1SRG How To Apply

1. Complete the form Operational Status, Application.
Please fill it out as completely as possible. Attach photocopies of all supporting documents. This includes: passport; International Certificate of Vaccination (commonly called the "yellow card"); driver’s license; Social Security card; and any certificates of attendance, completion, or certification that you have referenced within the form.

2. Complete the Medical History and Clearance form.
Have an authorized physician perform a medical/physical examination that will allow him/her to sign off on that form. For purposes of 1SRG an authorized physician is one who is the medical officer of record for a law enforcement, fire safety, EMS, or military unit. If you do not have access to a physician who meets the above qualification, any physician authorized by the FAA to perform flight physicals will be considered to meet the qualifications of this paragraph.

Note: The strict medical/physical requirements set by 1SRG are for both your safety and the safety of your teammates. While the actual duties of a SAR operator on 1SRG are not inherently more dangerous or physically demanding than those performed as part of SAR operator duties on a local team, the availability of medical support – beyond the capability of the deployed team itself – is far more limited in the geographic locations that 1SRG might find itself deployed, than would be available in the areas where you would operate as part of your local team.

3. Read the Vaccination and Prescription Medications, Requirements.
Have an authorized physician complete the Vaccination and Prescription Medications, Certification (this is in addition to the International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card). The ICV does not list requirements, the 1SRG policy and form does.

Note: 1SRG is not a medical authority. The list of vaccination requirements is based on information gathered from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Traveler’s Health Clinic of Mercy Hospital (Miami, FL). This is a minimum list of requirements and is subject to change at any time. You may wish to check with your own physician for additional suggestions.

4. Read the Physical Fitness, Requirements and have an officer (team leader, training officer, etc.) of your local team, agency, or unit administer and sign off on the Physical Fitness, Certification.

Note: Physical condition is of the utmost importance in SAR at all times. It is even more important when you may be operation outside of your usual environment based on geographic, climate, weather, and terrain factors. This endurance test is based on a test used by the United States Forest Service as part of a Wildland Firefighter certification. The physical requirements made on such an individual are similar to that called upon in SAR operations.

5. The uniform standards for 1SRG allow for the wearing, on the right shoulder of the 1SRG uniform, of one of the following insignias: local team; FEMA or State team; current agency; former military unit; NASAR or other SAR organization. In order to protect 1SRG from any liability or controversy read the Insignia, Non-1SRG, Wear Policy and the Insignia, Non-1SRG, Authorization to Wear form must be completed and signed by the appropriate individual in your local, FEMA or State team, or current agency. If a former military unit, NASAR, or SAR organization, you must sign and represent that you are authorized to wear such insignia by right of present or former membership.