Transition from Explorer to Fire Fighter

[mwalshnh]

Can anyone tell me about their experiences with Explorers who are a little older than their peers and want to transition to the roll of Fire Fighter before they finish High School?

I am curious if you recommend staying an Explorer until graduation or has it worked out fine if they become Fire Fighters while their peers are still Explorers.

Thanks

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[D.Pharr]

I personnaly believe that they should stay explorers until they graduate. They can be explorers until they are 21 if they wish,so why be in a hurry.Most depts. won't allow interior fire fighting until they are at least 18 and graduation can't be that far away.

[Engine58]

I couldnt resist but to dig up a post farther back then what someone else did lol I think it all depends on what the person wants.. My department the way the program is set up is 18 years old and you have to join the Regular department no matter what.. Which I dont mind because education comes first before the Fire dept

[shammrock54]

The day after I turned 18 y/o I got put on the dept and it really wasnt that big of a step. If your around as the time gets closer to your being able to join as a FF most depts will start treating you as less of an explorer. I was fitted for my bunker gear a good three weeks before I was on the dept offically, and all that I needed to do was to be voted on by the chiefs at a meeting, nicely set for the day after my b-day. I was a FF for the whole of my senior year and it was not a problem.

[SFDexplorer]

I feel if you have a chance to be a firefighter, jump on it. Now if if it's before graduation maybe they should wait. But if you have the chance to test go for it.

[wlfdtr12]

I'm actually going to be in this type of situation soon. I turn 18 on April 12th. I have to go to the Fire Commission meeting on the 10th to get sworn in, but if they want to make an issue of two days, I'll have to wait until May. A probabtionary firefighter with no FF1 is really just a glorified Explorer, or at least it's that way in our department. The only difference is that they can throw Explorers off the truck, get a key, get better gear, and can go to Highway, Mutual Aid, and Airport calls without having to ask an Officer first. I don't think there will be a problem. Other friends of mine who moved up to the regular side haven't had problems. We all do the same job but the probies get some extra perks. I seriously can't wait. I've been waiting for this all of my life. I'm a fourth generation firefighter and want to carry on the tradition. It's just too bad my grandfather wasn't alive to see me now. I know he'd be proud of me, especially with me becoming Captain of the Explorers two years ago. But that's just my view, others might have problems becoming regular members. I think it just depends on the Explorers and how mature they are.

Anthony D. Ruggiero
Explorer Captain/EMT-B
Windsor Locks Fire Department Explorer Post 50
Windsor Locks, Connecticut

[CFD2 Explr Josh]

my opinion is this:
be an explorer until you get you FF1 and maybe EMT(b)
Then when you do get on the dept. not only can you be
an explorerbut also posibly an advisor as well.

[captstanm1]

Take your time.

Turning 18 does not make you a firefighter, nor does having all your certifications.

The rules (like some else said) are different from department to department.


But, if you are going to make this your career, then take your time. Experience (on the job), education (school) and training along with dedication and perserverence make the firefighter. You may join the department as a full member at age 18, but that does not make you a firefighter. It means you have taken another step in your career. As you transition, continue to listen and learn from others mistakes and experiences. Put everything together and work hard to be the best you can be. If at any time you look in the mirror and say to yourself..."I know it all, I am a firefighter!" It is time for you to quit before you hurt someone. I have been in it for over 30 years and I don't profess to know it all...and I never will.

Good luck!

Excellent question by the way.

[hosejockey20]

my department's rules specifically say that you have to be 18 and have a HS diploma before they'll even think of hiring you on as a FF... that said, i have about a month before 18th b-day, and 2 months before my graduation. what's another month or two?

[rfcmitch]

In our department you must be 18 and have graduated high school to go from Limited Duty to Fireman. But I don't think thats age is what makes the difference. I think its your maturity level, ability to do the job, or anything like that. Age is not a factor in my book, you can be 29 or 42 and some people should just not be firemen. So I guess is what I am trying to say, is that your status may change when you become 18 or whatever, but I feel the transistion from Junior/Limited Duty to fireman, is a longer period of time depending on the person. So its all up to you, if you feel comfortable I guess. But I would reccomend waiting until you graduate.

[WFDjr1]

In my opinion, I would think that the department would want you to move up as soon as possible, so that you could man attack lines and such. Your best bet would be to move up as soon as you turn 18, graduate, or whatever is required in your department.

[Dr Parasite]

I say if you can stay a junior until you graduate, do it. as wlfdtr12 said, "A probabtionary firefighter with no FF1 is really just a glorified Explorer". yeah, u might get better gear, and they might let you do more in trainings, but on a scene, you will still get assigned the junior jobs. stay a junior, you will have less requirements, and you can still learn all you need to.

also, I would advise against taking Firefighter I while still in high school. i know people who have tried it, and the physical requirements, along with the studying, along with normal high school work, can be overwhelming, and cause either school or fire school to suffer.