Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 3003.01
September 26, 2011
Incorporating Change 1, May 12, 2017
USD(P)
SUBJECT: DoD Support to Civil Search and Rescue (SAR)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 3003.01 (Reference (a)) as a DoD Instruction in
accordance with the authority in DoDD 5111.1 and Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum
(References (b) and (c)).
b. Establishes policies and assigns responsibilities for DoD civil SAR activities in
accordance with References (d) through (i), and is consistent with Reference (j).
c. Incorporates and cancels Secretary of Defense Memorandum (Reference (k)) and DoD
Directive-Type Memorandum 08-021 (Reference (l)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.
4. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. DoD shall support domestic civil authorities providing civil SAR services to the fullest
extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to
applicable national directives, plans, guidelines, and agreements, pursuant to the authority in and
in accordance with the provisions of References (f) and (h), if applicable.
