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PCSAR Guiding Documents

Standing Order #5 - Annual Training and Performance Standards

Issue Date:

PURPOSE

This Standing Order establishes the required training hours and performance standards that team members must meet to fulfill their roles safely and effectively. Rescue work demands proven skills and readiness—without both, members risk their own safety and that of others. These requirements protect our team, safeguard the public, and uphold PCSAR’s mission to provide professional, life-saving service through continuous training and competency.

SCOPE/POLICY

The following requirements encompass ongoing training and demonstration of skills to reflect PCSAR’s commitment to safe, effective, and professional field operations. They help ensure each member is well-prepared to respond in complex environments and contribute to a capable and cohesive rescue team. PCSAR expects all active team members to:

  1. Complete a minimum of 24 documented in person training hours annually; and

  2. Demonstrate hands-on proficiency in designated rescue specialties through scheduled evaluation cycles, with associated check sheets completed by December 31

RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities are as follows:

  1. Individual Members

    Attend, study, and practice assigned skills.

  2. Training Officer

    Oversee scheduling, delivery, documentation, evaluation, and check sheet retention.

  3. Executive Board

    Assign skill checkers, monitor compliance, and enforce inactive status and removal when necessary

PROCEDURE

  1. Training Hours Requirement (Annual)

    All active PCSAR team members must complete a minimum of 24 documented in person training hours annually. These hours should reflect meaningful engagement with operational disciplines relevant to rescue readiness. Training may include, but is not limited to, the following categories:

    1. Extrication

      Vehicle, equipment

    2. ICS/NIMS courses

    3. Medical

      Wilderness-based training is preferable

    4. Miscellaneous Rescue

      Ice, swift water, winter operations

    5. Navigation

      Map & compass, GPS, SARTopo route planning and field use

    6. Rope Rescue

      High and low angle rescue

    7. Wilderness Search Operations

      Clue awareness, field search techniques, search team management

    8. Exclusions

      Specialty Team training hours such as Sherp, climbing, drone and others are excluded and do not count toward the 24-hour annual training requirement unless it is directly related to core rescue certification or team-wide training.

      Support activities such as meeting attendance, facility cleaning, vehicle maintenance, calls, and other non-rescue tasks are not eligible for training hour credit.

  2. Performance Standards

    PCSAR maintains operational readiness through periodic skill demonstrations/verification. All demonstrations must reflect safe practices and a level of proficiency suitable for field deployment.

    1. Demonstration Cycles

      Skills demonstrations occur in recurring three-month cycles and are posted on the team calendar. Each cycle includes scheduled opportunities for members to demonstrate proficiency in designated specialties.

    2. Cycle Completion and Repetition

      Once a specialty is successfully demonstrated and documented within a cycle, it remains valid until the next scheduled cycle. Re-demonstration within the same cycle is not required.

    3. Check Sheets

      Rescue specialty check sheets are tracked for each member in the following categories:

      1. Vertical Rescue

      2. Navigation / SARTopo

      3. Extrication

    4. CPR

      Current certification is required.

  3. Extension Requests

    PCSAR recognizes that unforeseen circumstances may occasionally prevent a member from completing their annual readiness requirements.

    1. A formal accommodation pathway is available to support temporary delays while maintaining accountability.

    2. Extension Request

      1. Members who have not met either the training hour or check sheet requirements by December 31 may request, prior to December 31, a one-time extension lasting up to March 1.

      2. Requests must be submitted to the executive board and include a valid explanation for non-completion.

      3. Only one extension is allowed per calendar year unless approved by the Executive Board.

      4. Members who don’t submit an extension request before the due date, refer to 5.3.

      5. Hours obtained in completion of an annual requirement for a specific year shall not count for the following year.

    3. If the member remains non-compliant, they enter a 1 month period not being able to respond to PCSAR calls until all required training and competency requirements are completed.

    4. If readiness requirements are still unmet, the member shall be referred to the executive board for further action.

REFERENCE

  1. Vertical, Extrication, and Navigation Skills check sheets

  2. Standing Order #15 – Basic Training Program

  3. PCSAR Constitution & Bylaws, Article 4

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