Well, having just waded through this thread's many pages, here's some input from someone with several years of SAR time, albeit dated (I was on SAR Course 20 ['82], and left in '89). I assume KJ_Gully or Rescue 38 will correct/update comments as necessary.
As a generalization, the SAR courses weeded out most of the Air Force and Navy guys early on because they couldn't do the PT. Conversely, some Army guys tended to have a particularly difficult time during the Medical phase - - studying just wasn't their strong suit. Practice doing 10 overhand chinups AND applying yourself intellectually.
Someone said SAR Techs get no weapons training. We had .303s for arctic SAR (anti-polar bear)- - at the time 435 Sqn, flying out of Edmonton, was the only one with C-130s, so we had the entire arctic within our region. For south of the tree-line, we carried a Remington 870 12-gauge. If it's bear breeding season and there are cubs around, momma bear does not like people falling from the sky into her living room. And if the bears were hungry and got to the crash site first, you'd have to find where the bodies had been dragged off to. It was always a good idea to send the Team Member ahead, (as bait) while you stayed a bit behind...with the shotgun.
Yes, it IS a 24/7 job. And when the pager goes off, it's usually 2am....and snowing....and you have plans for the next day when your stand-by was scheduled to end. But once your divorce is finalized, these aren't as much of a problem.
But over all, it IS the most awesome trade in the CF. Imagine.....getting paid to skydive, scuba dive, mountain-climb, and cut the clothes off of total strangers before sticking needles in them ;D But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
And if you're selected to try-out and you're are not totally prepared, you're wasting a slot that someone who WAS prepared could have used. So don't waste the time of your instructors, other potential candidates, or yourself.
