SAR FUNDAMENTALS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | LATEST SEARCH AND RESCUE
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
. Search can be defined as:
A. the location of persons in distress.
B. the retrieval of persons in distress.
C. the location and retrieval of persons in distress.
D. helping persons in distress. - correct answer ✔✔A. the location of persons in distress.
2. Rescue can be defined as:
A. the location of persons in distress.
B. helping persons in distress.
C. delivering persons in distress to a place of safety.
D. the retrieval and initial care for a person in distress along with their delivery to
a place of safety. - correct answer ✔✔D. the retrieval and initial care for a person in distress
along with their delivery to
a place of safety.
3. The three fundamental skills for search and rescue training are:
A. search, rescue, and recovery.
B. search, ICS training, and rescue.
C. search, rescue, and survival/support.
D. search, rescue, and improvisation. - correct answer ✔✔C. search, rescue, and
survival/support.
4. The Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) defines search and rescue as:
A. the act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency
,incident.
B. the location of persons in distress.
C. helping persons in distress.
D. a rescue problem. - correct answer ✔✔A. the act of finding and returning to safety the
survivors from an emergency
5. T.J. Setnicka, author of "Wilderness Search and Rescue," stated that SAR was
essentially:
A. a rescue problem.
B. a transportation problem.
C. a retrieval operation.
D. a search operation. - correct answer ✔✔B. a transportation problem.
6. The National Association for Search and Rescue is:
A. a for-profit organization composed of paid search and rescue personnel.
B. a not-for-profit membership organization of both paid and unpaid SAR professionals.
C. part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
D. part of the USA Freedom Corps. - correct answer ✔✔B. a not-for-profit membership
organization of both paid and unpaid SAR professionals.
7. The National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) developed the SAR TECH
certification criteria in order to:
A. evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of capability could be
available for incident commanders.
B. provide training opportunities for paid SAR responders.
C. provide opportunities for citizens to participate in search operations.
D. train search managers. - correct answer ✔✔A. evaluate three levels of search responder so
that a measurable level of capability could be available for incident commanders.
,8. The Citizens Corps programs DO NOT include:
A. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
B. Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP).
C. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
D. SAR TECH Standards. - correct answer ✔✔D. SAR TECH Standards.
9. The CERT course is offered by:
A. National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR).
B. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
C. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
D. Mountain Rescue Association (MRA). - correct answer ✔✔C. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
10. The National SAR Committee (NSARC) sponsors and oversees the:
A. U.S. National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP).
B. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
C. International Maritime Organization (IMO).
D. National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). - correct answer ✔✔A. U.S. National
Search and Rescue Plan (NSP).
11.The federal SAR coordinator for all inland SAR is the:
A. U.S. Navy.
B. U.S. Army.
C. U.S. Air Force.
D. FBI. - correct answer ✔✔C. U.S. Air Force.
, 12. The U.S. National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP) was developed to:
A. provide guidance to agencies for coordinating civil SAR services to meet domestic and
international commitments.
B. provide the international SAR community with an approach to organizing operations.
C. provide an effective, integrated, worldwide system that makes and keeps SAR services
available wherever people travel.
D. assist countries in meeting their SAR obligations. - correct answer ✔✔A. provide guidance to
agencies for coordinating civil SAR services to meet domestic and international commitments.
13. The National Search and Rescue Supplement (NSS) is a supplement to the:
A. NIMS.
B. Federal Response Plan.
C. Homeland Security Directive HSPD-5.
D. IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue) Manual. - correct
answer ✔✔D. IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue) Manual.
14. Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are designed for:
A. land-based applications.
B. use by individuals.
C. aviation use.
D. maritime applications. - correct answer ✔✔C. aviation use.
15. Cospas-Sarsat is:
A. an international search and rescue system that uses satellites to detect and locate emergency
beacons.
