Every incident starts with our operational team members. They go out on the hill in any weather, at any hour. They search for missing people and bring casualties to safety.
Being operational is the core role in the team. Everything else is built on top of it. You can’t train for crag rescue, water rescue or advanced casualty care until you are an operational member. Those skills only work when the basics are second nature.
From new joiner to full member
It usually takes up to 18 months to go from your first training night to full membership. There are three stages.
Trainee
New joiners start as trainees on our first training module. They learn the core skills: navigation by day and night, searching, first aid, stretcher handling, radio use and working safely on the hill.
Probationer
Once the core skills are in place, trainees become probationers and go on call. Probationers attend real incidents alongside experienced members, keep training every week and build up the further learning and operational experience they need.
Full member
When a probationer is ready, the full team votes on accepting them as a member. Full members receive the team’s red mountain rescue jacket, which is worn with real pride, and have a vote on team decisions.
Roles built on operational membership
Once you are operational, you can go on to train for one or more of our specialist roles.
Our controllers, who run every incident, are operational members too. In control, assistants from our supporters group support them. Assistants don’t need to be operational.
Specialist roles
Searching for missing peopleHow our search planners work with the police to find missing people, including people living with dementia, and how the Herbert Protocol helps.
Water rescue teamOur water rescue team works to Defra flood rescue standards: what Module 1, 2 and 3 rescuers do, how to spot them, how we train and the kit we carry.
Crag rescueHow Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team rescues people from crags and quarries: the skills, training and qualifications of our rope rescue specialists, the…
Medical careHow Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team cares for casualties: basic life support for every member, Remote Rescue Medical Technicians (RRMT), our team doctor…
Control and logging: the team behind the teamHow our controllers and loggists run a mountain rescue incident, from base, from home or from M3, our control vehicle.
How we get there
Could you join us?
You don’t need any rescue or medical experience. We teach you everything. What we need is commitment, hill fitness and the time to train every week. Find out how to join the team.