Operational Member

Aged between 18 – 70.
Physically fit.
Live within about one hours travelling time of the Team base in Snainton.
Have their own transport. Are experienced outdoor enthusiasts (eg hill walker, climber, mountain biker)
Are medical professionals with an interest in search and rescue are welcome to apply.
Are able to offer the Team a minimum of 150 hours of your time a year.
Enjoy working as part of a team.

The Team usually has a single intake of trainees each year, but those wishing to be considered for operational membership are encouraged to contact the team at any time through the year to record their interest.

No. We accept applications for support membership at any time through the year and joining as a support member is a good way to get to know the team while waiting for the annual operational induction.

No. Training new operational members is something the team takes very seriously, and the team invests a considerable amount of time and effort in our trainee members. Admission to the training programme is selective and you may not be successful at your first attempt.

All trainee members must complete the Team’s eleven core training modules and meet the Team’s minimum time commitment before progressing to active duty on the call out list. This usually takes 6-12 months.

After three months on the call out list, and at least twelve months on the programme, trainees can be nominated for full team membership and voted onto the team.

Traditionally the commitment has been to ensure you maintain your core competences and commit a minimum of 150 hours per year. This will be reviewed as we move out of the covid pandemic.

To be operational all team members are expected to be currently qualified in the ten core training modules of the team. These are:
Basic life support
Immediate casualty care
Casualty and stretcher handling
Find site protocols
Helicopter ground briefing (online training)
Navigation and GPS
Radio equipment and procedures
Team rope responder
Search techniques
Water awareness (DEFRA level 1)

Trainees are required to pay a refundable deposit of £80 to cover team-issued personal protective equipment (PPE). Once voted onto the team this covers the first year of membership subs for the team (currently £80 a year). Full team members are issued with a range of official team outdoor clothing and equipment.

All prospective trainee members are expected to have the following equipment to be able to start training:
Walking Trousers/Leggings (not cotton)
Baselayer (not cotton)
Warm Layer/Fleece
Walking Boots (B1 preferred, must be above ankle)
Warm Hat
Warm Gloves
Waterproof Jacket and Trousers
Rucksack (ideally 40-50 litres)
OS OL26 NYM West Map (Laminated preferred)
OS OL27 NYM East Maps (Laminated preferred)
Compass (Large baseplate type such as Silva type 4 preferred)
Whistle
Survival Bag
Hand Held Torch (LED Lenser P7/2D Maglite as a guide)
Head Torch
Spare Batteries
Note Pad
Pencils/Pens (Map pens and Chinagraph ideal)
Personal First Aid Kit
Spare Boot Laces
Food (sufficient for a day on the hill)
Drink

In addition team members are expected to have or purchase the items of equipment listed below before qualifying for call out list status.
Rescue Knife (Bullet Nosed Preferred)
OS Explorer 290 York and Selby Map (Laminated preferred)
OS Explorer 300 Malton and Howardian Hills Map (Laminated preferred)
OS Explorer 301 Scarborough Map (laminated preferred)

No. If you are considering applying to join the team we strongly recommend you take advice from current team members before investing in any equipment you do not have.

Yes. This equipment is a team members callout gear and should be carried at all times when out with the Team. You are expected to be self-sufficient for 24 hours and should be aware of the environment and conditions that you will be expected to operate in.

Prospective operational team members must attend one of our open evenings which we generally hold each autumn before being considered for inclusion in our training programme towards Operational membership.