Probationary Firefighters, Are We Failing Them?
Whether you're in a career or volunteer fire department, the discussion of our probationary members not being good enough is always a topic. The blame is still on them, but are we the ones who are failing?
I grew up in a community about an hour north of New York City. Ever since I was a kid I've had a fascination with the fire department, I remember the FD coming to school for fire prevention, and it was the highlight of my school year. Naturally, when I turned 16 in 2004, I joined the department. My first day in as they're setting me up with PPE and introducing themselves to me, I immediately noticed a particular lifestyle among the members.
Within that lifestyle was mutual respect. As the new guy, my role was keeping my apparatus clean, learning the tools and equipment, listening, and, most importantly, keeping my mouth shut. Honestly wasn't too much different than my home life. Keep the room clean, do my homework, and respect my elders. I noticed the more I followed these simple rules; I gained the respect of my fellow firefighters. I believe it as much now as I did then, respect is earned not given. As I progressed and continued training and taking state fire courses, I moved up the ranks from Lieutenant to Captain and now to my position as the 2nd Assistant Chief.
As I moved up, we took in a countless number of new members. Some stuck with it, some it didn't work out for, some of them currently serve under me as Captain or Lieutenants themselves. The one thing I've noticed among the years was the ambition and respect level has changed. Some members seemed excited to be a firefighter. However, once asked to clean or take the garbage out or even learn the truck's equipment, it became more like a chore. They would go home and never step foot in the firehouse again. The firehouse was becoming more of a haven or a clubhouse for them to hang out and not have to listen to parents at home.
For years I had the same attitude as many do now; if these younger members can't adapt to our lifestyle and traditions, they're useless to us. During my time as captain, a newer member asked if I could come down and go over the apparatus and equipment with him. He commented that he enjoys learning, and wishes more people hung around to help. At this moment, I thought to myself; maybe we are failing the youth of the fire service. Everything is completely different for young adults nowadays.
Not to offend anyone, but take a look at the lifestyle of today's youth. Children are rewarded for everything they do. Trophies for finishing 6th place? Disrespect a teacher at school, and the teacher can't discipline you. Your parents can barely discipline you without someone involving child protective services. Fire Departments run on military time, and the schools in my area don't even teach students how to read a quartz clock anymore. We show up to fire prevention day or a career day, and we preach to these young adults that firefighting is excellent. They come to the firehouse. They check everything out; they join, and then we immediately throw them into "our lifestyle" without even knowing them.
We expect them to take out the trash and clean, chores they barely do at home thanks to robot vacuums and a sense of entitlement. We hope they stop watching TV in the ready room and learn the apparatus. We expect them to respect us as senior members or officers, but we don't include them in conversations. I guess my point, in the end, is, maybe we as officers and senior members are the issue. If we take more time to get to know them, show them what a rookie firefighter is all about, by cleaning with them, going over equipment with them, and all in all, just being around for them more, maybe, they'll adapt to the lifestyle that we created as firefighters. Perhaps if we stop to think of them and how the world has changed, and they're not living in the same era as we once did, then we can adapt together.
The late Chief Alan Brunacini said, 'If you want to make changes in the workers' behavior, change the behavior of the boss.' It's a great saying in any line of work. So, think about what if we can get both sides to adapt and coexist; maybe we can create a better firefighter lifestyle for the future fire service.
