A primary goal of SAR operations is to:

The primary goal of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations centers around locating and assisting missing persons. This is the main focus because SAR missions are initiated when individuals are reported lost or in distress, requiring immediate action to provide aid and ensure their safety. The process typically includes systematic searching of areas where these individuals might be found, coordinating with various agencies, and employing specialized techniques to effectively locate and assist them, which often involves the use of teams trained in various SAR methodologies.

While ensuring personnel safety is critical during operations and may be a priority in the execution of a rescue mission, it is ultimately a means to achieve the broader aim of locating and assisting those in distress. Similarly, obtaining photographic evidence and improving team member strength may contribute to overall operations, but they do not define the primary objective of SAR initiatives. The essence of SAR is profoundly focused on the humanitarian aspect of preventing loss of life and aiding those in need, which is encapsulated in the effort to find and assist missing persons.