Ground Search and Rescue:

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All Raven Response Group members must meet the team's Ground Search and Rescue requirements before becoming deployable. Training follows applicable ASTM, NFPA, and FEMA standards and includes:

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Swift Water Awareness
Collapsed Structure Awareness
Crime Scene Awareness
Hazardous Materials Awareness
Clue Awareness
Basic Physical Fitness for Search and Rescue Operations
ICS/NIMS
Lost Person Behavior
Basic Radio Communications
Compass, GPS, and Navigation
Human Tracking and Sign Cutting
CPR and First Aid or higher medical training

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Once qualified, team members are prepared to conduct searches in wilderness, suburban, and urban environments on foot. Members are also encouraged to continue training and education beyond regular team requirements.

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K9 Search Teams:

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Raven K9 team members must first complete all Ground Search and Rescue requirements. They then train with their K9 in their chosen discipline, which may include Human Remains Detection (Land and/or Water), Tracking/Trailing, or Area Search. A select few may also train for disaster response.

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All K9s are Canine Good Citizen qualified and screened for drive, trainability, and temperament before entering the team's training program. Each handler maintains a training taskbook for their K9's discipline and must meet the team's ongoing training requirements.

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K9 teams may certify through outside agencies. When a certifying agency does not require double-blind testing, Raven K9 teams complete a double-blind evaluation with a team evaluator. K9 teams must recertify according to agency requirements and are tested internally through double-blind evaluations each year.

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Radio Communications:

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Raven Response Group has members qualified as COML and COMT through the State of Texas. Many team members are also licensed Amateur Radio Operators.

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All members serving in a Radio Communications role are also qualified in Ground Search and Rescue.

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Virtual Search:

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Raven Response Group members trained in Virtual Search use human behavior, lost person behavior, search management, and available digital information to support search operations.

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Working remotely through phone and computer communications, Virtual Search members assist requesting agencies with research and information gathering. This may include interviewing individuals connected to the search, gathering information from family members, and helping develop search strategies based on the circumstances of the incident.

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