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CONTACT US: info@unitedsearchcorps.org.
Understanding Sonar and Its Vital Role in Missing Person Searches
At United Search Corps (USC), our mission is to bring closure to families by finding missing persons. One of the most crucial tools in our arsenal is sonar technology, which allows us to perform expert underwater searches in both cold cases and active searches.
What is Sonar?
Sonar, which stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging, is a technique that uses sound waves to detect objects underwater. By sending out sound pulses and listening for the echoes that bounce back from objects, sonar systems can create detailed images of the underwater environment. This technology is invaluable for locating vehicles, objects, and, tragically, sometimes human remains in bodies of water.
How We Use Sonar in Our Searches
At USC, we deploy advanced sonar equipment in various ways to aid our search efforts:
1. Side-Scan Sonar:
Application: Side-scan sonar is towed behind our boats and sends out fan-shaped pulses to scan large areas of the underwater terrain. Benefit: It provides a detailed, bird’s-eye view of the seafloor, which helps us identify anomalies or objects that could be of interest in our search.
2. Multi-Beam Sonar:
Application: This sonar type emits multiple beams simultaneously, covering a wide swath with each pass.
Benefit: Multi-beam sonar offers high-resolution images, allowing us to pinpoint objects with greater accuracy.
3. Sub-Bottom Profilers:
Application: These are used to look beneath the floor surface, useful in detecting objects buried under sediment.
Benefit: They help us ensure thorough searches in areas where sediment cover might obscure important clues.
Sonar in Cold Case Searches
For cold cases, sonar technology is indispensable. Often, vehicles or other evidence related to long-term missing person cases are submerged underwater for years, making them challenging to locate. Sonar allows us to survey lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water efficiently and thoroughly, increasing the chances of finding critical evidence that can solve these cases.
Sonar in Active Searches
In active search scenarios, time is of the essence. Sonar technology enables us to quickly scan and assess large underwater areas, significantly speeding up the search process. By rapidly identifying and investigating underwater objects, we can direct divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to investigate further, ensuring no stone is left unturned.
Our Expertise
USC prides itself on having a network of highly trained sonar operators, contractors and search specialists. Our experts are skilled in interpreting sonar data and using it to guide search efforts effectively. We continually invest in the latest sonar technology to stay at the forefront of technology & search and recovery operations.
Training and Consultation for Law Enforcement
In addition to our frontline search and recovery operations, United Search Corps (USC) provides expert training and consultation services for law enforcement agencies. Our specialized programs are designed to equip investigators with the knowledge and operational skills necessary to effectively utilize sonar technology in active and cold case investigations. USC also offers direct consultation to assist agencies in planning, executing, and refining sonar-based search strategies, ensuring mission success through advanced tools and proven field expertise.
If you need sonar search services, law enforcement training, or consultation, or if you want to support our mission, email info@unitedsearchcorps.org.
When a loved one goes missing, families and friends are often overwhelmed, unsure of where to turn, and in desperate need of guidance. United Search Corps’ Media Consulting Program is here to provide the support and guidance you need during this critical time.
What happens in the first few days and weeks after a person goes missing can dictate the likelihood of ever finding them. These moments are the difference between getting answers and facing a never-ending cold case.
That’s why we’re here to help you take immediate, effective action.
We understand how vital media attention is in raising awareness and generating leads, and our goal is to empower families with the knowledge and skills to share their loved one’s story effectively.
Through our consulting services, we can guide you on how to:
1. Prepare for media interviews with confidence.
2. Identify and share the most critical information with reporters.
3. Craft a compelling and consistent message across all media platforms.
4. Utilize social media and community networks to amplify your outreach.
5. Onsite representation available on a case by case basis.
Our experienced team will work with you step-by-step, offering the compassionate support you need to navigate media inquiries and increase visibility for your loved one’s case. At United Search Corps, we believe no family should feel alone in this fight. Let us help you spread awareness for your loved one’s disappearance and move one step closer to bringing them home. Fill out the form and a representative from our Mission Support Team will be in touch.
On-site management of high risk recovery scenes to preserve the integrity of evidence while ensuring operational and legal protocol is maintained. (NTSB-FEMA-FBI-TRIBAL).
On-call mobile teams equipped to deploy within hours to active or developing cases across diverse hazards, geography, demographics, climate, cultural, and organizational authorities.
Deployment-ready teams designed to operate in post-disaster environments, providing critical search, recovery, and support services during natural and man-made events such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadic activity and structural collapses. Equipped for high-risk conditions, we assist with victim location, USO detection, debris clearance, and infrastructure access under FEMA-aligned protocols.
Specialized machinery for lifting, stabilizing, and recovering vehicles or evidence in extreme terrain and high-risk environments.
Recovery services in tight or restricted environments or infrastructure such as tunnels, wells, culverts, and submerged structures requiring specialized gear and training.
Targeted search and recovery support for long-term missing persons cases, leveraging technology and field expertise to bring answers to families.
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United Search Corps is a 501c3 non-profit organization EIN 92-2724824
United Search corps
(mailing ADDRESS) PO box 2361, clackamas, or 97015
222 Delaware Street, Suite C88, New Castle, DE 19720
Property of & licensed by UNITED SEARCH CORPS INC