Application Process

• Upon receipt of your completed application packet, the Sheriff’s Office will conduct both a criminal and Department of Motor Vehicle background check. You must pass a driving record review and a criminal history background check. Candidates who wish to be considered for this position must include an accurate driver’s license number and state of origin on their application under the Personal Information section.
• Skills listed on the application will be reviewed and matched up with our anticipated needs for trending DCSOSAR missions.
• If selected for the next phase of the application process, you will be required to attend an informational meeting, complete a physical fitness pack test, and undergo a personal interview with the Sheriff’s Office and SAR staff.
  • Physical fitness pack test details – Approximately 5 miles, 650 feet elevation gain, 25-pound backpack, completed in 90 minutes or less.
• Final candidates will be required to submit to a urine test for drug screening.
• Final candidates will be required to be fingerprinted and participate in online training for CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) access.

Volunteer Expectations

We urge you to carefully consider the time and fitness commitments SAR requires before submitting your application. Search and rescue is a highly demanding volunteer experience, both in terms of training and missions. Our members are required to log a minimum of 100 hours annually.

The average member puts in over 200 hours per year and many members exceed 400 hours annually. Volunteer members are required to participate in a minimum of six missions each year.

• Volunteers must be physically fit and able to hike for long distances, carrying heavy equipment over varied terrain in all weather conditions. Members are expected to provide their own personal equipment and supplies.
• SAR missions are urgent in nature and can happen at any time of the day or night, with operational periods lasting 6 to 24 hours. Applicants who have dependents and/or demanding employment schedules should consider their level of flexibility in the home and workplace.
• You will be asked to give a check for $100 towards SAR clothing before the start of the Academy. Upon graduation, you will receive SAR clothing worth approximately $150. If you are selected but drop out of the Academy, you will forfeit the $100. If you leave SAR for any reason at any time, you will need to return the SAR clothing.
• We expect that you will view SAR as a minimum 3-year commitment.
• The first year is especially challenging. Before applying, make sure you will be available for the following required dates and times.

Speciality Teams

Upon academy graduation, each SAR volunteer becomes an Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) certified ground team member. Then, each volunteer has the option of joining a specialty team they want to further train with. These specialty teams include –

• Air Operations
• All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV)
• Dive
• Horse
• Incident Management Team (IMT)
• Logistics
• Medical
• Mountain Rescue Team (MRU)
• Snowmobile
• Swiftwater
• Tracking