New member classes are typically held annually in the spring.

First, we look for individuals who share our strong desire to serve the community. We then look for individuals who have the availability and commitment to serve, are capable of working in demanding environments, can follow leadership and provide leadership, will work as a member of a team, can perform under stress, are self motivated, are willing to maintain a high level of skills and fitness, and are willing to do the non-glamorous work that keeps the team running.

All applicants must be at least 21 years old. We do not require previous experience with another search and rescue team to join the team. If you have any previous rescue experience, please provide this information on your application. We also do not require climbing experience to join the team. 

We expect all new members to be capable of performing in the field to successfully complete the New Member Training. The applicant should be reasonably fit. Fitness will be tested during New Member Training.

New Member Training usually begins in late February and runs until early May. Our next class will be held in 2023.

About 80 hours. The New Member Training program runs between 9 and 12 weeks. This period is chosen to prepare new members to participate in the field when the mission load increases during the summer. New member training sessions are typically held Monday and Wednesday evenings and either Saturday or Sunday mornings during this period. There may be some variations to this schedule. Participants are expected to attend every training session and practice some skills at home. 

After the initial training class, there will be an additional 40 hours to complete an Emergency Medical Responder course. If you are a current EMT, paramedic, or other medical provider registered in Colorado, please include this information in your application. You may be exempt from the EMR training.

Senior members of the team teach skills and procedures that are consistent among all members and are generally in use by MRA teams across the nation.

Some of what we teach includes rope management, knots, navigation, rescue systems, area familiarization, search theory, search technique, team protocols, and policies. Safety is emphasized throughout the training. Classes are a combination of lectures, labs, and fieldwork. Upon successfully completing training, you will be able to function in the field during basic missions under supervision.

New Member Training has several goals. One goal is to train every member to a minimum level of proficiency so, upon graduation, the member can contribute to field operations safely. A second goal is to ensure every member is performing consistently, an essential element of our approach to safety. A third goal is for the new member and the team members to become familiar with each other so that they can work together.

No. An individual must first pass the New Member Training and be accepted by the Board of Directors to be classified as a "Probationary Member." After the successful completion of the first year as a probationary member, and again with the board's approval, the probationary member becomes a support member of the team. The support member is the backbone of the team and represents the majority of our team members.

The key to successfully completing the program is attending all sessions, practicing relevant skills outside of training, asking questions, and becoming fully engaged in the training.

No. If you are accepted, we will discuss what gear is needed in training. You may have some of the gear already, and you will benefit from seeing what type of gear works well for veteran SAR members.

We strongly recommend that you discuss the possibility of joining SAR with your family and employer and consider the potential impact on them. 

Come to Team Meetings and ask as many questions as possible. Keep fit by hiking or whatever it is you like to do. Do not go out and buy a lot of gear.

We do not require previous medical experience to apply. We will provide basic medical training to meet the requirements for our team, which are Emergency Medical Responder and CPR certifications. Every new member is required to reach these levels in their first year of membership and then maintain these levels throughout their SAR career.

Emergency Medical Responder training is 40 hours of classroom and skills training. You must recertify every two years. CPR is four hours of training, and you must recertify every two years. 

If you have additional medical certifications or licensure, please include that in your application. While the team does not teach Emergency Medical Technician classes, we are able to recertify and provide continuing education credits.

There are no requirements for individuals to maintain special insurance. While performing their duties, EPCSAR members are covered by Worker's Compensation insurance. You can discuss any additional insurance needs with your insurance agent and lawyer.

There is a fee to begin the New Member Training to help cover training material costs. There are no annual dues to be a member, but members must acquire and maintain all personal gear, including equipment, clothing, radios, etc. The initial cost can be several hundred dollars if you do not already own suitable equipment. However, much of what you might use for hiking or other personal activities might be applicable to SAR equipment. The costs for members with advanced capabilities are much greater.

Every prospective new member is required to take all of the New Member Training classes. If a class is missed, instructors will generally make an effort to provide a make-up opportunity, but this is not always possible. If you know you have schedule conflicts, discuss this during an interview to determine if it can be managed or if you should apply at a later time.

We hope that new members will participate on the team for several years as the team invests tremendous resources in training new members. Please do not apply if you know you will be relocating within a year or two.

If you are a current member of a Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) team and are moving to the Colorado Springs area, you may apply for immediate consideration. Please email membership@epcsar.org with information about the team you are currently on and any pertinent details about your time as a search and rescue team member.

Yes. It takes a lot of work to keep the team running, and members are required to provide ongoing support in addition to training and missions. This support is performed by participating on a committee. Some of the committees are vehicle, building, training, equipment, preventative search and rescue (PSAR), and others. Committee work is usually flexible in scheduling.

Maintaining one’s gear and personal readiness is also essential to performing well as a search and rescue member. This will take time and good organization skills.

EPCSAR responds to medical and trauma cases and sometimes death, including suicide. Members do encounter stressful incidents on missions. We are proactive on this issue, providing education, crisis intervention services, and critical incident debriefings as necessary. Fortunately, most missions have happy endings.

There are two evening and two weekend trainings each month. Evening meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 19:00 to 21:00. Field trainings are the following Sunday from 08:00 to 12:00.

This schedule may change depending on training needs. All members are expected to attend as many training sessions as possible. Training is an essential part of search and rescue and is a critical element for safety.

Certified search dogs are an important asset to the team. Dog handlers are regular members of the team. They participate in the full New Member Training program and other aspects of the team, in addition to training a dog. This is a complex process, it is suggested that should you be interested in working with a K9 on EPCSAR that you contact membership@epcsar.org to learn about the requirements and commitments needed.