by mjordon » Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:33 pm
Hey Mountain Biker,
The more skills, experience, and knowledge - the merrier, (but fortunately) one doesn't have to be Sir Edmund Hillary to be a good rescuer.
Every team member has something to offer and some are better at certain things than others. For example: one may have a lot of medical knowledge, while another may have more mountaineering experience. The team functions great with our diverse members.
Nevertheless, applicants should definitely enjoy hiking and backpacking because this is a large part of what we do; they should also have a willingness to learn (no mater how much experience they have) because we are always learning new skills! There are tests, but those are conducted after thorough training and the biggest factor in becoming a great team member is just not giving up.
I'm sure there's a SAR team close to where you're at too!