Eligibility for Membership
If you are currently a CAP member-senior member or cadet-and you want to improve your SAR skills, you can join the Team. There are no minimum qualifications, only a desire to learn, to train and to become the best ground SAR team member you can be within your own capabilities.

Training
The primary purpose for the organization is to provide CAP mission coordinators with a ground SAR team whose members have had standardized, documented training and who have had experience working together under real and simulated SAR conditions. You will begin your training as a "Prospective" team member and may attend classes and training exercises. As soon as you satisfactorily complete a minimum level of training and obtain the necessary CAP certification, you will be allowed to participate as a "Support" member of the ground team in actual CAP SAR missions. With further training you will gain experience and confidence and will become an increasingly valuable member of the Team. Within the Team there are five levels of qualifications. Beyond "Prospective" and "Support" there are "Rescue," "Qualified," and "Bash." Only those few dedicated members who demonstrate the highest level of proficiency in survival skills, interrogation, electronic search, first aid and victim evacuation are classified at the "Bash" level. Training meetings are scheduled monthly and usually take place at 7:00 pm on the third Wednesday at CAP Colorado Wing Headquarters. A field exercise is usually planned for the Saturday following the training meeting and may consist of anything from a few hours of electronic search practice to an overnight hike and an evacuation of a simulated victim. In addition to classroom sessions and field exercises, you will be provided-for a nominal fee -a team training manual. The manual follows training practices set forth by respected SAR organizations such as the MRA and CAP. To help with your training and motivation as a new member, our goal is to get you qualified and into the field on actual SAR missions (under the guidance of more experienced members) as soon as possible.

Safety
In all our activities we stress SAFETY. Each rescuer is taught survival techniques, good highway and off-road driving habits, and safe SAR practices relating to crash sites, other SAR workers, and to the victim. The nature of SAR work means that our assignments may place us in hazardous situations but members are never asked to enter into circumstances for which they have not been trained.

Equipment
An equipment list is provided in the training manual. You will be responsible for acquiring and maintaining your own equipment and supplies but, to prevent unnecessary expense to yourself, we urge you not to purchase any equipment until you have attended a few training sessions and have obtained the advice of some of the more experienced members. Military surplus stores are a good source for SAR clothing and equipment. Also, you have access to military surplus items through your CAP squadron supply officer and you may purchase equipment from the CAP Supply Depot in Amarillo, Texas. Like CAP, the Colorado Ground SAR Team is a volunteer organization and its individual members are free to determine the amount of time and resources they will devote to organization activities. The amount and quality of equipment you need will depend upon your own level of participation. As a prospective member, you will be able to get by with a minimum of equipment and expense but, at the "Bash" level, you will need survival gear capable of keeping you alive in the wilderness without outside support for several days. You can acquire items gradually as you progress through the levels of proficiency and engage in more advanced SAR activities. Regardless of your level of proficiency or the amount of equipment you own, there is a place for you on the ground team and an important job for you to do. Also, using equipment acquired from a variety of sources, including the U.S. Air Force and funds donated by members, businesses and private individuals, CGSART has stocked a trailer with first rate radios, safety, rescue and evacuation gear. In addition to outfitting yourself, your duties as a member of the team will include learning how to use and maintain the equipment in the team's trailer.