SARTECH II – 100 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(2025/2026 EDITION)
Complete Concept Review –
Verified Accuracy – A+ Level
1–20: Search Theory & Incident Command
1. Q: What is the primary purpose of the Incident Command System (ICS)?
A: To ensure coordinated, efficient management of emergency operations.
2. Q: Who has overall responsibility for managing a SAR incident?
A: The Incident Commander (IC).
3. Q: Which ICS position handles public information?
A: Public Information Officer (PIO).
4. Q: The Operations Section is responsible for what?
A: Tactical operations and resource deployment.
5. Q: What does “span of control” mean?
A: The number of personnel directly supervised by one leader (ideally 3–7).
6. Q: What is the purpose of the Planning Section?
A: Collect and analyze information; develop action plans.
7. Q: What type of search method uses parallel lanes?
A: Grid search.
, 8. Q: What is the first step in search planning?
A: Establish the Last Known Point (LKP).
9. Q: What is the Probability of Detection (POD)?
A: Likelihood of finding a subject in the area searched.
10. Q: What factor most influences POD?
A: Searcher speed and thoroughness.
11. Q: What does POA stand for?
A: Probability of Area.
12. Q: What does PLS stand for?
A: Point Last Seen.
13. Q: What is the Maximum Appropriate Effort concept?
A: Allocating resources where they have the highest effectiveness.
14. Q: Which search method is best for large open areas?
A: Hasty search.
15. Q: What tool helps calculate search probabilities?
A: Search theory tables or software.
16. Q: What does “confinement” mean in search operations?
A: Securing boundaries to prevent subject movement.
17. Q: What is the goal of containment?
A: Prevent a missing person from leaving the search area.
18. Q: Lost person behavior statistics come primarily from…
A: International Missing Person Database.
19. Q: Children aged 1–3 typically travel how far?
A: 0.5 miles or less.
20. Q: Dementia subjects usually travel in which pattern?
A: Straight line until they become stuck.
21–40: Navigation & Land Skills
,21. Q: How many degrees are in a full compass circle?
A: 360 degrees.
22. Q: What is magnetic declination?
A: Difference between true north and magnetic north.
23. Q: What tool corrects for declination?
A: Orienteering compass adjustable dial.
24. Q: A UTM coordinate uses which units?
A: Meters.
25. Q: How many global UTM zones exist?
A: 60 zones.
26. Q: What does “pace count” measure?
A: Distance traveled on foot.
27. Q: What is the purpose of a topographic map?
A: Shows terrain elevation and land features.
28. Q: Contour interval means…
A: Vertical change between contour lines.
29. Q: Closely spaced contour lines indicate what?
A: Steep terrain.
30. Q: Widely spaced contour lines indicate what?
A: Gentle slope.
31. Q: What is back azimuth?
A: Opposite direction: add or subtract 180°.
32. Q: A map’s legend explains what?
A: Symbols used on the map.
33. Q: What is resection?
A: Determining position using two bearings to known points.
34. Q: What is intersection?
A: Locating an unknown point using two known positions.
35. Q: Which coordinate system uses lettered grids?
A: Military Grid Reference System (MGRS).
, 36. Q: What is the scale “1:24,000”?
A: One inch equals 24,000 inches in real life.
37. Q: GPS stands for…
A: Global Positioning System.
38. Q: How many satellites does a GPS receiver need for 3D fix?
A: Four satellites.
39. Q: What is a waypoint?
A: Stored location in a GPS unit.
40. Q: What causes GPS error?
A: Terrain, weather, satellite geometry.
41–60: Survival, Safety & Rescue Skills
41. Q: What is the first priority in SAR safety?
A: Personal safety.
42. Q: What is hypothermia?
A: Dangerous drop in body temperature.
43. Q: What is the first sign of hypothermia?
A: Shivering.
44. Q: What is hyperthermia?
A: Overheating of the body.
45. Q: Best cure for heat exhaustion?
A: Rest, shade, hydration.
46. Q: What is the universal wilderness distress signal?
A: Three repetitions of anything (whistles, flashes).
47. Q: What does PPE stand for?
A: Personal Protective Equipment.
