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Firefighters give me your insight.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by bdpeelgren, Apr 24, 2019.

  1. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:10 PM
    #1
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    I recently got out the military to go to school for CNC programming. I’m halfway through getting my A.A.S now.
    I’m getting really bored with it though. It’s so slow paced and kind of mind numbing compared to what I’m used to.
    I woke up the other day thinking I’d be really interested in being a firefighter. Not so much thinking about the poster board fighting fires aspect but the community relations and camaraderie.
    I’m not concerned about the physical aspect or wearing hota** gear. I’ve been there done that.

    If you could please share with me how you got into it, and if you enjoy it or if it’s just a job for you. Or any advice you care to give.
     
  2. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:12 PM
    #2
    poheller

    poheller 2018 Platinum

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    Fire real hot...
     
  3. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:18 PM
    #3
    Navy Jumper

    Navy Jumper Airborne Paratrooper

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    What did you do in the military?
     
  4. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:19 PM
    #4
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Long periods of boredom interrupted by short bursts of adrenaline filled excitement, but mainly you’re an EMT running shortness of breath calls to obese smokers...upside is after 20 years of hazard pay, you can retire with full bennys...
     
  5. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:23 PM
    #5
    Racingjohndeere55

    Racingjohndeere55 New Member

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    I did 25 years.... Volunteer! Never made a penny. That is a noble idea, you will never regret it.
     
  6. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:27 PM
    #6
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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  7. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:30 PM
    #7
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    Short version, I was a Steelworker in The Navy.
    Maybe you know about the Seabees? Not many people do.
     
    Navy Jumper[QUOTED] and poheller like this.
  8. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:31 PM
    #8
    Navy Jumper

    Navy Jumper Airborne Paratrooper

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    I do. I was an ET.
     
  9. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:33 PM
    #9
    poheller

    poheller 2018 Platinum

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    I do, Army Combat Engineers here, heavy equipment operator, Airborne.
     
  10. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:39 PM
    #10
    Azblue

    Azblue Beer is Good Ban Moderator

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    The Dirty T

    Thank you for your service. If something needs built, Seabees do it.
     
  11. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:40 PM
    #11
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    It’s nice not having to explain that not everyone in the Navy is on a ship in the water haha
     
  12. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:40 PM
    #12
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    Brian, what’s up dude. I live down the road from you and am a firefighter / paramedic for the big county next door.

    First, how old are you?

    I’ll type up some more stuff here shortly. I’ll also welcome you to come hang at the fire house and show you how things go down.
     
    tinman10101 and Jrharvey02 like this.
  13. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:44 PM
    #13
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    Im 23.
    That would be awesome, to see how things operate before making a big change in direction.
    I’ve been looking at a lot of Austins FD recruiting videos. Quite flashy haha. But it really seems like everything is well organized.
     
  14. Apr 24, 2019 at 5:56 PM
    #14
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    AFD is a great department, but it is incredibly difficult to get on with them. They get hundreds of hopeful applicants and it really comes down to luck. Their schedule, call volume, and overall ability to move up are things to consider as well.

    I started out as an EMT, then paramedic, then firefighter. The job itself is love or hate for most people. The reality is, we run 90% medical calls than we do fires. So I'd say figure out if you like the medical aspect first. It's probably a pretty big risk to you to try and get hired on somewhere that will put you through school to find you don't like it, so I'd recommend trying to go through EMT school on your own first and see how you like it.

    If you find interest in the medical side and can get your paramedic, you are a MUCH more desirable candidate to be hired somewhere. Most departments these days are moving to FF/paramedics only (aside from some of these large metro departments like AFD).

    Hit me up sometime and come hang out. We run our own ambulances, too, so that adds another aspect to the department.
     
  15. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM
    #15
    Navy Jumper

    Navy Jumper Airborne Paratrooper

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    Tell me about it. I spent 11 years active, and never saw a ship.
     
  16. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:01 PM
    #16
    Stormtrooper81

    Stormtrooper81 Slow and steady

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    I have no idea what city fire is like but wild land firefighting was awesome. Helicopter rides, insanely huge fires, planes dropping retardant, running from fire, starting huge back burns with a torch, saving homes, dropping giant trees. Time of my life!
     
    15whtrd and Medic343 like this.
  17. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:18 PM
    #17
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for all the info, I never thought about the EMT side of it.
    It’s still just a thought, but if I do decide to act on it I can use my GI bill to go through the EMT program with temple college.

    My number one question about the AFD academy... is it like a boot camp to where I’d be stuck living there for the duration of the training? Looking at the videos the people going through looked just like the new boots do in the military.
     
