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Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue (MibSAR)
LRSOG volunteer requirements

By
Michael Neiger
Marquette, Michigan
© Copyright 2012-2016
Notice:
MibSAR is not currently seeking volunteers

 

Michael Neiger occasionally seeks a very-fit, non-smoking volunteer or two to work with him during his special operations group (SOG) investigations and field operations.

SOG operators are hard-core, dyed-in-the-wool bushmen/women who thrive in remote, inhospitable wilderness. Since they frequently work the bush fully equipped and provisioned for long-range operations—without support or resupply for up to 10 days at times—Michael Neiger's SOG is considered a heavy team by conventional SAR standards.

  • SOG operators work in the remote bush between the Great Lakes in Northern Michigan, USA, and the Arctic Ocean's Lower Hudson Bay (James Bay) in Northern Ontario, Canada.
  • SOG operators typically live out of a rucksack, mountain-bike pannier, cargo sledge, or canoe for days—sometimes weeks—at a time.
  • SOG operators conduct arduous, long-range, freestyle recon; game trail, scent post, scat deposit, feeding area, and den site recon, metal detecting, and sifting; wide-area grid searches; and difficult searches of very-challenging swamps, marshes, semi-mountainous terrain, and waterways.
  • SOG operators conduct physically-demanding operations that usually involve humping rucks with full, multi-day loads; working long days; and bivouacking in place when the sun sets.

Tobacco & alcohol

SOG operators must be:

• None-smokers/chewers
• Alcohol-free during operations
• Drug-free at all times

Physical fitness

Remember that one man [woman]
is much the same as another,
and that he [she] is best
who is trained in the severest school.
 —Thucydides, Greek General, 460-400 B.C.
History of the Peloponnesian War

SOG operators must be very physically fit—both aerobically and muscularly—since their wilderness operations are strenuous, prolonged, and unsupported.

They must be fit enough to hump a heavy rucksack hour after hour, day after day, under difficult environmental conditions such as extreme heat or cold, high winds, steep terrain, tangled bush, marshes, swamps, unstable ground, slippery terrain, deep snow, ice, etc., without undue fatigue, without becoming a hazard to themselves or others, and with enough reserve to deal with unforeseen emergencies.

Minimum physical requirements:

• Must train strenuously on a near-daily basis
• Must be able to run 6 miles without difficulty or undue fatigue
• Must be able to swim 1 mile without difficulty or undue fatigue

Spotless criminal histories

SOG operators must have spotless criminal histories and very good driving records.

• To get a criminal history check completed, contact Michael Neiger.

Wilderness backpacking experience

SOG operators must be fully-equipped, 4-season, foul-weather backpackers with lots of experience hiking, bushwhacking, navigating, and bivouacking off-trail.

In-pocket survival kits

SOG operators must agree to have the following essential survival items on them 24/7, which means even when bivouacking.

• Waterproof lifeboat matches in container attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Waterproof, spark-ignitable firestarters in container attached to loss-prevention lanyard (you can soak these in water, pull the fibers apart, and light them with a spark, no flame needed like a lot of other firestarters)
• Adjustable-flame lighter
• Magnesium firestarter attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Sturdy, lock-blade pocket knife attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Very-small, good-quality backup micro-compass attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Loud, high-quality whistle attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Signal mirror attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• Very-small, high-quality micro-flashlight attached to loss-prevention lanyard
• 60" by 96" 3.2 ounce SOL emergency blanket/shelter with four 4' lengths of 1.5 mm cordage in a plastic zip-lock bag attached to a loss-prevention lanyard with duct tape
• Stout fixed-blade knife in belt-mounted drop-sheath (must carry/ride below rucksack waistbelt). Essential for quickly harvesting boughs for an insulated bed and shelter roof, as well as splitting ice-encrusted logs down to their dry heartwood for a life-saving fire.

For maximum carrying comfort and security against loss, distribute survival items among pockets in loose-fitting, multi-pocketed pants, making sure each respective lanyard is looped though a small lanyard loop hand-sewn into each pocket.

Subdued clothing & gear

Since at least half of SOG operations and investigations are criminal in nature—with some involving illegal drugs, weapons, foul play, homicide, and clandestine burial sites—and often require work in remote, seldom-traveled areas that poachers, marijuana growers, malcontents, miscreants, and other unfriendlies call home, all operational clothing, rainsuits, rucksacks, bivouac sacks, tarps, etc. must be low-profile in outward appearance.

Subdued colors such as brown, tan, gray, green, and black are acceptable colors; bright, attention-grabbing colors such red, yellow, orange, pink, and blue are not acceptable.

Heavy, military camouflage should also be avoided as it creates its own set of problems in encounters with law-abiding civilians.

If bright-colored clothing is needed for certain situations, such as line searches, or when working with traditional search-and-rescue teams, high-visibility vests, hats, and pack covers can be donned.

