THE TRACKING TEAM
As masters of clue awareness, the Tracking Team is responsible for determining a missing subject’s direction of travel based on the subject’s “point last seen.” Team members search intensively for clues, such as footprints, clothing, and even smaller items like cigarette butts or candy wrappers, to narrow down a subject’s route or location. They search along trails, roads or in rough terrain in a three-person team with a pointer and two flankers to cover ground effectively and avoid destroying any clues in their path. When tracks or clues are found, the Tracking Team determines their age and/or connection to the search, reports any pertinent information, and isolates clues for further investigation. The Tracking Team’s description of a clue like a shoe print can be extremely valuable to the search effort. |
VIEW TRAINING INFO FOR TRACKING
- Intro to Human Tracking - Tracking Team Guidelines - Powerpoint Tracking Guidelines - Tracking Card |
WHAT IT TAKES...
To be on the Tracking Team, searchers must be Mission Ready with at least 100 hours of tracking ground time with the NCSSAR team, documented in a tracking journal. Tracking is an arduous discipline that requires a keen eye and attention to detail. Therefore, Tracking Team members must be dedicated to their discipline, while avoiding distraction and exhibiting continual patience and a methodical nature out in the field. |