Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue (CFSSAR)

The Canadian Forces School of Search and Rescue (CFSSAR) provides initial training for newly selected SAR Tech candidates and ongoing training for the 130 operational SAR techs in various courses including Jumpmaster, Team Leader, Dive Supervisor, Overturned Vessel Extraction, parachute and medical recertification.

SAR Techs, the Air Force Para-rescue specialists who wear their distinctive orange flight suits with pride are responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of Canadians every year.

Each year applications from all trades in the CF are forwarded to Ottawa for occupational transfer to the SAR Tech trade. Once a board reviews the applications, 24 personnel are invited to attend a two-week pre-selection course held in February in Jarvis Lake, AB.  Upon completion of the pre-selection phase approximately 12 students are selected to attend the 11 month course, starting in August at 19 Wing Comox.  Candidates are trained to penetrate and operate in remote, inaccessible areas of Canada for the purpose of rendering immediate and life-sustaining medical care to casualties.

Training SAR Techs is not the only role of this busy training establishment. They are also tasked to provide Aircrew personnel with training that will increase their ability to survive in the sea environment under emergency conditions.  This is carried out at the Sea Survival School at HMCS Quadra.

The Commander 1 Canadian Air Division exercises command over CFSSAR through the Wing Commander 19 Wing Comox.  Due to delegated operational control, a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) manages CFSSAR.  The CWO in charge is responsible to the Wing Operations Officer (WOPS O) of 19 Wing Comox.

The school itself is dedicated to the memory of Cpl Philip Lloyd Cyril Young – named in honour of a Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech) killed in a Labrador helicopter crash on April 30, 1992.

Link 1 – SAR Tech

Pre-Selection Phase
Location:  Edmonton Garrison, Alberta: Jarvis Lake Detachment, Alberta: 

The Selection Phase, previously known as Pre-Lim or Survival Phase, had a new twist for the course in 2001. Instead of just picking 12 candidates, and going from there, the SAR Tech trade now picks 24 potential candidates to attend the Pre-Selection. It is essentially the Survival Phase of previous courses.

The first part of Selection is conducted in Edmonton, consisting of lectures on Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training as well as the theory of navigation and physical fitness testing. Two PT tests are done during this phase, they are:
 
SAR Tech Maintenance Test
Hand Grip Strength Test
20 metre shuttle run which increases tempo/pace every 30 seconds
Minimum Level 8
Maximum  Number of non-stop push-ups
Maximum Number of sit-ups in 60 seconds
Lifting a 40kg weight from the floor onto a 1.5 metre high platform

SAR Tech PT Test
1.5 mile run (less than 10 minutes 15 seconds)
31 push-ups
33 sit-ups
8 chin-ups
450 metre shuttle run
2x 6 metre rope climb
All within 17 minutes

SAR Tech Swim Test
685 Metre swim

All within 20 Minutes

The second part of Selection is conducted at CFSSAR’s Survival Detachment located at Jarvis Lake Alberta (3 hours west of Edmonton).  The students are put through the practical aspects of survival, navigation and physical endurance during this phase.