Hello new recruit!
First lets go over the Basics... Search and Rescue (SAR) involves locating and evacuating persons who are trapped, lost and/or injured. MSAR specializes in wilderness SAR, however we conduct our search and rescue activities in areas ranging from cities to rugged and less-populated outdoor areas.
Becoming a Member
Joining is easy... As a BSA Venture Crew,
members must be at least 14 years old and have completed the 8th grade. Both males and females are welcome. Those
over 21 are considered adults and advisors. Once you come to a meeting you will
be asked to introduce yourself, and at the end of the meeting you will fill out
some paperwork such as a venture crew application (Adult
/ Youth). All members
need to meet the same training standards to be eligible for searches.
MSAR is run similarly to a Boy or Girl Scout troop. It is run by the youth-members who are elected or appointed to various offices.
The adults and advisors of the program are there to provide transportation, guidance, supervision and serve as a resource in meetings, trips, and SAR missions. There are adult counterparts for each of the youth positions. They are also part of the Crew Committee that is responsible for oversight of the program. Adults should complete all applicable BSA E-Learning training modules (where you will have to register an account) such as Youth Protection, Safety Afloat, Safe Swim Defense, Climb on Safely, and Weather Hazards.
- Intro to MSAR
-
Maryland Search and Rescue is a professional SAR team that was started in 1981. We differ from most of our SAR peers in that we are a youth led team affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. Because many of our members are youth as young as 14 years old, we keep a higher level of training and skill set to prove ourselves as a competent and highly skilled team. We are a part of several larger search and rescue groups, such as the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference (ASRC). Click here for a brief word on the ASRC
- Training levels
-
There are 4 main training levels or ranks: Boot, Call out Qualified, Field Team Member, and Field Team Leader. New members are "Boots" and can participate in just about everything but searches until they reach the Call out Qualified status.
Due to the nature of our work as well as our trainings and trips, there is a lot of gear required of our members.
A list of places to acquire your gear
Questions? check out our FAQs section or Email us!