B. a document describing five stages of a SAR operation.
C. responsible for promoting efficient organization of SAR services within a SAR region.
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
. Search can be defined as:
A. the location of persons in distress.
B. the retrieval of persons in distress.
C. the location and retrieval of persons in distress.
D. helping persons in distress. - correct answer ✔✔A. the location of persons in distress.
2. Rescue can be defined as:
A. the location of persons in distress.
B. helping persons in distress.
C. delivering persons in distress to a place of safety.
D. the retrieval and initial care for a person in distress along with their delivery to
a place of safety. - correct answer ✔✔D. the retrieval and initial care for a person in distress
along with their delivery to
a place of safety.
3. The three fundamental skills for search and rescue training are:
A. search, rescue, and recovery.
B. search, ICS training, and rescue.
C. search, rescue, and survival/support.
D. search, rescue, and improvisation. - correct answer ✔✔C. search, rescue, and
survival/support.
4. The Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) defines search and rescue as:
A. the act of finding and returning to safety the survivors from an emergency
,incident.
B. the location of persons in distress.
C. helping persons in distress.
D. a rescue problem. - correct answer ✔✔A. the act of finding and returning to safety the
survivors from an emergency
5. T.J. Setnicka, author of "Wilderness Search and Rescue," stated that SAR was
essentially:
A. a rescue problem.
B. a transportation problem.
C. a retrieval operation.
D. a search operation. - correct answer ✔✔B. a transportation problem.
6. The National Association for Search and Rescue is:
A. a for-profit organization composed of paid search and rescue personnel.
B. a not-for-profit membership organization of both paid and unpaid SAR professionals.
C. part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
D. part of the USA Freedom Corps. - correct answer ✔✔B. a not-for-profit membership
organization of both paid and unpaid SAR professionals.
7. The National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) developed the SAR TECH
certification criteria in order to:
A. evaluate three levels of search responder so that a measurable level of capability could be
available for incident commanders.
B. provide training opportunities for paid SAR responders.
C. provide opportunities for citizens to participate in search operations.
D. train search managers. - correct answer ✔✔A. evaluate three levels of search responder so
that a measurable level of capability could be available for incident commanders.
,8. The Citizens Corps programs DO NOT include:
A. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
B. Neighborhood Watch Program (NWP).
C. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
D. SAR TECH Standards. - correct answer ✔✔D. SAR TECH Standards.
9. The CERT course is offered by:
A. National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR).
B. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
C. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
D. Mountain Rescue Association (MRA). - correct answer ✔✔C. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
10. The National SAR Committee (NSARC) sponsors and oversees the:
A. U.S. National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP).
B. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
C. International Maritime Organization (IMO).
D. National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). - correct answer ✔✔A. U.S. National
Search and Rescue Plan (NSP).
11.The federal SAR coordinator for all inland SAR is the:
A. U.S. Navy.
B. U.S. Army.
C. U.S. Air Force.
D. FBI. - correct answer ✔✔C. U.S. Air Force.
, 12. The U.S. National Search and Rescue Plan (NSP) was developed to:
A. provide guidance to agencies for coordinating civil SAR services to meet domestic and
international commitments.
B. provide the international SAR community with an approach to organizing operations.
C. provide an effective, integrated, worldwide system that makes and keeps SAR services
available wherever people travel.
D. assist countries in meeting their SAR obligations. - correct answer ✔✔A. provide guidance to
agencies for coordinating civil SAR services to meet domestic and international commitments.
13. The National Search and Rescue Supplement (NSS) is a supplement to the:
A. NIMS.
B. Federal Response Plan.
C. Homeland Security Directive HSPD-5.
D. IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue) Manual. - correct
answer ✔✔D. IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue) Manual.
14. Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are designed for:
A. land-based applications.
B. use by individuals.
C. aviation use.
D. maritime applications. - correct answer ✔✔C. aviation use.
15. Cospas-Sarsat is:
A. an international search and rescue system that uses satellites to detect and locate emergency
beacons.
B. a document describing five stages of a SAR operation.
C. responsible for promoting efficient organization of SAR services within a SAR region.
