[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by EricH

The info is out there. You just need to know where to look. I'll give you a nutshell and a link.

Phase 1: Make yourself known to the Volunteer Coordinators. Volunteer. Field Reset might be a good option, as would Field Setup or Field Teardown. You might be able to get away with FTAA (though I'd suggest going with one of the earlier ones and advising the Field Supervisor and FTA that you're looking to go to FTA eventually). This is something you can do this year.

Phase 2: FTAA, shadow FTAs, etc. Might take a couple of years. I can't find the FTA qualifications on the site (easily, at any rate), but FTAA is available, and so are a lot of others.

You missed a step, at least in MN. Scorekeeper for a couple of years, then FTAA for a couple, then maybe, if you've impressed folks and you're reliable.

Do you really want to be an FTA though? There's a lot more to it than you see on the field. The FTA is the first one on site and the last one off site, every single day. Sure, you get to wear the giant target on your back and you get to tell teams "you need to turn on your robot for it to work" fifty times a day, but it's not all sunshine and roses. FTA is hard menial work with a lot more responsibility than most think.