United States Search and Rescue Task Force

Requirements For Ranger Status

Ranger applicants must have the following upon application.  This ensures a well-rounded expert in the emergency services field.   Upon acceptance as a Ranger, the Task Force has promoted a Specialist to a Ranger who begins their Ranger tenure with a minimum of 5 years of experience (at least 2 in search and rescue) and 350 hours of training.

Required Experience and Training:

• Minimum 5 years of emergency service experience: rescue, police, fire, military, etc.
• Minimum 2 years active service in search and rescue
• Minimum 6 months active service with the U.S. SAR Task Force
• Basic Search and Rescue Operations certification – 16 hours
• ICS certification – 16 hours
• MSO or equivalent (MLPI, ISAR, etc.) certification – 40 hours
• FEMA Emergency Program Manager certification – 16 hours
• FEMA Community Emergency Response Team certification – 16 hours
• First Aid certification – 8 hours
• Hazardous Materials First Responder Awareness certification – 4 hours
• Critical Incident Stress Management certification – 16 hours
• Emergency Response to Terrorist Incidents certification – 8 hours
• OC Pepper Spray/Foam for Public Safety Personnel certification – 6 hours
• Crime Scene Search, Evidence Preservation, Court Testimony certification – 6 hours
• Must be a certified instructor in any one discipline relating to public service/emergency services

Ranger applicants must also have minimum of 200 additional hours of special emergency service/rescue/military/law enforcement certified training including 5 certifications from the following list:

• Animal Rescue/Animals in Disaster – 16 hours
• Child Survival Instructor – 6 hours
• High Angle/Rappelling/Rope Rescue – 16 hours
• Trench Rescue – 16 hours
• Water Rescue – 16 hours
• River Rescue – 16 hours
• Vehicle Rescue – 16 hours
• Boat Safety Operations – 8 hours
• Confined Space Rescue – 16 hours
• Ice Rescue – 8 hours
• CISM – Peer Support Specialist – 16 hours
• CISM – School Specialist – 16 hours
• CISM – Suicide Specialist – 16 hours
• CISM - Advanced – 16 hours
• Structural Collapse Operations Awareness – 4 hours
• NOAA Skywarn Certification – 4 hours
• FEMA Radiological Emergency Response – 16 hours
• FEMA Emergency Management – 16 hours
• FEMA - The Professional in Emergency Management – 16 hours
• FEMA – The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management – 16 hours
• FEMA Emergency Preparedness – 16 hours
• FEMA Hurricane Preparedness – 16 hours
• Disaster Management – 4 hours
• Damage Assessment – 4 hours
• Man tracking
• Canine Certification and Canine
• Mounted Certification and Mount
• Fire Fighter
• Rescue I
• Wilderness/Wildland Fire Fighter
• First Responder
• EMT
• Paramedic
• Nurse
• Physician

 Required Equipment That Must Be Procured and Maintained:

• BDU Uniform
• Ranger Uniform and equipment
• Cell phone
• Vehicle for Transportation
• Pager

 Ranger Applicants Must Also:

• Be willing to travel a minimum of a 100 mile radius for a detail or mission from home location
• Be interviewed by a board of 3 Rangers of the rank of Sergeant or above.  Interviews are conducted quarterly (January, April, July and October).

When a Ranger retires after ten years of honorable service and upon approval of the Chief Ranger, the Ranger shall be entitled to his badge and identification for life.  This identification is subject to recall if it is used in any inappropriate manner.