The application period for our 2020 recruitment cycle is currently closed.

With the effects of COVID-19, our recruiting timeline for this year has been pushed back significantly. While we would normally be posting membership applications in September, we have made the decision to delay this until after the 2020 calendar year. We will reassess our ability to onboard new members in January 2021. Please check back then for updates.

Thank you for your interest in joining Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, one of the region's premier ground search teams. If you have submitted an application, we want to make you aware of the requirements and the process to become a member of this team and an Oregon state certified SAR volunteer. Search and rescue is a highly demanding volunteer experience. It requires an elevated level of commitment in terms of time, fitness and finances. Please read the following and consider the feasibility of adding this to your life at this time.

In order for your application to be considered, you must:

Have submitted your application prior to midnight on October 15 and paid the $40 application fee. This fee pays for your uniform once you become a member. If you are not selected as a Prospective Member, the fee will be refunded. If you are selected and subsequently drop during the prospect period, the fee will be forfeited.

Attend a general membership meeting no later than November 12th. If you’ve already attended a meeting this year and signed in, that counts! Please email us at moreinfo@pnwsar.org to verify previous attendance (or attend another meeting – we’d love to get more face time with you). Meeting information can be found here.

Attend an orientation meeting. There is one remaining on November 12th from 6:00pm- 7:00pm. Our general membership meeting will immediately follow (same location). Location information can be found on our meetings page.

If the above requirements are met…

Your application will be reviewed by the PNWSAR Board of Directors.

You may be invited to an interview with the Board of Directors.

You will need to pass a background check.

Successful applicants will be invited to participate with the team as Prospective Members. Prospective Members must:

Attend a minimum of 2 out of 3 monthly Prospective Member classroom sessions and general membership meetings from January to March 2020.

Attend a minimum of 2 out of 3 monthly field training exercises from January to March 2020.

Participate in Trainee Selection Day. This is a day of field exercises during which we gauge Prospective Members’ aptitude for SAR and teamwork, and includes a fitness test.

Attendance to all meetings and training exercises during these three months is strongly encouraged.

At the conclusion of the Prospective Member period, the Board of Directors will select candidates to vote in as full-fledged team members with a Trainee status. Trainees have one year to attain Oregon State Sheriff’s Association certification as a SAR volunteer. This is done through our internal training program. During this first year, plan to log 150-200 hours on training exercises, meetings and missions. Our expectation is that trainees will be fully engaged with the team while they work toward attaining their certification.

Good luck!

Check out our FAQS page to learn more about what we do. If you have further questions about PNWSAR, please email moreinfo@pnwsar.org. We'd love to hear from you!