Each year we receive numerous applications from people showing an interest in joining the team. This year we narrowed it down to nine potential candidates who attended a recruitment assessment day on Saturday. This gave them a brief insight into what we do and a chance for the training team to assess the suitability of the recruits.
The day was different than other years because of COVID. Normally we meet everybody at the Rescue Centre for a PowerPoint presentation, tour and navigation prep. We moved everything into the open at Gutter Tor and dropped the PowerPoint and the tour of the Rescue Centre, after the kit check we feeding the recruits several plates of biscuits washed down with tea they were then each given a half-hour interview slot with three of the training team and the rest of the time was used to prep the route for next Tuesday training night where they will walk their route with the rest of the team. After feeding the recruits several plates of biscuits washed down with tea they were then each given a half-hour interview slot with three of the training team.
The second half of the day was spent at Gutter tour. Luckily the weather was the complete opposite of the forecast given and it was a sunny albeit blustery afternoon. The recruit’s first exercise was of a team-building nature and consisted of carrying a stretcher from A to B. The training team were able to assess how each member behaved as part of a team. Teamwork is a vital skill that is required from all potential recruits as we rely heavily on each other during a call outs or at training.
The recruits were then split into small groups and were given the notorious “Colin’s Conundrum” This involved finding various features at Gutter Tor….
As the exercise came to a close, the candidates now have to look forward to their navigation assessment on Tuesday evening. They will then be scored on how they have performed over the two days and hopefully then through to becoming an official trainee member of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Plymouth.
