Theater Combat Search and Rescue

By Russell D. Carmody

This study investigates joint combat search and rescue (CSAR) doctrine and policies to determine if they support Theater CINCs' contingency and war plans. Theater CINCs require viable CSAR capabilities in their areas of operations to prevent adversaries from capturing aircrews who are shot down while responding to crises situations. Rescuing American aircrews before they become POWs prevents an enemy from using them as bargaining pawns during peace negotiations and improves both the aviator's and the public's morale. Joint doctrine entrusts Theater CINCs the responsibility for CSAR in their areas of operation. Theater CINCs presently lack adequate CSAR capabilities because they rely on the services to provide personnel, organizations, and equipment during contingency operations and war. Unfortunately, the services have let their CSAR capabilities atrophy since the end of the Vietnam War. Six CSAR alternatives are evaluated. The preferred alternative is still the current joint doctrine described in various Joint Chiefs of Staff doctrine. This alternative provides enough CSAR assets to support Theater CINCs' air, sea, land, and special operations campaign plans. The study recommends that Theater CINCs place CSAR as one of their top priorities and pressure JCS to force the services to improve their CSAR capabilities.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 124942769X
• ISBN13: 9781249427698
• Release Date: September 2012
• Publisher: Biblioscholar
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.1" x 9.2"