"A Strong Team Made of Strong Individuals" Unpaid personnel perform 99% of all Search & Rescue in the United States. CAMRA/MCSO-MR team members are climbers, cavers, mountaineers, and general backcountry adventurers who have answered the call to serve. Many have extensive military backgrounds, and the team also includes police officers, firefighters, engineers, guides, lawyers, paramedics, and physicians. Each team member maintains the fitness, skills, personal gear, and stamina to perform a continuous 36-hour shift in the backcountry. As volunteer SAR operatives, no one in Mountain Rescue receives a paycheck for their work. Each team member donates his or her time and effort in service to the community. How You Can Join We hold our monthly meetings at 6:30pm, the first Tuesday of every month. The meeting is held at the old MCSO training center located at 3325 W Durango in Phoenix. If you would like to attend, please email us at info @mcsomr.org to confirm the meeting time and place and let us know to expect you. All potential recruits must attend our annual orientation and complete an application and a health questionnaire. Membership is also contingent on acceptance into the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office posse program. If you are interested, please send us an email at info @mcsomr.org so we can add you to our mailing list to ensure you receive all the latest information. Join the team! CAMRA/MCSO-MR recruits new members once a year. The skills required are rock climbing, basic first aid (preferably EMT), wilderness skills (map & compass, extended backcountry travel), and a desire to commit yourself to helping save lives in the wilderness. The first step in the membership process is to attend the recruit orientation meeting where you will learn more about the team and what will be expected of you as a recruit. The current recruit cycle has already started. For notification and details of the next recruit training class, please send your request via e-mail to info @mcsomr.org. 2008 RECRUIT SCHEDULE: March 8th Recruit Orientation (COMPLETED) March 29th MRS PAT (COMPLETED) March 31st - April 3rd Oral Interviews (COMPLETED) May 3rd Field Interview TBD Posse Basic Training TBD Recruit Field Interview TBD First Mountain Rescue Recruit Training The Infamous MRS. PAT After the paperwork comes the "Mrs. Pat" (Mountain Rescue Specific Physical Aptitude Test). Summary: While carrying a 35 lb. pack and 100 oz. of water, each candidate must climb and descend a mountain at least 1200 feet in elevation, carry additional gear for distance, tie rescue knots, and correctly identify UTM coordinates on a topographical map -- all within the specified time limit. Go For It!