  18. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:23 PM
    #18
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    Also, I’m done with my second semester next week until the 20th of May. So I definitely would like to come hangout during that time.
    I will PM you in the near future about getting a date and time.
     
  19. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:27 PM
    #19
    teedubbya

    teedubbya I like fat booty

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    I don’t know much about their academy. I think they put you through both fire and EMT so that’s a huge plus.
    We have a couple of part timers that are full time with AFD who can give you more info
     
  20. Apr 24, 2019 at 6:31 PM
    #20
    bfd300

    bfd300 New Member

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    I became a Vol FF when I was 18 yo....at 25 I got hired as a Firefighter for the USArmy. As a civilian.
    In 1999 I was hired for the city of Bayonne NJ. This October 1st I will have 20 years with the city of Bayonne. Today I am also a volunteer FF in the town I live in. I am over 30 years in the Fire service. For me my heart was and is in it,I am almost 50 years old and still act and function like I am in my 20’s when it comes to a working fire. It’s no joke. A game face is needed when the FDis called. When the F D is called, someone needs help. there is no maybes in this job. Your in or your out. Up here in the northeast it is not easy to get this job, so much competition. This is a career not a job. Make sure it’s what you want to do.
     
  21. Apr 24, 2019 at 7:04 PM
    #21
    Medic343

    Medic343 5+4+3=2

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    It's already been said a couple times but I'll just back what everyone is saying. If you want to be a firefighter make sure you like EMS first. Easily 90% of your calls will be medical. I started off in fire and fell in love with the medical, I'm a full time paramedic now and left fire.

    Wildland firefighting on the other hand. That is some crazy stuff right there. My hats off to all wildland guys. That's about all I can say about it though cause I know nothing else.
     
    Stormtrooper81 likes this.
  22. Apr 24, 2019 at 8:30 PM
    #22
    bdpeelgren

    bdpeelgren [OP] New Member

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    Lol I can’t imagine it would be anything close to that. I just would hate to have to go back to bare bones living quarters and not going by big boy rules.
    Plus it would make it a lot harder to sell it to the wife if I told her I was going back to another “boot camp”
     
    15Yota likes this.
  23. Apr 24, 2019 at 8:39 PM
    #23
    NoRcptn

    NoRcptn Better than mediocre poster

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    It's a good field to get into. Yes a lot of medical side. In California if you're a paramedic you can right your own ticket. Work just about anywhere and make want you want to. Being in the medical field (Paramedic) opens a lot of doors. Flight medic, CHP, RN, etc. The fires are a bonus for sure. Larger cities have a lot of disciplines to work in USAR, HAZMAT, Investigations, etc. But being on a truck or engine is second to none. I'll tell you now, the job is ok can be good and can be bad, depending on your outlook and predisposition. But the crew and cameraderie is what makes it the best job in the world.
     
  24. Apr 24, 2019 at 9:44 PM
    #24
    Blueline

    Blueline New Member

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    Firefighters are America’s Heroes. He doesn’t want to be a hero? Go for it, and become part of the brotherhood.
     
  25. Apr 24, 2019 at 11:15 PM
    #25
    Turk980

    Turk980 Freedom Isn't Free

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    I just retired last June after 28 yrs as a Structural FF, did 8 yrs before that as a wildland FF, both are alot of fun, both can be boring as can be. there was no emt work when i did the wildland thing but when we weren't working on a fire we did forest management stuff, as a structural FF for my department like most about 90% of runs are medical, it is best if you can put up with the BS runs is to try to get assigned to a busy station and a crew that is not afraid of training, my department also has specialty teams, i was on the haz mat team. i might be a bit bias but working on a ladder crew is more fun usually gets to do more at fires. if you get paramedic certification it is easier to get hired nowadays. alot of different ways various depts us them. The dept i worked for did plenty of wildland firefighting and if you wanted to could get sent out of the city to larger fires. Being a FF is still one of the best most satisfying you can do but you still have to do some and see some really shitty stuff. My dad was a Seabee.
    Thank you for your service
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2019
  26. Apr 25, 2019 at 3:23 AM
    #26
    poheller

    poheller 2018 Platinum

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    Exactly, we use to say when a ship sails 300 men go to sea and 150 couples come back.... just kidding, I look up to all who served....
     
  27. Apr 25, 2019 at 4:03 AM
    #27
    rsgt

    rsgt New Member

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    Went to Detroit Fire Academy was a FF then promoted to FO. Loved being a FF but hated being a FO incident commander ! You don't go in but direct FF what to do. Was very stressful, fire is fucking unpridectalbe . I liked being a police officer a whole lot better !
     

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