Defence Accepts National SAR Manual as Defence Reference
Defence Deputy Chief Joint Operations, Rear Admiral R.C. Moffitt has advised that the National Search and Rescue Manual shall be accepted by the Australian Defence Force as the Australian standard procedural guide for coordinating ADF search and rescue activities within the Australian Search and Rescue Region (SRR). He drew attention to the ADF's unique responsibility to coordinate SAR for all military, including foreign visiting military, assets and personnel in the Australian SRR. The promulgation declared that RCC Australia will not intervene or assume responsibility for any part of a military SAR response, unless formally requested to do so by the ADF SAR Authority.
In so promulgating the Defence advice, Admiral Moffitt further advised that the Manual exclusively covers interdepartmental responsibilities and provides guidance for SAR operations in a permissive environment, but does not cover Joint Personnel Recovery (commonly known as Combat SAR). Accordingly, the Manual will not be used as the authority for combat search and rescue operations.
A letter of promulgation from Defence has been included in the National Search and Rescue Manual.