48. Q: The most important PPE item is…
A: Proper footwear.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(2025/2026 EDITION)
Complete Concept Review –
Verified Accuracy – A+ Level
1–20: Search Theory & Incident Command
1. Q: What is the primary purpose of the Incident Command System (ICS)?
A: To ensure coordinated, efficient management of emergency operations.
2. Q: Who has overall responsibility for managing a SAR incident?
A: The Incident Commander (IC).
3. Q: Which ICS position handles public information?
A: Public Information Officer (PIO).
4. Q: The Operations Section is responsible for what?
A: Tactical operations and resource deployment.
5. Q: What does “span of control” mean?
A: The number of personnel directly supervised by one leader (ideally 3–7).
6. Q: What is the purpose of the Planning Section?
A: Collect and analyze information; develop action plans.
7. Q: What type of search method uses parallel lanes?
A: Grid search.
, 8. Q: What is the first step in search planning?
A: Establish the Last Known Point (LKP).
9. Q: What is the Probability of Detection (POD)?
A: Likelihood of finding a subject in the area searched.
10. Q: What factor most influences POD?
A: Searcher speed and thoroughness.
11. Q: What does POA stand for?
A: Probability of Area.
12. Q: What does PLS stand for?
A: Point Last Seen.
13. Q: What is the Maximum Appropriate Effort concept?
A: Allocating resources where they have the highest effectiveness.
14. Q: Which search method is best for large open areas?
A: Hasty search.
15. Q: What tool helps calculate search probabilities?
A: Search theory tables or software.
16. Q: What does “confinement” mean in search operations?
A: Securing boundaries to prevent subject movement.
17. Q: What is the goal of containment?
A: Prevent a missing person from leaving the search area.
18. Q: Lost person behavior statistics come primarily from…
A: International Missing Person Database.
19. Q: Children aged 1–3 typically travel how far?
A: 0.5 miles or less.
20. Q: Dementia subjects usually travel in which pattern?
A: Straight line until they become stuck.
21–40: Navigation & Land Skills
,21. Q: How many degrees are in a full compass circle?
A: 360 degrees.
22. Q: What is magnetic declination?
A: Difference between true north and magnetic north.
23. Q: What tool corrects for declination?
A: Orienteering compass adjustable dial.
24. Q: A UTM coordinate uses which units?
A: Meters.
25. Q: How many global UTM zones exist?
A: 60 zones.
26. Q: What does “pace count” measure?
A: Distance traveled on foot.
27. Q: What is the purpose of a topographic map?
A: Shows terrain elevation and land features.
28. Q: Contour interval means…
A: Vertical change between contour lines.
29. Q: Closely spaced contour lines indicate what?
A: Steep terrain.
30. Q: Widely spaced contour lines indicate what?
A: Gentle slope.
31. Q: What is back azimuth?
A: Opposite direction: add or subtract 180°.
32. Q: A map’s legend explains what?
A: Symbols used on the map.
33. Q: What is resection?
A: Determining position using two bearings to known points.
34. Q: What is intersection?
A: Locating an unknown point using two known positions.
35. Q: Which coordinate system uses lettered grids?
A: Military Grid Reference System (MGRS).
, 36. Q: What is the scale “1:24,000”?
A: One inch equals 24,000 inches in real life.
37. Q: GPS stands for…
A: Global Positioning System.
38. Q: How many satellites does a GPS receiver need for 3D fix?
A: Four satellites.
39. Q: What is a waypoint?
A: Stored location in a GPS unit.
40. Q: What causes GPS error?
A: Terrain, weather, satellite geometry.
41–60: Survival, Safety & Rescue Skills
41. Q: What is the first priority in SAR safety?
A: Personal safety.
42. Q: What is hypothermia?
A: Dangerous drop in body temperature.
43. Q: What is the first sign of hypothermia?
A: Shivering.
44. Q: What is hyperthermia?
A: Overheating of the body.
45. Q: Best cure for heat exhaustion?
A: Rest, shade, hydration.
46. Q: What is the universal wilderness distress signal?
A: Three repetitions of anything (whistles, flashes).
47. Q: What does PPE stand for?
A: Personal Protective Equipment.
48. Q: The most important PPE item is…
A: Proper footwear.
