M
mountainmusher1
Guest
Just a bit of gen on the MRS, mostly cut and pasted from an article I did for 57N (Kinloss & Lossie mag). If anyone has any speciffic questions, throw them at me and I'll try and help.
The RAF Mountain Rescue Service is an integral part of the UK Search and Rescue force. The MRS being the only all weather SAR assets fielded by the MOD. We are controlled by the Aeronautical Rescue Control Centre, based at RAF Kinloss, the tasking authority for all military SAR units in the UK.
The RAF Mountain Rescue Service was formed during WWII to help recover downed aircrew from crashed aircraft, in the many upland and mountainous areas of the UK. We have continued since then, developing our techniques and training syllabus, becoming one of the leading forces in UK SAR.
The RAF MRS provides a ground-based, all-weather SAR capability. Operating at short notice in often hazardous difficult terrain or where severe weather conditions inhibit helicopter ops. The MRS has the following roles:
Major Roles:
-Military SAR in peacetime within the UK and areas where UK forces are deployed when so tasked.
-Civilian SAR within the UK
-Post Crash Management within the UK more than 5 nautical miles from a Main Operating Base.
Minor Roles:
-Post Crash Management assistance for UK aircraft incidents outside the UK
-Tasks in support of other Services, the Emergency Services and other Government Departments (MACA).
There are four RAF Mountain Rescue Teams located at RAF Kinloss, Leuchars, Leeming and Valley. The RAF Mountain Rescue Service HQ is located at RAF Valley.
Each team is a volunteer team of 36 personnel recruited station based personnel, made up of 28 part time and eight full time members. We are normally held at Readiness State 4, one hour readiness. This is our normal state with part time members carrying out normal duties. At weekends we deploy, to bothies located throughout our area, to conduct essential deployed team training, at which point we are at Readiness State 5, beyond 1 hour to generate.
On an average year each team has between 20 - 40 callouts, ranging from missing children, searches for vulnerable adults, missing hill walkers, injured climbers and missing/crashed aircraft
We have a formal structure based on personal experience, with a progressive system of training and qualification, from Novice, Badged, Trained, Party Leader, Deputy Team Leader and finally Team Leader. The training includes general mountaineering, first aid and specific rescue skills.
We ask that each Team member attends weekly briefings, work permitting, and ideally at least two out of every four weekend deployments. The main criteria is that they are willing to challenge themselves, physically and mentally and able to be released by line managers to attend callouts as required.
Throughout the year, the MRS runs various courses as well as several Military Field Training exercises. The courses cover the full spectrum of SAR, from basic first aid to advanced climbing instruction. This year’s summer MFT was to Chamonix in the Alps, with a planned winter MFT to Norway.
Why join?
There are few more rewarding things in life than being able to say, today, I helped save someone’s life. As part of the RAF MRS, part of the national SAR response, you would be an integral part of one of the most challenging and rewarding roles that the RAF fulfils.
We provide all the equipment, clothing, food, training and transport to take you into some of the most stunning and diverse areas the UK has to offer, from the highest mountains to the most remote lochs. Winter, summer, rain, snow or sun, day and night, we train for every eventuality.
There is no immediate commitment if you would like to take part in a three week trial to find out if the RAF MRS is for you. To coin a phrase, a photograph might be worth a thousand words but an experience is worth a thousand pictures.
If you would like further information or to apply to join the MRS, feel free to contact any of the Teams. Or visit www.sarf.***************/review/MRS/MRS%20index.htm
DT_Xtremez_35:
The RAF Mountain Rescue Service is an integral part of the UK Search and Rescue force. The MRS being the only all weather SAR assets fielded by the MOD. We are controlled by the Aeronautical Rescue Control Centre, based at RAF Kinloss, the tasking authority for all military SAR units in the UK.
The RAF Mountain Rescue Service was formed during WWII to help recover downed aircrew from crashed aircraft, in the many upland and mountainous areas of the UK. We have continued since then, developing our techniques and training syllabus, becoming one of the leading forces in UK SAR.
The RAF MRS provides a ground-based, all-weather SAR capability. Operating at short notice in often hazardous difficult terrain or where severe weather conditions inhibit helicopter ops. The MRS has the following roles:
Major Roles:
-Military SAR in peacetime within the UK and areas where UK forces are deployed when so tasked.
-Civilian SAR within the UK
-Post Crash Management within the UK more than 5 nautical miles from a Main Operating Base.
Minor Roles:
-Post Crash Management assistance for UK aircraft incidents outside the UK
-Tasks in support of other Services, the Emergency Services and other Government Departments (MACA).
There are four RAF Mountain Rescue Teams located at RAF Kinloss, Leuchars, Leeming and Valley. The RAF Mountain Rescue Service HQ is located at RAF Valley.
Each team is a volunteer team of 36 personnel recruited station based personnel, made up of 28 part time and eight full time members. We are normally held at Readiness State 4, one hour readiness. This is our normal state with part time members carrying out normal duties. At weekends we deploy, to bothies located throughout our area, to conduct essential deployed team training, at which point we are at Readiness State 5, beyond 1 hour to generate.
On an average year each team has between 20 - 40 callouts, ranging from missing children, searches for vulnerable adults, missing hill walkers, injured climbers and missing/crashed aircraft
We have a formal structure based on personal experience, with a progressive system of training and qualification, from Novice, Badged, Trained, Party Leader, Deputy Team Leader and finally Team Leader. The training includes general mountaineering, first aid and specific rescue skills.
We ask that each Team member attends weekly briefings, work permitting, and ideally at least two out of every four weekend deployments. The main criteria is that they are willing to challenge themselves, physically and mentally and able to be released by line managers to attend callouts as required.
Throughout the year, the MRS runs various courses as well as several Military Field Training exercises. The courses cover the full spectrum of SAR, from basic first aid to advanced climbing instruction. This year’s summer MFT was to Chamonix in the Alps, with a planned winter MFT to Norway.
Why join?
There are few more rewarding things in life than being able to say, today, I helped save someone’s life. As part of the RAF MRS, part of the national SAR response, you would be an integral part of one of the most challenging and rewarding roles that the RAF fulfils.
We provide all the equipment, clothing, food, training and transport to take you into some of the most stunning and diverse areas the UK has to offer, from the highest mountains to the most remote lochs. Winter, summer, rain, snow or sun, day and night, we train for every eventuality.
There is no immediate commitment if you would like to take part in a three week trial to find out if the RAF MRS is for you. To coin a phrase, a photograph might be worth a thousand words but an experience is worth a thousand pictures.
If you would like further information or to apply to join the MRS, feel free to contact any of the Teams. Or visit www.sarf.***************/review/MRS/MRS%20index.htm
DT_Xtremez_35: