Training Circular TC 3-37.51 Urban Search and Rescue August 2020

This United States Army manual, Training Circular TC 3-37.51 Urban Search and Rescue August 2020, serves as a training product for US&R/urban search and extraction operations. This training circular helps the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise task force level units conducting US&R/urban search and extraction missions and below to prepare their training plan for the unit’s specific mission to the defense support of civil authorities. Using this training circular, a unit can tailor the training plan for the unit’s specific mission by grouping related missions into one function.

TC 3-37.51 serves as a training product for US&R/urban search and extraction operations. This training circular helps the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise task force level units conducting US&R/urban search and extraction missions and below to prepare their training plan for the unit’s specific mission to the defense support of civil authorities. Using this training circular, a unit can tailor the training plan for the unit’s specific mission by grouping related missions into one function.

TC 3-37.51 applies to the Active Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, United States Army Reserve, Air Force, Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve unless otherwise stated.

The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Enterprise is an insurance policy for a nuclear detonation of an improvised device or some other catastrophic chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) event on what would be America’s worst day. Responding to a CBRN event or any other significant disaster will require the skills outlined in this training circular. I ask that you take full advantage of the time you have prior to an event. Read, study, and practice the tactics, techniques, and procedures outlined in this training circular to ensure that you are prepared to act decisively. Remember, if asked to respond, it will most likely be to a nonpermissive CBRN environment that is affected by fog, friction, drastically shortened decision-making cycles, and tremendous pressure to save lives. Study and train hard, America will need you at the top of your game.

This urban search and rescue (US&R) training circular was developed by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) Homeland Defense/Civil Support Office in coordination with the Joint Task Force Civil Support, the National Guard Bureau, and various United States Army units as a supplementary tool for US&R personnel. It condenses and codifies technical training information collected from multiple sources, including the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) manual, United States Army Corps of Engineers/Urban Search and Rescue Field Operations Guide, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Emergency Response Guidebook, and multiple National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

This US&R training circular includes sections expounding on common core US&R capabilities as well as rope, confined space, trench, structural collapse, vehicle, and machinery rescues.