I'm a HA with 2nd Mar Div and I'm interested in going SAR. I had ambition to go ooraw with Recon/MARSOC, but I've decided that I don't want to be gone from my wife and family all the time.
My questions are: At what point can I put in a package for SAR? What do I need to accomplish for eligablity? And can anyone shed some light on requirements, training, deployment?
You should start with your LPO. If they cannot help you then hopefully you have a Career Counselor available to you. Many times the information people put out here is incorrect and is not the official source for information. Yes the intentions are good but the information may be outdated or just wrong.
To the OP, requirements have changed somewhat, at least from when I have since come in. Your Career Counselor would be your best bet to get all the up to date info.
Off the bat, you will need Aircrew School, EMT-B(for now), Army Flight Medic School, SERE, FRS(where you actually start flying and get your Aircrew wings). After that you go to your respective squadron and go through your PQS to be fully qualified as an 8401(Search and Rescue Medical Technician).
If you are down at Jacksonville, give the guys up at MCAS Cherry Point a call(I used to be stationed there doing SAR). They can point you in the right direction. I don't have the number, I am sure you can find it.
