In 1984, New York State passed legislation that placed the authority to establish, maintain, and operate search and rescue missions across the state on the Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers. Knowing they would need help, they set up a basic course for volunteers. Two years later, in 1986, a Boy Scout Explorer Post, headed by John Washburn from the Broadalbin area, took this course. This group was called Post 51 (hence the team 5-1). This new team was also the first team in Region 5, also making "5-1" an appropriate moniker. When the older teens became adults they formed the present team of 5-1 of today.

Over the years we have aided NY State DEC Rangers in dozens of searches, providing assistance in numerous positive outcome results. The Team services the Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Schenectady, Saratoga, and Hamilton counties, as well as others as needed. We work as "unpaid volunteer employees" for the DEC, and side-by-side with other volunteer teams through the New York State Federation of Search & Rescue. Search Team 5-1 has also contributed their time and experience to various community projects, such as assisting the Boy Scouts in a Disaster Preparedness Training drill.

All members are properly trained, and many of our members have extensive wilderness experience (including several licensed guides). We currently have a roster of around 109 active volunteer team members. They range in age from 16 to 72, and come from a variety of employment backgrounds. Each member has in common a desire to work together in the outdoors, helping the community to find one of its lost members.

This website, and the Policies and Information Handbook, is designed to answer some of the questions by both new and existing members, and the public at large. They are intended to be a resource guide for members throughout their career with Team 5-1. While it does not encompass all the technical aspects of the searches (which will be instructed by DEC Forest Rangers, and are included in our "Point Last Seen" manual, written by Team 5-1 founder, John Washburn) it should inform you of some of the policies that we'll expect you to conform to as a team member. There will be some important aspects of your training covered in the book, and on this webpage, to emphasize their importance.

Search Team 5-1 members are strongly urged to read through the manual, and/or these pages, familiarize themselves with the Team 5-1's policies, and keep these resources as references. If you need further information, or have questions on a topic, please feel free to ask one of the Team's Officers. Additionally, if you think that additional topics need to be covered in either the booklet or these pages, please contact Jacques Parent with what you would like to see included.