While many volunteer crew members come from a marine background, this is not a requirement.
Thanks to our professional training plans, non-mariners can quickly become highly skilled crew members with time and commitment in a supportive environment that values teamwork.
Attending regular training sessions and meetings on evenings and weekends
Living or working close to the Comox Municipal Marina. (We ask the members to be able to respond to the marina within 20 minutes of receiving a page.)
Respond to emergencies on short notice.
Our volunteers must be great communicators, value teamwork and take direction from their leaders.
To be an RCMSAR crew member, you must also:
Be over 18 years of age
Be in good physical condition and able to pass the annual RCMSAR Fitness Test
Pass the three-month probationary period
Pass a Police Information Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check
Complete the Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate course
Complete the Restricted Operator Certificate – Marine
Attain Marine Basic First Aid, equivalent certification, or higher with CPR/AED Level C
If you don't have any/all of your qualifications, we can help you as needed to complete the necessary qualifications once you have been accepted as a new recruit.
Volunteering at RCM SAR Station 60 Comox demands the following time commitment from you:
Fitness Test: simulated man overboard drills and initial safety training.
New Crew Certification Course: two 6-hour sessions over a weekend. This training is essentially an introduction/orientation to RCM-SAR Station 60 and an onboard safety course.
Crew Certification Course: January to May: 3 to 4-hour sessions, once a week, for 20 weeks, either a Wednesday night or Saturday morning. Breaks at Easter and Public School Mid Term.
On-call Duty: Sign up for 10 – 12 hour long shifts per month (0630-1830 or 1830-0630). Be able to report to Station 60 within 20 minutes when paged to respond to on-the-water emergencies.
Weekly Duty Crew Training: On-call duty Crews train for 3 hours on the water under the direction of the Duty Coxswain during their on-call duty period.
Station Monthly Meeting: Second Monday of each month, at the Comox Fire Hall for passage of information and station refresher training.
Self-study: in Collision Regulations, boating safety seamanship.
Through RCMSAR’s training program, you will learn basic search and rescue skills and first aid and become familiar with safety and emergency procedures. We deliver weekly classroom and on-the-water training where you will develop skills in navigation and communications, seamanship and marine regulations, building your knowledge and confidence to save lives on the water.
New Crew: Two 6-hour sessions over a weekend. This training is essentially an introduction/orientation to RCM-SAR Station 60 and an onboard safety course.
Crew: The course runs annually from January to May. Training is usually 3 - 4 hour sessions, once a week, for 20 weeks, either a Wednesday night or Saturday morning. Breaks at Easter and Public School Mid-Term.
Advanced Crew: Sign-offs are completed during training on your own time and schedule.
Coxswain: Sign-offs are completed during training on your own time and schedule.
In addition to operational volunteers, supporting members are critical to the success of our stations. We also welcome volunteers who have an interest in:
Boating safety advocacy
Vessel maintenance and equipment management
Community fundraising and attending special events
Media support
Join the Comox Valley Marine Rescue Society
Join our crew of volunteers: learn seamanship skills and boating safety while giving back to our community.
If any of what you've read here interests you, please come down to our weekly Thursday night boat check at 18:15 or email recruiting@rcmsar60.com for more information.
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