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New Recruit Training:

New recruit training for PCSAR generally takes four months to complete. All training is done in-house by experienced PCSAR Team Members and Special Resources. NASAR Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR) is taught to exceed the national standard and covers topics such as search management, search functions, incident management, and search tactics. The classroom portion is completed over one weekend and navigation practicals and other hands-on activities are done during a Saturday training. The South Dakota Rescue Technician (ERT) course covers trench rescue, vehicle extrication, mass casualty, high-angle rescue, and water rescue. This course is taught over a course of two months, with several classroom sessions and related hands-on classes and practicals. At the completion of this course, students are required to take and pass the SD Rescue Tech test, at which point he/she is a state certified Rescue Technician.

Additional classes, such as helicopter operations, team standards, and winter operations, are taught on the second and fourth Tuesday throughout the training period. The Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) is taught by a member of the PC Sheriff's Office and include a three-hour classroom portion and a practical driving portion.

During training, the new recruit is encouraged to actively participate during team functions and attend advanced training sessions. Although he/she may not be allowed to fully participate in the advanced training due to technical and safety factors, the team will ensure he/she is included in the activity.

Upon completion of all required training, the new recruit is voted on the team as a probationary team member. This is a three-month time period where the new recruit has a chance to respond to calls and actively participate in the advanced trainings. At the end of the three months, the officers will evaluate the performance of the probationary team member and, if satisfactory, he/she will be voted on the team as a full member. If the probationary team member's performance is deemed unsatisfactory based on the team standards, the training officer will work with him/her to improve his/her skills and his/her status will be reevaluated after three months.

Advanced Training:

Advanced trainings will generally take place on the third Tuesday during new recruit training periods (typically January - April) and the second, third, and fourth Tuesday during the rest of the year. The fifth Tuesday (where applicable) is used for skills check sheets. Advanced trainings range from classroom sessions to hands-on activities. These are typically "advanced" in nature, meaning either new topics are introduced that build on basic skills or interactive activities are done with little instruction (such as a mock car accident where team members perform an extrication, similar to what would be done on an actual incident.) Training is occasionally held on Saturday to facilitate a larger exercise.


Team members are required to take a yearly CPR refresher, typically held the last Tuesday in January. Everyone is encouraged to take First Responder and EMT classes but these are not required. Each year, team members are required to complete three skills check sheets - Vertical Rescue, Extrication, and GPS and Map/Compass - to ensure each member maintains his/her proficiency.
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