TEEX - Texas Task Force 1. Helicopter Search & Rescue Technician. Evaluation & Selection Announcement

Transcription

1 TEEX - Texas Task Force 1 Helicopter Search & Rescue Technician Evaluation & Selection Announcement TEEX will be conducting a Helicopter Search & Rescue Technician (HSART) evaluation and selection process, starting January This position is geared towards personnel that have substantial swiftwater/water rescue training and experience, who are comfortable working independently in austere environments, physically fit with good water skills/confidence and committed to initial and recurrency training. This is an intensive, skills-based position that meets or exceeds the current operational requirements for the HSART with regards to the NIMS SAR Credentialing initiative. TEEX anticipates significant interest in this opportunity and intends to conduct a competitive selection process starting in January Candidates wishing to be considered for this position must meet the minimum requirements as set forth in the attached Minimum Requirements and Candidate Evaluation Criteria and submit a completed application and other required documentation prior to the application deadline at midnight on January 15, A swim skills & physical fitness evaluation will be conducted in College Station, TX on February 2. Based on applications received and swim/physical fitness evaluation results, the most qualified and highest performing candidates will be invited to participate in the interview process during the week of February Eight final candidates will be selected and invited to attend the Helicopter Rescue Swimmer (HRS) class March 7-11 in Austin, TX.

2 Participating agencies and potential candidates should be aware that HSART personnel are required to participate in recurrency training at a minimum of once every ninety days. Interested candidates and their agencies should review the information included in this packet. The participating agency must agree to allow the candidate to attend initial and recurrency training/exercises and deploy during state or national events for a period of 3 years. Evaluation & Selection Schedule of Events January 15 February 2 February March 7-11 Applications due Swim test (College Station) Interviews (Austin)* HRS Class (Austin)* *By invitation only The application deadline is midnight, January 15, Application packets should be submitted to Stacey Macik at [email protected] or mailed to: Stacey Macik, Project Coordinator TEEX Texas Task Force Gateway, Suite B College Station, TX Only certificates for minimum required or preferred qualifications should be submitted with the application. If you have questions concerning the application process, swim test or other considerations please contact: Brett Dixon, HSART Program Manager (979) [email protected]

3 TEEX - Texas Task Force 1 Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician Minimum Requirements and Candidate Evaluation Criteria Prior to midnight on January 15, 2016, the candidate must meet the following minimum requirements: Submission of completed application Maximum weight of 215 lbs. (in swim shorts) Submission of letter from agency head certifying that the agency will support the candidate for required recurrency training and possible deployments while performing duties under the auspices of Texas Task Force 1 and by providing worker s comp coverage during the HRS (Helicopter Rescue Swimmer) class if the candidate is not a current TX-TF1 member. (sample attached) Submission of all required and preferred certifications (see below) Certifications Required: EMT-B, currently certified Swiftwater Rescue Technician per NFPA 1670/NFPA 1006 Rope Rescue Technician per NFPA 1670/NFPA 1006 Hazardous Materials Awareness per NFPA 472 / OSHA (Q)(6)(i) NIMS ICS 100 NIMS ICS 200 NIMS ICS 700 NIMS ICS 800 Preferred but not required (1 bonus point each will be awarded for each): EMT-P, currently certified Completion of the NASAR FUNSAR Course or equivalent Certification as a NASAR SAR Tech II or equivalent NIMS ICS 300 NIMS ICS 400

4 Physical and Skills Evaluation Each candidate will be subjected to a series of physical and skill challenges that will be used to evaluate physical fitness, swimming ability, performance of rescue related tasks, and composure under arduous conditions. Each candidate will weigh in prior to beginning any of the other stations. The candidate will not be allowed to proceed if their weight exceeds the 215lb. maximum weight limit. Each station is based on accepted national standards and is furthermore based on AHJ and current NIMS Search and Rescue proposed credentialing requirements for the position of Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician (attached). Points will be awarded for the successful completion of each station and a greater number of those available points will be awarded based on how well and/or when the candidate completes that station. Each station is voluntary and the candidate has the right to stop at any time, realizing that no points can be awarded if they select to do so. Furthermore, the evaluators have the right to stop the candidate at any time if they feel that the candidate is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others prior to starting any stations and/or during the course of the administration of any station. Station 1-Swimming Skills Evaluation Yard Swim The candidate must swim 300 yards without stopping using a forward stroke and without using any swim aids such as a dive mask, fins, and snorkel or floatation device. Stopping or standing up in the pool at any point during this exercise will result in automatic disqualification from the evaluation process. Performance Criteria Points Awarded Under 6 ½ minutes 10 6 ½ to 7 minutes 9 7 to 7 ½ minutes 8 7 ½ to 8 minutes 7 Over 8 minutes Disqualification Stopped or stood-up Disqualification

5 Evaluation Yard Mask & Snorkel Swim Using a dive mask, fins, snorkel, and a swimsuit (no buoyancy aid such as a PFD) and swimming the entire time with their face in the water and breathing through the snorkel, the candidate must swim non-stop for 400 yards. The candidate must not use their arms at any time. Performance Criteria Points Awarded Under 7.5 minutes to 8.5 minutes to 9.5 minutes to 10.5 minutes 4 More than 10.5 minutes 2 Stopped or stood up 0 Evaluation 3 - Dunker Escape After receiving instruction, the candidate will be placed in a dunker cage and strapped in with aviation-style seat restraints. The dunker will be launched forward into the water and will result in the candidate being in an upside down attitude. Once the dunker has entered the water, the candidate will conduct at least a 5 second count and escape/exit the side of the dunker as instructed by the evaluator. Once the candidate has escaped, the candidate will then swim out and away from the dunker as instructed. This is a pass/fail station. Pass = 5 Points Fail = 0 Points Station 2-Run Evaluation 1 The candidate will run, jog, or walk for one mile unaided. Performance Criteria Points Awarded Less than 7 minutes 10 7 to 8 minutes 9 8 to 9 minutes 8 9 to 10 minutes 7 10 to 11 minutes 5 11 to 12 minutes 4 12 to 13 minutes 1 More than 13 minutes 0

6 Station 3-Rope Rescue Rigging and Skills Evaluation 1-Knots The candidate will be given a six foot section of rope and will tie the prescribed knots, hitches and/or bends. All knots must be completed in order given. A maximum of 5 minutes total will be allowed for this station. Each knot has a value of.5 point: Figure 8 on a bight Double Figure 8 Directional Figure 8 Bowline Double Fishermen s Bend Butterfly knot Water knot with webbing Clove hitch

7 Sample Agency Commitment Letter Date Chuck Jones Operations Chief TEEX - Texas Task Force Gateway, Suite B College Station, TX To Whom It May Concern: Please accept this letter as a commitment from Insert Agency Name for Insert Person s Name participating in the Texas Task Force 1 Helicopter SAR Technician program. Should our candidate successfully complete the process and be selected to participate on TX- TF1, Insert Agency Name agrees to make available the team member for monthly recurrency training and deployment within TX as well as deployments through Emergency Management Agreement Compact. Failure to attend training at least once every 90 days will result in the removal of the member from the program. All indemnity for our candidate to include liability, insurance and workers compensation will be provided by this agency up to the time that a Task Force Memorandum of Understanding is executed. Signed (agency administrator): Printed Name: Title: Date: