DART Info for Article

[embot]

I'm a journalism student writing an article on the DART..focused on how members get involved, what kind of training is necessary etc, I'm really looking for specifics on the whole process. ie: What makes a good candidate for DART? How are members selected? Voluntary or Appointed? What are the responsibilities of members? What are they doing when they aren't being deployed? Is deployment mandatory?
Ideally, I'd like to get in touch with someone who actually has had experience on the team, but I can see that that's pretty unlikely, so any information would be kindly appreciated.  Thanks!

 

[Armymedic]

Ideally, I'd like to get in touch with someone who actually has had experience on the team, but I can see that that's pretty unlikely, so any information would be kindly appreciated.  Thanks!

Unlikely, no, I say likely. I have not been deployed overseas with DART but was on the team and did do training.
For the medical portion. There is very little additional training other then what we already do. Most is refresher on subject we don't do alot of, ie tropical medicine. The addition to DART medicine, is that we also get into kids and geriatric medicine as all segiments of the population is involved in disaster. On excersice the training has to do with getting familiar with the set up and the equipment we have and use.

As for actually manning of the DART platoon. The people are preselected on a manning slate that lays out position, rank and qualification required for that specific slot. It is voluntary, and you need to be prescreened and ready to go for rapid deployment. Nothing special in our current high Op tempo. For instance, I am not slated for next operation to Afghanistan, I will most likely be DART.

 

[embot]

Thanks for replying!
Just a few questions...So, you're saying that there is a DART team that is separate from the DART platoon? Is the DART team a group of selected shortlisted people that may be selected for the DART platoon, or am I misunderstanding something? 

Also, could you elaborate on what the application procedure for getting on the DART team is, or was for you? What skills/qualities are needed? Is it competitive?
How does the training work..is it like a one time basic training or is it an ongoing program?

And, if it's not too bold to ask, what made you decide to join the DART? What has your experience been? Do you still hope to serve on the DART overseas?

The article is for a Canadian Foreign Affairs magazine concept. The theme is a How-To section on getting on the DART, not necessarily realistic for most readers but I'd like it to be as informative as possible!

 

[Armymedic]

Dart is a company plus org made up of different specialized platoons, supersized platoons equal supersized company. The Medical platoon is what I was speaking of above.

Also, could you elaborate on what the application procedure for getting on the DART team is, or was for you? What skills/qualities are needed? Is it competitive?
How does the training work..is it like a one time basic training or is it an ongoing program?
what made you decide to join the DART? What has your experience been? Do you still hope to serve on the DART overseas?

There is no application, nor competition. You don't decide to join DART. It is a task. You do your day to day job, then when DART calls, you go. The once DART is done, you return to your normal job. There is no specialized training. In my case, as a Med Tech Sgt, I can fill any of the positions requiring a Med Tech Sgt. I already possess the skills and qualifications required. All DART posns are like that.

Basically its like this:
You are at work one day and your platoon commander calls you into thier office:
"Cpl Bloggins you are on DART, go do your prescreening."  "Yes Sir, good to go, Sir."
You go thru the prescreening which is just to ensure all your immunization is up to date, and personal admin (will, pay, etc) is all ok.
Then you may do an 3 day ex where you and the rest of the team set up the camp and play with kit. Then you go back to your normal job.

Then, CNN sees big bad disaster:
"Cpl Bloggins, DART is going to X, you are leaving in 48 hrs."  "Yes Sir, good to go, Sir."
And off you go for 40 days and 40 nights. Then you come home, have some time off, and return to your previous place of work.

The closest civilian equivelent I can think of is your volunteer fre depts. They are already trained to fight fires, but they work elsewhere. Once the fire bell rings, they come together and become a fire department.

If I am infering what you are trying to achieve, then you should try to contact the DART HQ in Kingston. These are the only full time DART staff, and they would be the ones who work closely with Foriegn Affairs.

 

[SHELLDRAKE!!]

Contact 2 RCHA in Petawawa, Ontario. They have supplied troops to DART for the earthquake in turkey, the tsunami and honduras.

 

[combatcamera]

Thanks for replying!
Just a few questions...So, you're saying that there is a DART team that is separate from the DART platoon? Is the DART team a group of selected shortlisted people that may be selected for the DART platoon, or am I misunderstanding something? 

Also, could you elaborate on what the application procedure for getting on the DART team is, or was for you? What skills/qualities are needed? Is it competitive?
How does the training work..is it like a one time basic training or is it an ongoing program?

And, if it's not too bold to ask, what made you decide to join the DART? What has your experience been? Do you still hope to serve on the DART overseas?

The article is for a Canadian Foreign Affairs magazine concept. The theme is a How-To section on getting on the DART, not necessarily realistic for most readers but I'd like it to be as informative as possible!

Hi,

I was over in Pakistan on the recent DART deployment as part of a Combat Camera team sent to cover the mission.  Although we are not "officially" part of the DART - we've sent teams over on the last two deployments as well as to the Hurricane Katrina relief in the States.  On all occasions we were there for the entire duration.

As some here have already answered, DART is made up from specialists within the military and deploys together as a "team" only when it is requested by a foreign government.  The nature of the DART mission (humanitarian) requires medical specialists, field and construction engineers, as well as soldiers and a headquarters element.  There is also a fairly large component of logistical and support  personnel required since DART is self-sustained.  On the last mission we had around 217 personnel with us total.

There is a good backgrounder here on the DART here that explains in detail what each of the platoons does:  http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/Plateau/view_news_e.asp?id=1796  More info here:  http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=301

Pics from Op PLATEAU here:  http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/netpub/server.np?find&defaultjoin=and&field=Keywords&op=contains&value=DART&field=Description&op=contains&value=hudec&site=combatcamera&catalog=photos&template=results_e.np&sorton=IPTC%20-%20DateCreated&ascending=0

For me, DART was a truly rewarding experience.  The conditions you are working out of are harsh, and you see some very nasty injuries, human sufferring, and unbelievable destruction.  Still, it's a good feeling coming back home from a humanitarian mission like this.  I'd highly recommend the opportunity to go on a DART deployment to any serving member here.

Frank

www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca
www.frankhudec.ca

 

[embot]

Thanks again, you've been very helpful and informative!
Combat Camera sounds like something I'd be interested in being involved in.