type of incident and nature of emergency
2. Location and time of the incident
3. Target description
4. Number and condition of the people involved
What are the five components of the SAR system? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Organization
2. Resources
3. Communications
, 4. Emergency Care
5. Documentation
What are the three emergency phase classifications? - Precise Answer ✔✔1. Uncertainty- Key
word is DOUBT
2. Alert- Key word is APPREHENSION
3. Distress- Key word is DANGER
Define Datum - Precise Answer ✔✔The most probable location of the search object corrected
for movement over time.
*The two major forces needed when calculating datum is Total Water Current and Leeway.
What is the best source of total water current information? - Precise Answer ✔✔DATUM Marker
Buoy (DBM)-inserted around the last known position of the target.
What are the four currents that may be involved in determining total water current? - Precise
Answer ✔✔1. Sea Current- the main large scale flow of ocean water
2. Tidal Current- mostly within 3 miles of the shoreline and within bays and sounds
3. Wind Current- generated by the wind acting on the water surface over a period of time
4. Lake and River Currents- normally obtained from local knowledge, charts, table or computer
models
Define Leeway (LW) - Precise Answer ✔✔LEEWAY (LW)- the movement through the water
caused by winds blowing against the exposed surfaces of the search object
Tidal Currents - Precise Answer ✔✔One of the biggest contributing factors to total water
current in the coastal/inland environment.
What can you refer to obtain the direction and velocity of tidal currents in any area? - Precise
Answer ✔✔Tidal Tables
In order for wind current to be a factor in drift calculations, the depth of the water must be at
least ______ and the uninterrupted flow of the wind over the water (fetch) must be at least
_____? - Precise Answer ✔✔100 Feet
20 Nautical Miles
A search area where the latitude and longitude of each corner of the search area is given is
called? - Precise Answer ✔✔Corner Point Method
A search area where the sides of the search area are oriented North/South and East/West and
the latitude and longitude of the sides are given is called? - Precise Answer ✔✔Boundary
Method
A search area where the latitude and longitude of the departure point, turn points, and
destination points are given with a specific width along the track is called? - Precise Answer
✔✔Trackline Method
