# Choose Your Career Path

Part of the Search and Rescue Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/search-and-rescue/guide/index.md)

*8. Future Paths*

> **8.** Do ONE of the following:

You must choose exactly one option from this requirement.

This final requirement helps you look past the badge and ask where these skills can lead. One path focuses on a professional career. The other focuses on volunteer service roles that often grow from training, teamwork, and community commitment.

## Your Options

- **[Req 8a — Research an SAR Career](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/search-and-rescue/guide/req8a/)**: Investigate one real career connected to search and rescue or emergency management, including training, costs, pay, duties, and advancement.
- **[Req 8b — Volunteer Response Paths](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/search-and-rescue/guide/req8b/)**: Explore how the badge could prepare you for volunteer work on a disaster relief team, wilderness rescue team, or ski patrol.

## How to Choose

**Which option fits you best?** — Pick the path that matches what you most want to learn

- [ ] **Choose 8a if:** You want to compare job duties, education, salary, and long-term career options.
- [ ] **Choose 8b if:** You want to see how ordinary people grow into skilled volunteers who serve their communities.
- [ ] **What you gain from 8a:** A clearer picture of one profession and the steps needed to enter it.
- [ ] **What you gain from 8b:** A realistic view of service, training, and short-term goals you can start building now.

| Option | Focus | Best for | What you gain |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 8a | Career research | Scouts thinking about jobs and education | A detailed picture of one profession |
| 8b | Volunteer pathways | Scouts interested in service and practical next steps | A plan for building experience over time |

> **Tip**
>
> If you already know you enjoy planning, leadership, medicine, aviation, weather, or outdoor response, option 8a may give you the sharper research project. If you want a realistic next step you could begin in your teens, option 8b may feel more immediate.

Finish the badge by looking first at the career-research path.

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- Previous: [Plan and Run a Practice Search](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/search-and-rescue/guide/req7/index.md)
- Next: [Research an SAR Career](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/search-and-rescue/guide/req8a/index.md)