We as firefighters often talk about getting more people in the door – but what about the ones who are already here? What about the young firefighters trying to find their footing?
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and learn from some of the best leaders and instructors in the fire service, as well as work under solid officers on my volunteer department. After a long discussion with Chief Frank Leeb, he recognized my passion mirrors his own 30 years ago, and he challenged me to share my perspective of the fire service as an 18-year-old firefighter.
The first thing that comes to mind is the lack of trust in the younger generation. Too often, I hear older firefighters talking down to younger ones. Don’t get me wrong – there are things not to like about my generation, but don’t group us all together. There are plenty of young men and women who want to go to fires, who want to train, and who want to earn respect the right way.
When I think about that, I’m reminded of Lt. Ray McCormack’s “Culture of Extinguishment” speech at FDIC – a video I watch frequently. He said:
“I hear a lot about these college kids entering the fire service, but believe it or not, we had college kids entering the fire service back in the ’80s. Believe me, I know – I was one of them. Yes, it can seem overwhelming that our firefighters now have a degree instead of a trade. But it’s up to you to develop a trade in them. The trade of firefighter.”
Bridge the Gap With Mindset
There’s a lot we can all do to make the fire service better, and it starts with mindset. How we treat each other. Letting go of egos. Understanding that everyone, no matter their experience level, has something valuable to offer. If we can change our mindset, we can bridge the gap – and in doing so, build a stronger, more united fire service for everyone.
The second topic, closely related to the first, is the importance of instilling a mission-driven mentality. This often falls on instructors within technical colleges – those privileged to teach the basics to brand new firefighters. I was able to identify issues early on in my own training experience, but not everyone does.
If we can take a brand new firefighter who’s never touched a set of bunker gear and teach them real-world operations from the start, wouldn’t that set them up for success? The phrase, “I have to teach you this way because that’s what the book says,” should have no place in the fire service. Textbook knowledge matters and needs to be understood with practical knowledge and research, but it can’t replace the value of realistic, aggressive training that prepares firefighters for what they’ll actually face.
But Why?
We have to understand the why behind every tactic. If we don’t know why we’re doing something, should we even be doing it? My message to every new firefighter entering the technical college would be: Stay open-minded. There are other strategies, tactics, and operations out there: go to outside training, follow social media platforms, and listen to what other firefighters have to offer. There are great resources online that all firefighters can learn from such as: Search Culture, Priority Fire Training, and Back of the Bay.
The fire service should be a mission-focused brotherhood and sisterhood that puts the citizens first, builds each other up, and values training, fitness, and tradition. Every member – recruit to chief – can do better. We call this the best job in the world, and it is. But we can’t forget that the best job in the world deserves our best effort and our best attitude, every single day.
