This variation is one of many table top exercises. Some table top searches include timelines, writting assignments of ICS forms, assigning command positions, etc. This particular example is one that can be used with a large group during a single 2 hour meeting.

Primary Goals:

1. For the team to gain exposure to actions taken during initial stages of a search
2. To better understand the components of the Incident Command System
3. To build teamwork within your team to accomplish tasks Scenario Details

The assigned trainer should establish a scenario — when possible based on a real search with the necessary details changed to preserve privacy. Divide the class into three or four teams.

Provide a background of the missing subject

• 67 YO female, 5' 5", 120-130 lbs, graying hair
• Occupation: retired, now raises goats at her ranch
• Last seen outside her ranch house residence by her sister at roughly 1500 hours
• Upon interviewing the sister, the subject's vehicle was heard pulling in the driveway at 1700 hours
• The subject never came inside
• The sister went outside to look for the subject when it got dark at approximately 1730 hours
• The sister called 911 and the search commenced

After briefing the teams, the trainer should answer questions from each team in sequence from the perspective of either the sister or any other official on scene with details. The trainer can control the training by providing minimal and selective information — as long as the details fit the scenario.

• Subject is regarded as being in reasonable health
• Subject is not on any medications
• Ranch is in fact fenced on all borders
• etc.

Putting teams to the task

Ask the teams to devise a list of [up to] 6 highly specific tasks you would like to see accomplish in the first hour after being called to the search. Example:

• Send a team to determine the exact PLS location and protect it from any further contamination
• Obtain a map of the area (prepare and provide a map when requested)
• Establish a command post, staging, and command structure
• etc.

Provide reasonable guidelines

Tell the teams they have limit resources, say 12 ground personnel, 2 dogs (with defined skills), etc. Allow your teams to request additional resources (from the instructor) if needed. Ask them to be specific as to type and number of resources being requested.

Training objectives to accomplish

• A single list of hasty period tasks
• A detailed overhead of an operations map to mark assignments
• Identify hasty search objectives

Wrapping it up

The trainer should facilitate the exercise and not be expected to guide them to a "find". The trainers role is only to guide the learning process. Ideally, there should be no wrong decisions identified, only some possible gaps in the coverage achieved. Should you know the search results, share with the team what you can about the choices made at the real search and the outcomes if known.