Attend a Recruitment Meeting
The first step for anyone interested in joining the SBCSAR team is to attend a recruitment meeting. During that time you will learn about the team's responsibilities, our training and the commitment it takes to become a member.
Complete Team Application
After attending the recruitment meeting, those interested in joining the team must complete a team application and return it within two weeks of accepting the application.
Team Interview
Upon acceptance of the application, the Membership Committee will schedule an interview with the candidate to determine time commitments, compatibility, interest and motivation for membership.
Sheriff Background Investigation
After passing the team interview, the applicant will receive an in-depth confidential
personal history statement. The statement must be submitted to the Sheriff’s Personnel Division within four weeks. Following that, a meeting with an investigator will be scheduled. The department will investigate the background of each applicant and submit the results to the Sheriff for approval to join the team.
Candidate Academy
Once the Personnel Division has cleared the applicant, a six month academy must be completed. The candidate will learn the basics of team policies and procedures, equipment, knots and rope work, rappelling, rescue systems, communications, search theory, mantracking, map & compass and electronic direction finding techniques for downed aircraft.
Trainee Period
Having successfully completed the academy, the candidate must have the required field equipment to move to Trainee status. Trainee members are issued team pagers and are able to respond to all operations with the team under the supervision of Regular team members. After a minimum period of six months, Trainee members may move to Regular member status with the approval of the team leadership.
