Search Squad Structure

Alpha: Leader of all Search Squad teams. Organizes and runs training, team arrangements, keeps track of all Squad spending & purchasing, oversees all equipment upkeep, organizes and leads any trips. Uniform of Sierra-1.

Yankee: Second in Command to Alpha, deputy leader of all Search Squad teams. Helps organize and runs training, helps with team arrangement, second in command on all trips. Typically Echo on Sierra-1.

Third Commandant: Third in Command to Alpha of all Search Squad teams. Helps take leadership role when necessary. Typically Uniform of Sierra-2.

Uniforms: Leader of a Dash Team. Lead their Dash Teams, running training assignments from Alpha and Yankee, leading Ground Searches (Sierra teams), lead Dash Team trips, organize team bonding.

Echos: Second in command to Uniform on a Dash Team. Help Uniform with training and general paperwork.

Mikes: Title of every non-leadership member of a Dash Team.

Papas: Adults who help oversee Search Squad, overseeing training and working closely with the Alpha and Yankee. Search Squads are primarily student-run, Papas keeping their hands out of most things, aside from Bravo team training.

Major Council: Council of all Squad Alphas across the world. Meet once a year to discuss ideas and concerns.

Governing Body: On Regional, National, and International levels. Governing bodies are made up adults. Governing Bodies run testing, policy, and oversight of Alphas across the world, all while letting students take most of the responsibility.

Search Squad: Referred to as 'scouts on steroids', Search Squad is a combination of military-like training, and outdoor adventure training. Usually offered as an athletic credit through a high school.

Squad Chapter: The code that refers to a specific Squad affiliated to a school. For example, the Squad Chapter for Mysbac (the school in the book) is Victor-Beta-Charlie-Tango (or VBCT). The first letter refers to the closest city, the second two the province/state code, and the third referring to the Chapter number (so in this case Victoria, British Columbia, Two).

Sierra Squad: Senior advanced teams. Typically you must be 16 to try the tests to qualify to be on Sierra, unless your Papas write a letter and the Sierra Squad votes to allow it for them to test into the team. Sierra teams do the most advanced training, including qualifying for their Search & Rescue license, and running security for their schools through Ground Sweeps, and employ as security and rescue during any major crisis.

Juliette Squad: Junior advanced teams. Any age can be on this and do full training while belonging to a Dash team, so long as they pass the Juliette written test. They do the second most amount of training, after Sierra Squad.

Bravo Squad: Beginner squad. Any one of any age can belong to this Squad, where the most basic form of Search Squad training is introduced to give you more outdoor and self-defense skills, and to see what Search Squad is like before committing to full time Juliette or Sierra Squad. Do not belong to a Dash Team.

Dash Teams: A dash team is made up of one Uniform, one Echo, and about 2-6 Mikes, and are titled as their level (Sierra or Juliette) with a dash and a number after them. -1 is considered the most advanced of the teams, with the other dash teams falling in a hierarchy below them. These teams train together, and in Sierra, work as security on Ground Sweeps together.