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Requirements
- Carry 50 lbs.
- Able to live and work in an austere environment
Certification Requirements Prior to Application
Additional Training Requirements
- FEMA Canine Search Specialist Course
- FEMA Canine Search Team Certification
- GPS Operations
- Rope Rescue Awareness
- Trench Rescue Awareness
- Duties of the Entrant
- Rope Rescue Skills
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Confined Space Awareness
- CPR
- Critical Incident Stress Management
- Enhanced Operations in a Contaminated Environment
- FEMA USAR Orientation
- Hazmat Operations for First Responders
- Structural Collapse Awareness
- Water Rescue Awareness
- WMD Awareness
Annual Training requirements
- Operational Readiness or Mobilization Exercise
- Search Team Skill Sets,
- Canine training daily in your home area and weekly in College Station
Additional Training Recommendations
Expected time commitment
Financial Commitment
Deployment Equipment List
- Sleeping gear
- The TF will provide a cot and sleeping bag
- Personal hygiene items
- Boots
- The TF will provide one pair of wide area search boots to each member
- You will need to provide structural collapse boots (ref ansi info)
- Canine Gear bag (30 inch rolling duffle recommended)
- Canine food container
- Canine boots, eye and ear protection
- Extra collars and leashes for use in contaminated environments/decontamination process
- Long line
- Canine sleeping pad
Canine Specific Expenditures
- Appropriate living accommodations for the canine (yard, kennel, etc.)
- Purchase of canine or adoption fees
- Canine food and supplements
- Food and water bowls
- Canine veterinary care
- Preventative care (heartworm treatment, flea/tick prevention, annual vaccinations
- Post injury care
- Crates for the canine (minimum 2; one in the home and one in your vehicle)
- Leashes, collars, training collars
- Canine reward items (treats and toys)
- Cost for travel to and from training every week can add up quickly. We recommend calculating that cost and adding that to your anticipated expenditures.
