Name: Chris Role: Search Controller and Team Leader Joined SusSAR: Spring 2002

Employment
I work as a competitive Analyst, for American Defence Company Lockheed Martin based in Havant in Hampshire. The role involves looking at the company's competitors and their likely strategies. I graduated from the University of Brighton in 2006 gaining a degree in Business Studies.

Background & Outdoor Experiences
I did not have vast outdoor experience before I joined the SusSAR. I was a Scout and Venture Scout so I have a basic understanding and level of outdoor skill. The Unit has allowed me to become more comfortable in the outdoors and I have learnt a lot from other members within the Unit.

Why I joined SusSAR
I initially found out about the Unit through a friend and thought that Search and Rescue sounded exciting, but more importantly worthwhile as well. I have always had a sense of community, probably gained during my time in the Scouting movement, and as such the Unit fitted into my ideas on helping others very well.

Steps to become operational
I initially joined as a Search Technician in 2002, I completed my Search Technicians course in 2002 and was, at the time, the youngest qualified Search Technician in the country. In 2003 I was invited to participate in team leader training and again became the youngest qualified Team Leader in ALSAR. Since then I have held positions on the fundraising and training team and I am now unit secretary. I have taken my Search Controller qualification, but also continue to enjoy leading teams on the ground.

The time commitment and what I've enjoyed
The Unit does take up a large amount of my time, whether it be supporting fundraising events, general team running (in my role as secretary) or exercises and searches. SusSAR is a community and as such everyone mucks in with the jobs that keep the Unit ticking over. The pleasure I get out of searching makes it all worthwhile and the satisfaction of locating a missing person is immeasurable and more than makes up for the occasional mundane jobs that we have to do to keep the unit functioning.