So I made it to my first SAR meeting last night. Now this may seem like no big deal. To me it was huge. I have wanted to so SAR work since I was in high school. I have been employed in public safety also since high school as lifegaurd, EMT and LEO. Thats has been my biggest hurdle. I was a Deputy form from 1994 to 2007. You can't be a volunteer on a Sheriff SAR team and be employed by that same department. It has kinda been a bummer.
I moved out to AZ from CA three years ago and took a job with a PD and not the county. Soon after I looked into getting on the Sheriff SAR team. At the time I was also planning on starting medic school. I was advised that due to the first year traing commitments to maybe finish medic school first. I finished Medic school last month. So yesterday I went to my first meeting.
The team's recruitment is in March. You have to test to be selected. Then if selected, its a year of required training before you make the team. They say at the end of the year training there is a one shot only written and pratical test.
I found the crowd at the meeting to be much different then the public safety (cops and firemen) types I am used to. I am use to a para-military chain of command structure. It was odd to see motions, seconds, discussions and votes. I am excited!
I moved out to AZ from CA three years ago and took a job with a PD and not the county. Soon after I looked into getting on the Sheriff SAR team. At the time I was also planning on starting medic school. I was advised that due to the first year traing commitments to maybe finish medic school first. I finished Medic school last month. So yesterday I went to my first meeting.
The team's recruitment is in March. You have to test to be selected. Then if selected, its a year of required training before you make the team. They say at the end of the year training there is a one shot only written and pratical test.
I found the crowd at the meeting to be much different then the public safety (cops and firemen) types I am used to. I am use to a para-military chain of command structure. It was odd to see motions, seconds, discussions and votes. I am excited!