Get involved
Ways to get involved
1) Become a Team Member
Training Commitment
Training of our Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers takes place continually throughout the year, rain or shine, day and night and is targeted at two main purposes. Firstly to keep our fully qualified established team members and hill party leaders skills up to date with the latest best practice on all aspects of search and rescue, and secondly for the introduction of new recruits into the team.
New recruits are vital to the ongoing success of the team and bring new ideas into our training practices and protocols.
Trainees (recruits)
In the autumn the team holds a selection day for prospective team members. The selection day consists of various assessments both on the hill and in the classroom as well as a tour of our equipment and vehicles. Briefings are given to the delegates highlighting the skills and considerable commitment we require from pospective team members. The candidates who make it through the selection are invited to join the team and undertake the trainee training program detailed with the trainee logbook.
The trainee log book takes on average 12 - 18 months to complete and must be fully signed off prior to being nominated to becoming a hill party member on the callout list.
The log book consists of all aspects of search and rescue including such items as Navigation, Radio Ops, First Aid, Helicopter Training, Rope Work etc.
On training exercises a trainee will normally be appointed a specific task with a full member shadowing them. Once skills are completed to competent standards, they will be signed off in the log book to formalise the training. As an example Navigation includes core skills such as hand railing, aiming off, attack points etc. Each skill must be completed in 3 different weather conditions, usually at night.
The logbook is only a part of the training. Other elements require the trainee to show general team working skills and a sound personality fit for the team.
To apply to become a trainee, email training@dsrtashburton.org.uk, and ask for an application form. Please bear in mind that being a member of a mountain rescue team is a considerable commitment. Not just callouts and weekly training throughout the year, but additional training weekends and, of course fundraising events.
2) Support us at events
Fundraising is key to our operation to find out more Click Here
