Wanted. Explorers and men of courage to brave hostile conditions in attempt to reach North (south?) Pole in scientific endeavour. The expedition will take approximately 6 months and participants can expect grueling conditions, with slight possibility of some renown upon completion of our journey. Survival hopeful, but not guaranteed.
They got more applicants than they could handle in short order. Many were prepared to assist in equipping the expedition as well.
If someone has 30% or better odds of being able to put folk on Mars, I don't think they'll lack for volunteers. 8 years of prep work, should be enough to train someone for almost any specialty. I know that if someone were to put me in a rocket and tell me that there was a 30% chance I'd live on Mars, but a 70% chance I'd die in route by any of a number of methods. I'd not hesitate to sign up.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/1914/team.html
“MEN WANTED: FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS. SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON”