To become a member of Longtown Mountain Rescue Team you must first complete an Application Form and Skills List, which are available from the Team Membership Secretary. Although the Skills List covers all aspects of mountain rescue, it is designed to give the Team an idea of your current level of knowledge, we do not expect you to be proficient in all subjects. As long as you have a basic mountaineering knowledge and you are able to commit yourself to attend regular training sessions the Team will teach you the other rescue skills.

If accepted you will be offered Prospective Membership of the Team and will be allocated a Full Member as a "Buddy". This will entitle you to attend the Team training sessions (held on first Monday evening, second Saturday or Sunday and third Thursday evening each month). At this stage there may well be some exercises which the Team Leader, Training Officer or Exercise Organiser may decide that Prospective Members should not attend, if it is deemed that looking after such members will detract from the objective of the exercise and compromise the training of other Team members.

The "Buddy" will therefore be responsible for making sure that your training needs and concerns are brought to the attention of the Training Officer, and coordinating the implementation of your training.

Once you are have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Team Leader that you are "Mountain Safe" you will then be eligible to become a Probationary Member. To do this you will be required to:

• Be hill fit with a good level of basic mountain craft

• Be competent in navigation.

• Posses suitable personal kit and the knowledge of its appropriate use.

• Have a basic understanding of the Team structure, callout and operating procedures.

• Have a basic knowledge of Team Kit.

• Have a basic understanding of the principles of casualty care.

As a Probationary Member you will be encouraged to attend training exercises as regularly as possible. During your Probationary period you will undergo a number of assessments e.g. Day/Night Navigation, Crag skills, Knowledge of Team Equipment, Casualty Care etc., which you will have to successfully pass before being offered Full Membership of the Team.