Training the heroes of tomorrow.... TODAY

The Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads is an Association of Life Saving, Rescue, and First Aid Units with members organized, trained, and equipped for various types of rescue and first aid work.

The Association works for better recognition of organized Rescue and First Aid activities through organizations, government officials, agencies, and departments, on community and state levels. Membership in T.A.R.S. gives each of us direct participation in promoting this greater understanding and recognition of the organized rescue and first aid movement.

What's New: December 1, 2025

We are almost 1 month away from the Captain / Unit Directors meeting on January10th. The in-person meeting will be held at the Drury Inn & Suites, 209 Advantage Place Knoxville, TN 37922. There will be on online option for those who can not attend in person.

I encourage EVERYONE to attend these meetings, but only the Captain or Unit Director from your squad has voting privileges, depending on your department.

This is also a reminder that if you are the Captain / Unit Director and not able to attend the meeting and are sending a "proxy" to vote in your place, that proxy letter must be submitted PRIOR to this meeting and on a department letterhead signed by the person of authority for your squad (Captain / Unit Director).

Bylaws: Article II, Section 1 Board of Directors, (7) At every such meeting each Director shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote on each matter of business, which vote may be cast by the Unit Director in person or by proxy issued to another member from same squad/unit and present at that meeting. If voting by ballet, only the Author of that ballet, whether by Unit Director/proxy or individual may place that ballet in the ballet box. All proxies must be in writing on Squad/Unit letterhead and signed by the Captain or listed Unit Director and must be filed with the Secretary of The Association and be entered into the minutes of the meeting.

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT EMAILS OR VERBAL AGREEMENTS. A PROXY LETTER MUST BE SUBMITTED ON YOUR DEPARTMENT LETTER HEAD...

Please send your proxy to: shannon@tnars.org and she will pass it along to the state secretary.

Training News:

For a list of the most current classes scheduled, please click the link below:

The Rescue College Training Calendar is a floating calendar and constantly in the works. We have had several requests for agency only courses and are always scheduling classes throughout the year. Please note effective January 1, 2026, Rescue College Classes (excluding Awareness Level, Specialty, and Swiftwater Courses) will be $125 per student for full TARS members, $225 per student for TARS Associate Member agencies, and $300 per student for non-member and/or non-affiliated agencies.

As offered in prior years, we will continue to offer certain prerequisite courses online. Instructor Methodology is being offered separate from the Instructor I offerings for EVOC and Awareness/Operations Vehicle Rescue. Swift Water Rescue Awareness is also being offered independent of Swift Water Rescue I. Both courses are prerequisite classes to enter the Instructor I disciplines or Swift Water Rescue I courses respectively.

In the meantime, if your department is interested in hosting a College Level Course, please email brian@tnars.org with your course request.

Dependent on registration numbers, unsafe weather conditions, or potential host agency issues, all Rescue College classes are subject to postponement and/or reschedule. All students will be advised via their registration email address at least 7-10 days prior to the start date of the class of any changes/cancellations.

B. Robinson

State Training Coordinator

Scheduled Training Classes