San Marcos Area Recovery Team (SMART) is actively recruiting for new team members to begin orientation training in April / August / December of 2017. The dive team is entirely volunteer and serves all of Hays County and most of the south/central Texas area with water rescue, recovery, and underwater search services. All members of the team are trained as tenders and have the option to go on to be public safety divers and swift water technicians as well. The team trains one to two days a month with the expectation that you are present for better than 75% of the training. You are expected to be able to be available for 50% of the call outs. The team has averaged about 4-6 calls per year, but some years the number has been much higher and other years it may be zero.
Applicants must pass a background investigation, membership interview, medical screening, and be approved by the Asst. Chief. Diving candidates must also be able to pass an IADRS Watermanship Skills and Stamina test before being allowed into the dive training program.
For new members without any Public Safety Diving, emergency, or fire service experience, the probationary period is from 3 to 8 months. During the three phases of the probationary period, you will learn common skills of the South Hays Fire Dept., participate in an introduction to the recovery team, and finally be trained as a PSD tender for the team. From here you can go on to train as a diver or a swift water technician.
If you are a currently certified with PSD experience in the past three years and can pass the PSD skills test, you will be allowed to dive with the team as soon as you complete the 1st phase of the probationary period.
If a team member wants to become a diver for SMART, the public safety dive training program can take up to a year to complete based on documented skills and demonstrated skills of the individual. We can train divers from the beginning, but we prefer some level of diving experience. The team is pledged to ensure the safety of the divers, and we do this by ensuring that we never put a diver into a position that is beyond their skill set.
Any interested candidates, please send the site admin a private message or contact Bryan Scott (bscott@southhaysfire.com) or Matt Simkin (msimkin@southhaysfire.com) for further information, and we can get you the appropriate forms and start the process for consideration.
Facebook @sanmarcosarearecoveryteam
SMART Divers :: Home
Some answers to frequently asked questions:
— The department provides most gear (although some may use their gear or buy new gear if it is in line what is needed). Mask, fins, and snorkel are personal items. — Much of your time, gear, and any money spent is tax deductible. Talk to your accountant for details.
— Although not required, you can expand to being a firefighter, EMT, and even paramedic. Please note that team policy is that you complete our probationary period before going to the fire suppression side of the dept.
Applicants must pass a background investigation, membership interview, medical screening, and be approved by the Asst. Chief. Diving candidates must also be able to pass an IADRS Watermanship Skills and Stamina test before being allowed into the dive training program.
For new members without any Public Safety Diving, emergency, or fire service experience, the probationary period is from 3 to 8 months. During the three phases of the probationary period, you will learn common skills of the South Hays Fire Dept., participate in an introduction to the recovery team, and finally be trained as a PSD tender for the team. From here you can go on to train as a diver or a swift water technician.
If you are a currently certified with PSD experience in the past three years and can pass the PSD skills test, you will be allowed to dive with the team as soon as you complete the 1st phase of the probationary period.
If a team member wants to become a diver for SMART, the public safety dive training program can take up to a year to complete based on documented skills and demonstrated skills of the individual. We can train divers from the beginning, but we prefer some level of diving experience. The team is pledged to ensure the safety of the divers, and we do this by ensuring that we never put a diver into a position that is beyond their skill set.
Any interested candidates, please send the site admin a private message or contact Bryan Scott (bscott@southhaysfire.com) or Matt Simkin (msimkin@southhaysfire.com) for further information, and we can get you the appropriate forms and start the process for consideration.
Facebook @sanmarcosarearecoveryteam
SMART Divers :: Home
Some answers to frequently asked questions:
— The department provides most gear (although some may use their gear or buy new gear if it is in line what is needed). Mask, fins, and snorkel are personal items. — Much of your time, gear, and any money spent is tax deductible. Talk to your accountant for details.
— Although not required, you can expand to being a firefighter, EMT, and even paramedic. Please note that team policy is that you complete our probationary period before going to the fire suppression side of the dept.
