As of late I have been reading or re-reading some pretty motivational stuff. REPORT FROM ENGINE CO. 82 by Dennis Smith and PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP by Chief Lasky are very heavy on the motivational side. You see, I wasn't needing motivation. I was reminding myself of what I do and why I do it.
This is a perfect time to remind ourselves or even re-motivate ourselves, if need be, because of all the change happening or about to happen in our department.
We have a new Fire Chief, and he is bringing with him some new ideas, new philosophies, and new expectations. For some this will be a big wake up call, and for others this will be just another great day on shift.
Our city has started the process of hiring a Fire Academy class. This is good and much needed. But this is also the time to reflect on ourselves and just exactly how "WE" want to train these cadets to be. Sure, they will be spending 12 to 13 months in a Fire Academy learning how to pass tests to get certified to be firefighters and paramedics. Be sure though that their "actual" training on "How To Be" a firefighter/paramedic will be done by us in the field.
These academies do a wonderful job in preparing these men and women to regurgitate algorithms and tetrahedrons, but do nothing in teaching about station life and their roles.
That is our jobs. I can hear them now " I am not a FTO", "They can learn the hard way", We don't get paid extra to train them". The people that you hear using these remarks are the same ones that bitch and complain about everything. It is tiresome.
Why are we creating Chiefs positions before we put more boots on the ground? Why am I having to ride the ambulance? Why am I being sent out? That guy hasn't ridden enough on a ambulance this month. I am at a "specialty" station, so I shouldn't have to ride. I have heard all of these bitches and complaints and questions lately. Again it is tiresome.
Doing all of those things above is part of "ALL OF OUR" jobs. I'll tell you why these people bitch and complain about these things, because it is easier then offering a solution to a problem.
Adding a Chiefs position over a firefighter seems simple enough. Look we are always trying to add to our staffing levels. Adding a position that everyone has an opportunity to promote to over a position people only demote to is a no brainer. (If it can be done contractually). You are being sent out because that is where you are needed, PERIOD. Assignments to stations are great on paper, but we are all firefighters and can do the job at any station that we are needed at. You are riding the ambulance because that red patch on your arm says you are a paramedic. You have no problem with the paramedic pay incentive you receive. Paramedics ride ambulances, don't want to ride one? Promote and or drop your patch, easy. Complaining that other firefighters are not riding an ambulance enough, when you yourself only ride maybe once or twice a year (if not longer), is chicken shit and completely selfish. BLOWS THE WHOLE "BROTHERHOOD" THEORY RIGHT OUT OF THE WATER. Every station has specialized equipment that only a few people know how to operate - the equipment is call a Fire Engine/ Ambulance and the few people that know how to operate that equipment are known as Firefighters.
There are solutions. May not be the best ones, but they are solutions. This is our job and we must always chase this job. Want this job more then anything else. We must understand that there are always things that need to be worked one, on all levels. We must always go after this job full tilt, no matter where you that shift. We must be that way so that we can "TRAIN" the cadets and probies to be that way as well.
If we are nothing more then a bunch of lazy, complaining firefighters, guess what we produce? But if we take the bull by the horns and accept every challenge that is given to us with dedication and determination, guess what we produce? I am going to steal a quote from one of my senior engineers in my department. It says "A single snow flake can start an avalanche".
Be that snow flake, be that change, be the better firefighter by not complaining but finding and offering solutions to issues. Be the firefighter you want to see others become.
NEVER STOP CHASING YOUR JOB....
Check out the short video..
1 comment:
Very good article! You tell it like it is. I thought our academy was gonna be more like a bootcamp but, it wasn't. We have the opportunity to start fresh with this next batch of cadets. We need to instill a sense of Honor, pride, and commitment in them. Maybe some FTO pay can be put into the contract like PD. Some people are not good teachers and should not let their bad attitudes rub off on the cadets.
JD Rocha
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