Mission Readiness Test—Area
Participants must have passed the RH-FL B test according to IPO-R. The Mission Readiness Test—Area is carried out in a realistic area. The participant has to complete mission tasks to find a missing person, including a minimum of three searches. All participants are allowed on the same search area for each task. During the test, the number of hiding people has to be the same for all participants. The hiding places can be changed after each team’s search. The following searches have to be completed by a participating team within one day:
Two area searches of a maximum one hour per search within twenty-four hours: Each search terrain is different, and the search areas are at most 89,000 square yards (75,000 m2) per search in a field, forest, meadow, or mixed area without artificial hiding places. There can be one to four hiding people per search, sitting or lying on the ground or at maximum height of six-and-a-half feet (2 m) in a tree or similar place. The number of hiding people is not announced. One search can be done in complete darkness.
Search for a maximum of two hours and 6,500 yards (6,000 m) along a path that goes through various types of terrain (field, forest, meadow, and farm paths): There can be changes of walking direction adapted to the search area and no marking of assigned paths. Crossing roads is allowed, and the search can be done in complete darkness if no area search is planned for darkness. The route to be searched has to be assembled in such a way that the dog handler is only able to orient by map, compass, or GPS. There may be no artificial hiding places, and there can be one or two hidden people per search. The number is not announced, and they can be sitting or lying on the ground or at a maximum height of six-and-a-half feet (2 m) in a tree or similar place and within sixteen feet (5 m) to the right or left of the middle of the path.
The main point of the evaluation during the Mission Readiness Test—Area is the teamwork between handler and dog, as well as the success rate for the three search tasks. The dog handler is free to decide which strategy or search model to choose with the dog. The handler can subdivide the assigned search area or search it all at once. Search breaks can be taken (including giving water to the dog) upon the decision of the handler. Breaks are included in the search time. During the search, the dog’s “willingness to find” is of utmost importance. Between the first two searches, a rest period of at least one hour has to be scheduled. The timetable also has to include a four-hour regeneration period (off-time in a rest area) per dog after the second search. The final evaluation will be announced as “passed with success” or “not passed.”
Figure 14.5 At the end of the ladder, the handler lifts the dog down.
Figure 14.6 As with nose work, the obedience and dexterity section of IPO-R is completed when the dog handler signs out and the judge announces the marks. (IPO-R test, Xanxere, Brazil, 2012)
Figure 14.7 Ruud Haak was a classifier during the Mission Readiness Test (MRT) in Zatec, Czech Republic, in 2009.
Notes