How Do I Become Part of The Team?
It takes a dedicated personal commitment: you must be highly motivated, be willing to endure the rigors and stresses of training and you must be able to lead as well as follow. Not everyone is willing to make this kind of commitment as a volunteer. Only one in ten will take the challenge, and not all of these will make it. But for those who do .... there is the knowledge that they have taken
the challenge and earned the right to wear the distinctive "Unit
Patch," and achieve the professional title of "SARR*Tech".
The Selection Process
During the early stages of the selection process, every effort is made to find the right fit of each potential candidate. This includes an orientation meeting and a personal interview during the month of January. Next, there is an AlE Candidate weekend during the month of February. The weekend begins Friday evening and lasts until Sunday afternoon. The candidates will experience a series of drills, exercises and physical fitness testing throughout the weekend. Upon completion of the weekend, the candidate may then choose whether he/she wishes to continue further. Each candidate will be further evaluated as to their ability to continue.
The candidate must be 18 years of age by July 1st of the current year. Due to the physical nature of search and rescue, if you are 51 years of age or over, you must have written proof of having a physical exam within the past 12 months. No previous experience is necessary.
Upon signing up for active membership, your SARR training will continue for one weekend a month for the next two years, from February through November. All monthly training schedules must be completed and absences are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Yearly schedules are published in advance.
Once a member has completed training up through and including the month of June, he/she will be attached to the nearest local unit for mission activation. The trainee will be assigned responsibilities commensurate with his/her training level.
Various written and practical tests will be administered for evaluation and successful completion throughout the training period. Upon completion of the two year program and successful qualification, the trainee will receive certification as a U.S. SARR Corps SARR*Tech.
Once the initial training is complete, each member must choose at least one specialty. That member must then maintain a certain level of participation and re-qualification each year thereafter, this includes SARR*Tech, as well as specialty positions.
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