New Applicants take the challenge

Joining Buxton Mountain Rescue Team as an Operational Member is a serious undertaking and not to be considered lightly.  There will be greatNav test_small demands on your time which can cause pressures at work and home.  It will take between three and six months to learn the basic of mountain rescue which will qualify you to get on the call-out list as a probationary member.  It can then take another twelve months training to qualify as a Full Operational Member at which time the coveted red jacket will be issued.

Whilst the team will teach all you need to know about search and rescue, you are expected to have good outdoor, hillcraft skills at the point of application.  A good sense of humour is also mandatory!  Before getting involved with formal training, applicants are invited to demonstrate their knowledge and navigation skills on a dark and lonely piece of moorland near Buxton.  This is to make sure that the applicant possesses the right personal equipment to protect themselves from the weather whilst under training and to ensure they have the correct aptitude for team work.   Finding yourself alone on a moor in darkness or bad weather can be a frightening experience so the team needs to ensure that each applicant has sound navigational skills and the ability to look after themselves.  A few questions on local knowledge and experience and the short initiation is complete.  Next comes the issue of a training record logbook and the start of a comprehensive training programme.

Still lots of hard work ahead but lots of fun and a great sense of achievement.

Photo credit: BMRT – A new applicant under test on Axe Edge moor earlier this week.

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