This Manual has been prepared under the direction of the Interagency Committee on Search and Rescue (ICSAR). It describes in detail the national search and rescue (SAR) organization and provides consolidated guidance to U.S. federal forces, military and civilian, with civil SAR responsibilities under the National Search and Rescue Plan for planning, coordinating, conducting or otherwise supporting SAR operations. ICSAR has overall responsibility for this Manual and has assigned coordinating responsibilities for all changes to the U.S. Coast Guard. Recommendations for changes should be forwarded through appropriate channels to Commandant (G-NRS-t), U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. 20593-0001. Proposed changes will be distributed to all ICSAR member agencies for coordination within their respective agencies. Military Services can obtain additional copies of this Manual through their respective servicing Manual centers. With this transmittal, this Manual, previously promulgated under U.S. Army FM 20-150, U.S. Navy NWP-19, and U.S. Air Force AFM 64-2, has been administratively repromulgated within the Joint Publication System. The U.S. Coast Guard directive number (COMDTINST M16120.5 series) remains unchanged due to the interagency nature of this Manual.