Membership Categories

Cal-ESAR has several membership categories, based on level of training and field experience. These categories are established and defined by the Cal-ESAR Board of Directors, and are subject to periodic update and review

Membership Category Prerequisites Category Goal SAR Responses Category Insignia
Trainee BSA Member Self-sufficient for 72 hours None None
Associate Member Complete Associate Member Training Program; Sworn in by OES Understand the basics of SAR at base and in the field Respond to limited-scope Bay Area SARs. Post 12 Patch
Support Member NASAR SAR Tech III or equivalent A competent support-ready SAR resource Respond to all levels of SAR while under Cal-ESAR Team Leader supervision ESAR Patch & Post 12 Patch
Trained Member Complete ESAR Basic Training Program and passed Skills Testing
or
Attended summer camp, attended SAR tactics and Advanced Navigation, has completed Standard first aid and CPR, and passed Skills Testing		 A competent field-ready ground SAR resource Respond to all levels of SAR while under Cal-ESAR Team Leader supervision ESAR Patch & Post 12 Patch
Certified Member Trained Member with Advanced First Aid + 3 SARs + 24 hours of field time A proficient field-ready ground SAR resource Respond to all SARs without supervision ESAR Patch & OES Patch
Team Leader Certified Member + demonstrated leadership ability + support of the ESAR membership An expert field-ready ground SAR resource Lead Cal-ESAR and multi-agency teams in the field ESAR Patch & OES Patch & Team Leader Stripe
Operation Leader Team Leader + MSF class + overhead job on 3 SARs Understand ICS + knows capabilities of all team members Function as Plans or Operations Chief or Assistant Chief or other ICS job during a multi-agency operation ESAR Patch & OES Patch & Operations Stripe