Which of the following is not a pattern type?

• A. Circular
• B. Expanding Square
• C. Sector
• D. Ladder

Answer: (D)

In search planning, patterns are predefined paths that help teams cover the area around the last known position in a systematic way. A circular pattern has crews moving outward from a center and sweeping in expanding rings, which ensures coverage around the origin. The expanding square pattern starts at the last known point and follows square paths that grow larger, making navigation straightforward on map coordinates while still broadening the search area. A sector pattern divides the area into wedge-shaped sections radiating from the origin, allowing focused searching in directional blocks that can align with likely movement or terrain features. Ladder is not a recognized or standard pattern type used in field SAR operations, so it isn’t used to organize search efforts.