Certification / Standards
MCC requires that all dog/handler teams satisfactorily pass a Field Skills Assessment (FSA) before they are allowed to deploy on missions. In our experience, all teams require intensive training for a minimum of 1 1/2 to 2 years prior to the evaluation in order to perform satisfactorily.
For the different disciplines, we have different field skills assessment standards and the canine's handler and canine together must pass the specific FSA to deploy using those skills.
These standards emphasize the canine search skills; handlers, through team participation, must master all the necessary search and rescue skills, including such skills as map reading, GPS use, and communication protocol, before being granted an evaluation.