No cotton or down clothing and gear

SOG operators work around and in water, in rainy and wet-snow weather, and hard enough to soak their clothing in sweat, so they must agree to not carry or wear cotton or down clothing and gear.

Improvised PFD

SOG operators often ford or swim waterways, some of which may require up to a half-hour or more of swimming, and must agree to carry a full-length, closed-cell sleeping pad, or two half pads—not an inflatable pad—that can be rolled up and tied to form an improvised portable flotation device (PFD) as needed.

No ground fires

SOG operators must be able to cold-camp—bivouac, rest, and search—using just their body heat, clothing, and gear, without auxiliary heat sources, including ground fires, except in an emergency. They must agree to:

• Cook and boil water with a NATO solid-fuel tab stove, white-gas stove, compressed-gas stove, etc.
• No hobo or twig burning stoves are allowed when the bush is snow free.
• No ground fires are permitted. Small fires atop a steel cookie sheet supported off the ground on a couple logs are permitted in the winter in certain situations.

Low impact travel & bivouacking

SOG operators frequently work in pristine areas, and they must be adherents to the low-impact ethos, which means bushwhacking and bivouacking: without campfires, without cutting green vegetation and trees, burying all waste and toilet paper, restoring bivouac sites to the state they were found in, and packing out everything packed in.

Gear and ration caching rope

SOG operators must agree to:

• Carry a 40-foot chunk of 1/8-diameter slippery rope for hanging/caching gear and rations from roving wolves, bears, and other animals, both when bivouacking at night and when searching out a basecamp or cache during the day.

Expenses

MibSAR is an all-volunteer, no-budget organization, one in which each SOG operator covers all of his or her own expenses for clothing, gear (including skis, snowshoes, off-trail cargo sledge, mountain bike, mountain bike trailer, and Royalite solo canoe), fuel, rations, travel expenses (vehicle, gas, lodging, meals, train fare, plane fare, shuttle fare), permits, insurance, etc. MibSAR has no budget, and it does not solicit donations or conduct fundraising drives.

Fluid deployments

Due to the number of cases SOG operators work on, and the variability of several factors, including weather, flooding, access to private property, directives from an agency of jurisdiction, logging operations, road closures, etc., most SOG deployments are fluid in nature, with areas of operation determined on-site, once they get boots on the ground, and in consideration of the latest intel, including tips and new areas of interest.

Response requirement

Since MibSAR works primarily on cold cases, most deployments are planned, multi-day, wilderness operations.

SOG operators must be willing and able to commit to several, multi-day, weekend-centered missions per year, all involving considerable travel in Northern Michigan. Much longer duration Expeditionary SAR Operations may also be conducted several times each year in the Canadian bush.

Paperwork

SOG operators must sign

• a liability waiver
• a confidentiality agreement

Training

You're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.

 —Christopher Robin, fictional character in Winnie-the-Pooh,
created by English author Alan Alexander Milne,
1882-1956

As a multinational, civilian-based, volunteer special operations group (SOG), one with volunteers located 100s of miles apart, MibSAR's training recommendations are designed to be met within a volunteer's local community, by drawing on local experts and organizations, online, or through self-study. Volunteers must be willing and able to commit to considerable training and study demands on an ongoing basis.

While not required, it is recommended that SOG operators seek out SAR-related training, including, but not limited to:

SAR training: SOG operators should consider purchasing NASAR's Introduction to Search and Rescue (ISAR), completing this self-study course, and taking the 75-question online test to become certified as a NASAR SARTECH III. Pay the additional money to get the certificate.
First-aid training: SOG operators should consider completing a wilderness first-aid course. Keep the certificate.
CPR training: SOG operators should consider completing a CPR course. Keep the certificate.
Bloodborne pathogens training: SOG operators should consider completing a bloodborne pathogens training program, such as the free online course offered by Michigan State University. Keep the certificate.
Land navigation: SOG operators should consider taking an advanced land navigation course. A good, basic, self-study manual can be downloaded here.

Integrity and character

SOG operators must be extremely honest and discrete since they regularly work with grieving family members, over-worked law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, witnesses, informants, potential suspects, government officials, members of the media, private property owners, personal property, public property, state artifacts, sensitive information, human remains, and forensic evidence—which will be analyzed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Laboratory, Michigan State Police Forensic Crime Laboratory system, and some of the Midwest's top forensic experts.

Law-enforcement friendly

SOG operators work hand-in-hand work with local, county, tribal, state, and federal, and international law enforcement officers and investigators and must be very law enforcement friendly.

