Tracking Humans: A Fundamental Approach To Finding Missing Persons, Insurgents, Guerrillas, And Fugitives From The Law

by David Diaz, V. L. Mccann

Overview

Tracker. The very word evokes images of buckskin-clad braves crouching over the ground, carefully studying the signs before them—a part of history. But the modern world has not put behind it the need for the earthy business of tracking. Such skills are still routinely used by the military, rescue personnel, and law enforcement, as well as by hunters and people living at subsistence level throughout the world.  Tracking Humans is the ultimate authoritative guide to this most complex pursuit.  A great resource for military, law enforcement, and rescue professionals, Tracking Humans is also useful for outdoor enthusiasts.  Users will find it invaluable as an on-site manual to assist in any ongoing search.

Unlike many tracking manuals, this guide focuses on tracking humans, whether they're enemy combatants or lost children. Author David Diaz explains what it takes to be an expert tracker, from the physical stamina to the focus and perception necessary to do the job correctly. He explains the tools of the tracker and presents essential safety tips every tracker should know. Tracking Humans is an important tool for anyone dealing with missing persons—it could be an essential lifesaver.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762784424
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/04/2013
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	538,452
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David Diaz is a 20-year U.S. Army Special Forces/Marine Corps professional who recently retired from the U.S. Armed Forces. He first learned about tracking from the son of a Malaysian headhunter, who hunted insurgents in the jungles of Malaysia. He fine-tuned his craft through years of dedicated study and instruction from the finest trackers throughout the world, including the Dyak/Iban of Brunei, Nigrito aborigines from the Philippines, the San Man of Botswana, and U.S. Vietnam-veteran Marine trackers, who gained their skills from the Montagnards in the highlands of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has taught these skills to U.S. Army soldiers, police officers, and foreign military forces worldwide, in times of war and peace, in both friendly and hostile environments.

Writer V.L. McCann has a B.A. in Creative Writing, graduating with Honors in 1981 and thereafter serving nearly 12 years as an officer in the U.S. Army. In 1997, McCann became owner and chief writer/editor of Abbacy Professional Writing in Tacoma, Washington.

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 History and Brief Overview 1

A Short History 2

A Tracking Overview 5

"Prey-Lude" to the Chase 9

Chapter 2 Getting to Know You 13

Operation Chase 17

Chapter 3 My Common Senses Will Find You 21

Sight 22

Visual Tracking

Scanning and Searching

Auditory Tracking 27

Vocal Noises

Mechanical Noises

Scent Tracking 29

Smoke

Cooking

Fuel

Body Odors

Tactile Tracking 33

The Pursuit: Day One 35

Chapter 4 What Happened to My Signs? 43

Ground Signs 44

Footprints

Other Prints

Disturbances

Middle Signs 47

Wind Speed

Top Signs 50

Measuring 51

Factors Affecting Signs 58

Other Humans and Animals

Terrain

Climatic Weather

Conditions

Time

The Pursuit: Day Two 74

Chapter 5 How Long Has It Been Since We Last Met? 81

Human and Animal Excrement 82

Living Creatures and Plant Life 82

Controlled Laboratory Test 87

Conduct of the Experiment

What You Eat Is What You

Leave

Database

A Lesson in Forensic Science 98

Decomposition

Mummification

Skeletonization

The Pursuit: Day Three 104

Chapter 6 What Do We Have Here? 111

Gathering the Evidence 111

Preserve the Area

Direction of Movement

Blood Trailing

Speed of Movement

Number of People

Kind of Food Consumed

Miscellaneous Items and Equipment

Weapons

Documenting the Evidence: The Tracking Patrol Report 130

Overview

Searching

Recording

Collecting

Formatting

Tracking Patrol Report 140

Chapter 7 Round Up the Posse 157

Tracker Team 160

Duties and Responsibilities

Track Searching Procedures

Formations

Immediate Action Drills

Booby Traps

Training for the Beginning Tracker 187

Static and Movement Observation Drills

Initial Exercise

Forested Area Exercise

Other Skills

Epilogue 197

Trackers Creed 199

Appendix A Human Profile Card 201

Appendix B Vehicle Profile Card 203

Appendix C Incident Report Card 205

Appendix D Tracking Patrol Report 211

Appendix E Laboratory Observation Report 220

Appendix F Situation Report (SITRLI) 222

Appendix G SALT Report 223

Appendix H Salute Report 224

Appendix I 9-Line Medevac Report 225

Appendix J 9-Line IED Report 227

Glossary 229

Recommended Reading 235

Index 239

About the Authors 246