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Apply to Join by August 8th

The Transylvania County Rescue Squad (TCRS) is seeking hardworking, community-minded individuals who want to serve Transylvania County as part of a professional volunteer emergency response organization.

TCRS members respond to emergency situations in wilderness, backcountry, and other challenging environments. Members conduct searches, assist with technical rescues, provide emergency medical care, help evacuate patients, and work closely with local emergency services.

We are currently accepting applications for our 2026 TCRS Training Academy. The Academy, a 12-week course that runs from early September through mid-November, is the primary pathway for new members to join the Squad. It’s designed to introduce the core skills needed to participate safely and effectively in Squad operations. During the Academy, MITs (Members-In-Training) will receive hands-on experience and professional training in the following :

  • Incident management

  • Team-based emergency response

  • Land navigation

  • Radio communication

  • Wilderness search and rescue

  • Technical rope rigging

  • Emergency medicine

  • Other rescue skills and specialty disciplines

No prior rescue experience is required. We welcome applicants with a wide range of backgrounds, including outdoor experience, emergency services, healthcare, military service, public safety, leadership, teaching, trades, logistics, and community service.

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Become Part of the Family

Volunteering with TCRS is more than responding to calls. It means becoming part of a family. You’ll develop strong bonds with fellow volunteers through:

  • Shared experiences. From intense rescues and overnight trainings to communal meals and post-search ice cream, you’ll forge friendships built on trust, teamwork, and mutual respect.

  • Team support. Our members support each other in the field and off duty, creating a network of friends who have your back.

  • Camaraderie. Beyond calls and training, we share meals, celebrate milestones, and enjoy downtime together. From birthdays and graduations to promotions and new ventures, Squad members share life together.

Academy Time Commitment

The TCRS Academy requires a substantial time commitment for approximately 12 weeks, from early September through mid-November. The schedule typically includes one evening per week (generally Tuesdays from 6 pm to 10 pm), with a few weekend classes. The full schedule will be provided soon.

Many of our members have full-time jobs, children, family responsibilities, and other commitments, and we understand that occasional conflicts can happen. At the same time, consistent participation is important because Academy sessions build on each other and help prepare members to operate safely and effectively as part of the squad.

The Process

Apply

Complete our Academy Application (click the button below). The application closes at midnight on Saturday, August 8.

Visit (optional)

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend one of our Open Houses at the TCRS station, located at 233 Fisher Road, Brevard, NC 28712. Open Houses are optional, but they are a good opportunity to tour the station, meet current members, ask questions, and learn more about what TCRS does.

Open House dates:

  • Saturday, June 20, 3 - 6pm

  • Monday, July 13, 6 - 8pm

Selection Day

After applications are reviewed, qualified applicants will be invited to participate in Selection Day, an in-person, interactive assessment that helps us evaluate teamwork, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, physical readiness, wilderness skills and experience, and overall fit for the TCRS Academy.

Selection Day is a competitive part of the application process. Not all applicants who attend Selection Day will be invited to join the Academy. We use the day to identify the candidates who demonstrate the strongest potential to succeed in training, contribute to the team, and serve effectively as members of TCRS.

Selection Day is currently scheduled for Saturday, August 15. If you are not available that day, please notify us by emailing academy@transylvaniacountyrescue.com after completing the application. After Selection Day, top candidates will be invited to join the Academy.

Train

In early September, TCRS Academy begins! A cohort of MITs (Members-In-Training) will prepare for full TCRS membership through a combination of instruction, hands-on practice, scenarios, and team-based exercises. The Academy requires consistent participation because sessions build on one another. A full schedule will be provided as soon as it is available.

Graduate, Continue Training, and Serve the Community

After completing the Academy, MITs become official Squad members and begin a 6-month probationary period. During this time, they participate in routine Squad trainings (offered every Tuesday night), continue building essential skills, and shadow experienced members on real emergency calls. This could involve helping to find missing people, assisting with rescues, supporting emergency medical care, and aiding patient evacuations. Members may also pursue additional specific training and certifications in areas such as emergency medicine, technical rescue, land search, swiftwater operations, and incident management.

Take the first step towards joining the Transylvania County Rescue Squad by clicking the button below! Application closes at midnight on Saturday, August 8.

Apply to Join the Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The first step is to complete the TCRS Academy Application. Applications will be reviewed after the application period closes. Qualified applicants will be invited to Selection Day, and top candidates from Selection Day will be invited to join the Academy. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to attend an Open House to meet current members, tour the station, and learn more about the squad.

  • No, prior rescue experience is not required. The Academy is designed to introduce new members to the basic skills needed to begin participating in Squad operations. Applicants with emergency service, outdoor, medical, military, firefighting, law enforcement, leadership, technical, or volunteer experience are encouraged to apply, but we also welcome all motivated applicants who are ready to learn.

  • The TCRS Academy requires a substantial time commitment for approximately 12 weeks, from early September through mid-November. The schedule typically includes one evening per week (generally Tuesdays from 6 pm to 10 pm), with a few weekend classes. The full schedule will be provided soon. Because Academy sessions build on one another, consistent participation is important. We understand that occasional conflicts may happen, but applicants should be prepared to make the Academy a significant priority during that 12-week period.

  • After completing the Academy, members are expected to stay actively involved with TCRS. This includes:

    • Regular participation in Tuesday night meetings and trainings

    • Responding to emergency calls as availability allows

    • Maintaining required skills and certifications

    • Continuing to develop skills through advanced classes, drills, and specialty training

    Members have different schedules and availability, and TCRS understands that volunteers have jobs, families, school, and other responsibilities. At the same time, ongoing participation in regular training is necessary to remain an effective member of the squad.

  • No, but rapid and reliable response is an important part of TCRS membership, and you should live close enough to respond to calls and participate regularly in squad activities. We have found that the most successful members live within a 20 minute drive of our station in downtown Brevard.

  • None starting out! We welcome all levels of experience. During the Academy and/or probationary period, new members will need to obtain basic required certifications, including ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800; and BLS / CPR. We’ll guide you through the process of obtaining these certifications. After the Academy, members are encouraged to pursue additional certifications and training, such as:

    • Emergency Medical Responder

    • Emergency Medical Technician

    • North Carolina Technical Rescuer

    • Land Search Field Team Member

    • Swiftwater Rescue Training

    • Other rescue-related specialty training

  • Members must be at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit for membership. Volunteers of different ages and backgrounds contribute valuable skills, knowledge, maturity, energy, and perspective to the squad.

  • Applications for the 2026 TCRS Academy are open through midnight on August 8. Click here to apply! Questions? Contact academy@transylvaniacountyrescue.com.

Still have Questions?