Specialized equipment

In addition to the general gear loadout listed below, SOG operators must carry

• a stand-alone GPS unit (not a phone-based GPS unit)
• a 5-watt GMRS handheld radio, preferably a water-resistant Midland GXT 2000VP4

Standard 3-season foul-weather SOG loadout

SOG operators must have a bomb-proof, 3-season, foul-weather ruck loadout...

Field ruck loadout

 

 

  • Load carrying rig
    • Oversized rucksack
      • Lined with heavy-duty contractor-grade plastic bag (not a flimsy garbage bag)
      • Use lightweight waterproof roll-top stuff sacks to organize gear
      • Waist-belt pouch for water bottle
      • Waist-belt pouch for snacks
      • Waist-belt pouch for map, GPS, & land-nav gear
      • Shoulder-strap radio mount
    • Waterproof rain cover for rucksack
  • Bivouac gear
    • Closed-cell foam sleeping pad (doubles as PFD for fording and swimming waterways—no inflatable pads)
    • Bedroll, appropriate temperature rating sleeping bag
    • Bivouac sack
    • Lightweight shelter, perhaps a 10' by 10' silnylon tarp with rigging cordage attached & stakes
    • LED flashlight (hands-free headstrap recommended)
      • Spare battery 
    • Candle
  • Land-navigation gear
    • Primary topographic quads for area of operation
    • Secondary backup topographic quads for area of operation
    • County map for area of operation
    • High-quality base-plate-style sighting compass (Sunnto, Silva, Brunton, etc.)
    • GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, preferably with detailed topographic map chip
      • Spare batteries
    • GMRS (General Mobile Radio System) FM UHF 462 MHz transceiver (Weather-resistant Midland GXT 2000s are recommended due to their proven performance on MibSAR operations)
      • Spare batteries
    • Waterproof, write-in-the-rain pen
    • Pencil
    • Waterproof, write-in-the-rain paper
    • US Army Ranger pace-counting beads
    • Roamer plotter for UTM coordinate system (free from MibSAR)
  • First-aid kit
    • Elastic ankle wrap
    • Moleskin
    • Vaseline
    • Antiseptic cleansing pads
    • Antiseptic ointment
    • Band-Aids
    • Gauze pads
    • Roller gauze bandage
    • Waterproof first-aid tape
    • Pain relief medication
    • Anti-inflammatory medication
    • Cold & flu medications for long operations
    • Small tweezers
    • Small scissors
    • Latex gloves
    • Powerful, prescription-grade pain killers for long operations (see your Doc)
    • Broad-spectrum antibiotic for long operations (see your Doc)

      Note: check with your personal physician, dentist, and other trusted medical professionals to determine what items—including prescription medications—you should stock your personal first-aid kit with, especially on long-range, remote operations.
  • Repair kit
    • 40 to 50 feet of small-diameter braided nylon cordage (lashing, repair, difficult [2-rope] bear hangs)
    • Small roll of duct tape
    • Sewing kit
  • Head gear
    • 1 very thin balaclava
    • 2 thick hats that can be worn together
    • 1 pair of sun glasses
    • 1 pair of protective eyewear for bushwhacking (very important)
    • Spare prescription glasses, if essential
    • 1 bandana (optional)
    • 1 Wide-brimmed sun/rain hat
  • Hand gear
    • 1 pair of mitten shells (cold weather)
    • 2 pair of mitten liners (cold weather)
  • Upper-body gear
    • 3 or 4 very thin polypro tops (long and short sleeve)
    • 1 breathable nylon wind-shirt or jacket
    • 2 1/4-inch thick micro-fiber-insulated or fleece jackets/hoodies
    • 1 hooded, synthetic-insulated parka in (cold weather)
    • 1 high-quality nylon rain parka (no vinyl)
  • Lower-body gear
    • 1 pair of thin polypro undershorts
    • 1 or 2 pairs of very thin polypro long underwear (full velcro side openings are essential for removing or adding with boots on while underway)
    • 1 pair of thin nylon hiking/wind pants
    • 1 pair of 1/4-inch thick micro-fiber-insulated or fleece pants (full sidezips are essential for putting them on and taking them off with your boots on during a mid-day break)
    • 1 pair of heavy synthetic-insulated overpants with sidezips (cold weather)
    • 1 pair of high-quality nylon rain pants (no vinyl)
  • Footwear
    • 1 pair of sturdy boots (insulated boots, with spare liners, in cold weather)
    • Synthetic pack towel (for drying boots out after river fords)
    • 2 pair of thick synthetic or wool socks
    • Liner socks (optional)
    • 1 pair of short gaiters (to seal boot-pantleg opening against mud, rain, standing water, snow, and forest debris)
    • Snowshoes in winter
  • Hydration gear
    • 2 one-quart durable (Nalgene) water bottles
    • 1 two-quart water bladder (or 2 additional 1-quart water bottles)
    • 1 bottle of water purification tablets
    • 1 spare bottle of purification tablets (even if using another purification technique)
  • Rations
    • Breakfast modules (one per day)
    • Snack modules (one per day)
    • Lunch modules (one per day)
    • Dinner modules (one per day)
    • Backup rations (one full day: breakfast, snack, lunch, & dinner)
  • Ration-heating gear
    • lightweight stove (NATO solid-fuel; compressed gas; white gas; repair kit if needed)
    • Adjustable-flame butane lighter on loss prevention lanyard (carry on person in winter to keep warm and operational)
    • Aluminum windscreen for stove
    • Aluminum fireproof base for stove
    • Pot holder
    • Pot
    • Lid for pot
    • Spoon
    • Mug or cup
    • 50-foot food-hanging rope (use cheap, hard, 1/8-inch-diameter, slippery poly-rope for heavy loads; nylon paracord or cordage is not suitable for heavy loads due to friction)
  • Biting-insect gear
    • 1-ounce bottle of 100% DEET per week
    • Spare 1-ounce bottle of 100% DEET
    • 1 headnet
    • 1 spare headnet
    • Several anti-bug (PIC) smudge coils & fireproof base/container
  • Hygiene gear
    • Toilet paper
    • Toothbrush
    • Toothpowder
    • Toothpicks or dental floss
  • Personal items
    • Personal medications
    • Driver's license
    • Passport or equivalent for Canadian operations
    • Personal emergency contact names & phone numbers
    • Credit cards
    • Cash and travelers checks
    • Medical, prescription, dental, and evacuation insurance cards
    • Sunscreen
    • Lipbalm with sunblock
    • Wrist chronograph
  • CSI/SAR gear
    • Digital camera
      • Spare batteries
      • Big memory card
    • 6-inch forensic-grade, evidence-photography ruler (free from MibSAR)
    • 1 roll of bright-colored flagging tape (free from MibSAR)
    • Indelible/permanent Sharpie-brand black marker
    • Very small metal measuring tape
    • Tracking stick (fresh cases only)
    • 12-inch-long breeze-direction scent string (fresh cases only)

