PGSAR Recruit Questionnaire

PGSAR welcomes you to submit an application! While we want to take full advantage of all applicants’ enthusiasm and expertise, we are limited by training resources and instructors. We want to make sure that everyone has seriously thought about the commitment they would be making and the challenges that PGSAR involvement presents. Thanks for your interest in PGSAR.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

1. Why are you interested in PGSAR?

2. A commitment to GSAR training is required (around 100 hours including Wednesday nights 7-10pm, plus approximately two weekend days per month from September to June). Once GSAR training is complete, there is a requirement to contribute a bare minimum of 50 hours of training and search time per year to maintain PGSAR membership. Many team members contribute several hundred hours to PGSAR each year. What changes will you need to make (if any) in your life to be able to maintain this commitment?

3. Are there others in your life who will be impacted when you are on a search, such as family or a significant other? Have you discussed with them how they will they be affected by your training commitments and random callouts?

4. Responding to callouts is always optional, depending on your availability. Responding to a confirmed body recovery is particularly optional, as not everyone wishes to deal with that. Please understand however, that in the course of a regular search you may find the subject in a difficult or upsetting condition. We also have operations which deal with missing or injured children. What is your past experience with similar situations? Are you prepared to deal with these situations?

5. Many callouts occur in the middle of the night – that’s when most people realize their loved one(s) might be in trouble, contact the RCMP, and we get involved. Out of 10 middle-of-the-night callouts, how many do you think you could respond to?

6. Once you get onto the callout list, we hope that you can be somewhat flexible to respond when you receive a call. Some people’s employers (or type of employment) or schools do not allow them to respond to SAR callouts during work/school hours. Other employers and some unions have specific policies allowing employees to respond. Please explain what your situation is regarding your work/school availability?

7. Our operations often can involve long operational periods, lots of walking/hiking, variable terrain, stretcher carrying, and other activities. What physical activities do you undertake on a regular basis? How many hours or what distance can you comfortably be active for? For example, could you walk 5-10 kilometers on a trail while carrying an overnight pack?

8. SAR activities can involved prolonged, uncomfortable field conditions. Are you prepared to deal with these conditions? (bugs, wet, hot, cold, tired, overnight, etc.)

9. Do you feel you have specific traits or training that would be particularly useful to the community by volunteering with PGSAR? Explain.

10. Search and rescue operations and training require significant teamwork as well as work behind the scenes in running the organization (examples would be IT, vehicle maintenance, building maintenance, administration, PR, training, etc.). It will be expected that members contribute to the organization in ways other than just searching. What past experiences do you have that might be useful and how would you see yourself contributing?

11. Where do you see yourself in a few years? We are seeking people who are anticipating maintaining a long-term active role in PGSAR. Will you be in Prince George or in another community? If a student, when will you graduate, and what are your long-term employment plans on graduation?