Membership
Join the Team
Interested in joining a close-knit group of men and women dedicated to providing professional search and rescue services in any weather, at any time, and on any terrain?
Membership categories
The team is made up of Rescue Members, who are fully qualified operational personnel, and Trainees, who are working toward that qualification.
What we look for
- At least 18 years of age
- Excellent physical condition
- Recent outdoor experience — backpacking, mountaineering, or equivalent
- Self-reliance and genuine comfort in the wilderness
- Your own equipment and the skills to use it in backcountry conditions
- Motivation, maturity, judgment, stability, tenacity, and leadership
The training commitment
Becoming a fully qualified rescue member typically takes two to four years. New trainees must complete basic coursework before participating in the field, and all members must demonstrate competency across multiple rescue disciplines.
Time
- Business meetings — monthly, typically the second Wednesday
- Field trainings — weekends
- Classroom sessions — typically the fourth Wednesday
- Attendance — a minimum of 50% at meetings and trainings
Expect to invest 400 to 800 hours a year.
Cost
Annual dues are $35, of which $15 goes to the Mountain Rescue Association. Your first year will typically cost $500–$800 beyond dues, almost entirely for specialized personal equipment and transportation. Members are not reimbursed for either.
Get in touch
Email recruitment@sdmrt.org, or write to:
San Diego Mountain Rescue Team P.O. Box 81602 San Diego, CA 92138