Water stores

  • 5-gallons of potable water in vehicle
  • Lightweight but heavy-duty water bladders to hump two-days worth of water, either from a vehicle or a distant stream or pond, if needed for a water cache when a remote area of operation is bone dry
Vehicle equipment
  • Extra car key on lanyard
  • Vehicle registration papers
  • Vehicle insurance papers
  • Locking gas cap (with extra key)
  • Road map (Michigan 1-800-292-2520; Canada 1-800-268-3736)
  • County map book for Michigan
  • Tire jack and lug nut wrench
  • Shovel (spade blade in summer & snow blade in winter)
  • Windshield scraper and snow brush (winter)
  • Nylon tow strap
  • Single-bit axe
  • Bow saw
  • Hi-lift bumper jack (optional)
  • Hand-operated winch (optional)
  • Pick axe (optional)
  • Jumper cables
  • Tire inflation system (optional)
  • Battery jump-pack power system (optional)
Vehicle safety checks
  • Tire-pressure
  • Spare-tire pressure
  • Tire-tread wear
  • Wiper-blade condition
  • Wiper-fluid (front and rear)
  • Engine-oil level (use thinner weight in winter for easier starting)
  • Radiator-fluid level (check rating in winter)
  • Transmission-fluid level
  • Headlight operation
  • Taillight operation
  • Brake light operation
  • Turn signal operation
  • Emergency signal operation
  • Battery condition (auto-parts stores will load-check for free; use heavy-duty battery in winter for easier starting)

More information about volunteering

If you're a discreet, mature, nonsmoking, physically-and-mentally-robust outdoor enthusiast with a resilient spirit and lots of 4-season, all-weather, off-trail, wilderness backpacking experience, feel free to contact Michael Neiger of Marquette, Michigan to learn more about volunteering as an SOG operator with Michael Neiger.

 

 

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In God's wilderness
lies the hope of the world,
the great, fresh, unblighted,
unredeemed wilderness.

 — John Muir, 1838-1914
Alaska Wilderness, 1890

If you've been able to read this Web page...
thank a Teacher;
If you've been able to read this Web page in English...
thank a Veteran.
—Author unknown

• Copyright notice •
Content Copyright © 1984 — 2020-01-18
by Michael A. Neiger

• All rights reserved •
No part of this Web page or this Web site protected by copyright law may be reproduced, transmitted, or used in any form—including graphic, electronic, Web, mechanical or other form—or by any means—including photocopying, recording, taping, Internet distribution, information storage retrieval system, or by other means—for any purpose, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages, without the prior, express, written permission of the author.

Comments? Suggestions?
Dead links? Inaccurate info?
Contact the WebMaster, Michael A. Neiger, at mneiger@hotmail.com

Web site URL: www.MibSAR.com

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