20 Years Remembered

Twenty years ago our lives changed forever. In minutes, millions of American’s and others around the world witnessed the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center Towers in Lower Manhattan, the attack on the Pentagon in Virginia and the crash of United Flight 93 in PA.

At 08:46AM to 10:28AM, the world witnessed tragedy, sadness, fear and angry. The one thing we never lost was hope. As families of thousands would never be the same again from those losing mothers, fathers, son & daughters to wives, husbands, brothers & sisters, we never lost hope. Hope gave us a sense of comfort that we can get through this better and stronger than before. Hope that would unite us and bring us together like never before. Hard to think this all happened 2 decades ago. On a day as similar as today. Blue skies with cool temperature in the NY/NJ area indicating fall is right around the corner.

A lot has happened over these last 20 years, good and bad but one thing remained…hope. Our hope for today is different. Our hope today is to pray we never lose sight of those who perished on that fateful morning and those affected in the days, months and years after. Our hope is we keep honoring and remembering these men and women from all walks of life, race, religion and creed by continuing to keep their memories alive for generations years to come.

As first responders, it is our duty to honor and remember the firefighters, police, EMTs, paramedics and all those men & women who sacrificed their lives that day and those that lost their lives thereafter. Honor these men and women through actions not solely our words. Words come and go but action adds meaning. Honor them through dedication to our job. Continue to train hard, treat each other with respect and never lose sight of why we do what we do each and every time the bell goes off and each and every time we put on the uniform and walk out that door.

When we answer the alarm, we do it for those who came before us and for those who will be following in our footsteps.

On this 20th anniversary of September 11th, remember why you do what you do and dedicate ways to make yourself better than yesterday. If not for anything else but do it for those who gave their lives for it.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Re-Present Yourself to Represent Your Department

From the time we enter the academy to the time we are sworn in as firefighters, we are training to become a better version of ourselves. Even after we graduate and begin our time as a firefighter we are still training each and every day to improve ourselves to become a better version of ourselves but what about the department and community we serve? They say the name on the helmet represents the department and the name on the jacket represents who raised you. Well, what if the name on the helmet and the name on the jacket are not only being represented by you but your “re-presenting” those names through you? 

Think about that for a minute. The 2 names on your uniform are being “re-presenting” through you. The town, the communities and other agencies know the department on the helmet and may quiet possibly know the name on the jacket but it’s how the names are carried and “re-presented” that makes the difference. It’s easy to put the uniform on and go to work but it’s another thing to put the uniform on and go to work with humility, honor and respect. Ask yourself these questions when you’re “re-presenting” the names because this is how you are “re-presenting” your department and your name to others.

1. Am I respectful to my boss and my crew?

2. Am I humble?

3. Do I respect the job?

4. How do I want these names to be “re-presented” to my fellow firefighters and the community?

5. Am I training hard each and every day to improve myself mentality and physically?

6. Would I be able to lead myself?

Being a firefighter and wearing the uniform isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. A privilege many people wish they had and a privilege that can be taken away at any moment. Be conscious of how you act and speak when wearing any part of that uniform on and off duty, it’s showing how you present yourself and also how you are “re-presenting” the names on that uniform. So do a service to your department, the community you sworn to protect, your fellow firefighters who ride alongside you, your family and most importantly yourself and “re-present” them the way you would want someone to “re-present” you. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 17 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ, a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor, a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website. A martial arts practitioner and former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Functional Fitness Instructor and Nutrition Coach.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University, and a A.A.S in Liberal Arts - Business from Middlesex County College. Nick has spoken at the 2017 & 2018 Firehouse Expo in Nashville, TN as well as at numerous fire departments within NJ and fire service podcasts.

A Day of Remembrance 17 Years After

September 11, 2001. There are no words needed to describe this day. A day of remembrance. A day of sorrow. A day of honor. Millions of people went to bed the evening of Sept 10th not knowing what tomorrow had in store. They woke up and said goodbye to their families not knowing this may be their last or not knowing this would be the day they stood up to help a neighbor in need. The events of Sept 11th brought people together, regardless of race, religion or of any personal and political belief. It's a day that mankind stepped up and helped a friend, a colleague, a stranger in need because that day told them it was their calling to do so.

Three hundred and forty three firefighters died that day and many more after, doing what they always do - their job. They answered the call the same way they answered the ones before, feet in their boots one foot at a time and geared up on their rigs to help the common man in their time of need. 17 years later we remember and honor those brave men and women who came from all walks of life to help those in their time of need. Thousands of these men and women perished that day but their memory, their legacy and their bravery live on.

Remember all those who stood up that day and honor their memory and legacy not only in words but in action. Take this time to make yourself better than you were yesterday. Become stronger, smarter and learn to forgive. The life we have is short, make it count and make it all you got.

May all the souls of those lost and those who live on each day from the tragic events of 9/11/2001 never be forgotten and may they always be honored and always be remembered.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

- Firehouse Tribune Staff

Discipline

We have all heard the word Discipline in many different ways through the course of our lives and careers. For those who listen to the Jocko Podcast know the worddiscipline to be used to explain freedom. As Jocko says, “Discipline Equals Freedom”. So what does discipline mean for us in the fire service?

Discipline can mean a lot ofdifferent things. It could mean an act to obey an order or a prescribed conduct/behavior. For me as a firefighter, discipline is doing the right thing even when it isn’t noticed by others and it also means always doing your job.

A disciplined firefighter is one that will take pride in his or her job at all times. This person will ensure they are alwaysmentally and physically ready for. They will make sure their uniform and gear is clean and ready to be worn when called upon. A disciplined firefighter will continually take pride in their job by washing the trucks and cleaning the station when needed. They will also tend to all the tools and equipment, ensuring they are clean, fueled, and 100% ready to go.

A disciplined firefighter will consistentlykeep training in many different ways. They will read books, articles, and do research on new tools, techniques, and advancements. They will also keep training their bodies physically to be fit for duty. They will make sure to set aside time for working out and eating right. For most, this will become a way of life and hopefully not just for them, but for their entire crew and family as well.

Perhaps most importantly a disciplined firefighter will share their knowledge and experiences with the younger members to instill a sense of pride and discipline into the new generation of emergency responders. This is critical because the younger generations look up to those of us who have been around for a long time. They tend to model their behavior and tendencies to that of the more experienced crew members. If we are sloppy, careless, and not disciplined they will also be. On the flip side, if we are squared away and disciplined they will be too.

When the bell goes off, everyone needs to know what is being asked of them and what their job is. When working on the fire ground everyone needs to work together to achieve the common goal of solving the problem presented. Being a disciplined firefighter will allow you to do your job efficiently so that everyone goes home.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

 About the Author

 NICHOLAS J. HIGGINSis a firefighter with 16 years in the fire service in Piscataway, NJ as well as NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor and currently a State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. A martial arts practitioner in Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai as well as a former collegiate athlete in baseball, Nick is also a National Exercise & Sports Trainer Association Battle Ropes Instructor, Nutrition Coach and studying for the Functional Fitness Instructor certification.  He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.