Alexandria, VA

[AirForceFire24]

Hi....I recently passed the Written Test for Alexandria and am going to take the Physical Test this Sunday....

Does anyone know

1)The course for the physical test (it is not the CPAT) because i wasunable to take the practice test last week due to military obligations

2) How many this City is planning on Hiring (not many i am guessing)


Thank you

[Fargo2722]

The physical is very straight forward and not as demanding as the IAFF CPAT. You have a little over 6 minutes to complete the tasks while wearing a pack (not on air).
1) Ladder move (pick it up move it a few feet put it down)
2) Standpipe hook up
3) ladder raise
4) stair climb with hose pack
5) forcible entry (sledge hammer with skid prop)
6) hose drag
7) dummy drag

Also an aerial ladder climb - 75 feet up and down in 90 seconds.

They will give you a sheet with all the info about the next steps of the process when you attend this weekend. They are putting 19 through a June Academy.
See you Sunday! ;)
-ww

[Whaler]

I took my agility on Thursday. There is another event they give that is not mentioned. You have to pick up a 75 lb box and carry it about 30 feet. Plus the agility is in the water treatment plant basement (not too easy to breathe down there :-)) You have to pace yourself. The ladder climb is harder than you might think and I was told that event is the one most candidates fail. You have to reach the top of the ladder in 30 seconds to allow yourself enough time to descend.
They are putting on 19 new firefighters in June.
If you pass the agility you will have to attend an interview next week with a fd panel and the fd chief.
Good luck.

[Fargo2722]

There is another event they give that is not mentioned. You have to pick up a 75 lb box and carry it about 30 feet.

good call i forgot that one. thx!

[AirForceFire24]

cool...thanks for the info....couple more questions for ya if you dont mind

1) If u had to guess..how many are actually taking this physical test..like i know there were about 400 taking the written test....how many do you think passed, and are taking this PT?

2) ...im from chester county, PA...near Philly....i like it down there in VA...i got a couple tests coming up (Cincy is one of em =) ) one is also Prince William County...what r ur thoughts about that area and Got ne ideas on other places to test down there?


Thanks AGain

[AirForceFire24]

another thing...the aerial climb...your talking about an aerial from a Ladder Truck right?? Cause if thats the case...ne one from a Truck Company shouldnt find that too difficult..

[AirForceFire24]

aighty....cool....so i passed the test...(i guess it be easier to count how many didnt pass than did).....ne one know how many took the Physical, passed, and are invited for the interview by chance?

[AirForceFire24]

was wondering how everyone thought they did on their interview...took mine today and i think i did pretty well for my first time....we'll see....

ne body know when we're supposed to get a call...??

thanks

[Fargo2722]

was wondering how everyone thought they did on their interview...took mine today and i think i did pretty well for my first time....we'll see....

ne body know when we're supposed to get a call...??

thanks

Congrats on the interview AirForce24. Glad you left with a positive feeling. I also felt it went smoothly. The next step in the process is an interview with the Asst. Chief which will be conducted sometime between March 25th and April 1st. Candidates will be notified via email should they get selected for the next interview. From there the A/C will make a conditional offer of employment to candidates on or around April 4th. Those people will have to pass the Background investigation, medical, polygraph, and drug screen. Academy starts in June and runs 22 weeks. At the practice FPAT they handed out a sheet of paper with this information which is what i'm referencing, I know you mentioned you weren't able to attend so I hope this info helpful for you. Let's hope we make it to the next step!
Best,
wpw

[AirForceFire24]

Hey...today got some great news...the panel recommended me to the Assistant Chief along with 58 other candidates...April 3 at 8pm, gotta take another trip...not bad the first time...this is definintely a learning experience.... for couple questions

1)Ne one else on here get recommended?? Fargo?? I be you did, you seem pretty squared away...
2) I could kinda read up on what i could expect from the panel, but i have no idea what or how to prepare for the Assistant Chief...this is the make or break for me...ne one got ne pointers or could point me to some threads

Thanks
-Stanton

[Whaler]

I got an interview too.

[Fargo2722]

Excellent, well we are each onto the next step then. AirForce; it's tough for me to give you advice on how to prepare -- we are each going for a position here. Just be yourself, and as the email said put your best foot forward. Hopefully we can all continue and secure a spot in the top 19. Best of Luck!
Cheers,
wpw

[AirForceFire24]

definitely....good luck and I hope the best to, well the three of us...haha...see ya on the other side, hopefully

[Fargo2722]

definitely....good luck and I hope the best to, well the three of us...haha...see ya on the other side, hopefully
yeah man. I'm in the 6PM session on the same night as you so maybe i'll see you there depending on how long it takes. best,
wpw

[AirForceFire24]

hey fargo....ur location says Arlington...I heard that they are also testing soon...is this true...i took a quick trip into Arlington while i was down in Alexandria but not enough to get a good look....how is it ?

[Fargo2722]

hey fargo....ur location says Arlington...I heard that they are also testing soon...is this true...i took a quick trip into Arlington while i was down in Alexandria but not enough to get a good look....how is it ?

Drop me an email or PM me. You're profile isn't allowing me to send either to you. That way we don't have to tie up the boards. ;)
-wpw

[AirForceFire24]

What kind of DIFFERENT questions should i be expecting the Assistant Chief to be asking? Ive gone through all the typical questions over and over again....now i am jjst trying to fine tune for tongith the various, "other" questions real quick

[Whaler]

Has anyone heard if they got the job yet? Just wondering. They didn't give an updated time frame at my interview so I guess I am going by the April 4th date, which is today. Has anyone heard differently?

[Fargo2722]

Has anyone heard if they got the job yet? Just wondering. They didn't give an updated time frame at my interview so I guess I am going by the April 4th date, which is today. Has anyone heard differently?

I was wondering the same thing Whaler. I think we should assume we won't hear today. My interview was last night and I know AirForce’s was last night too. I believe they are going alphabetically through the list and I have a feeling last night was the last interview day (I'm a "w") so . . . following that line of thinking they may be a day or two behind the timeline they originally gave of being done with interviews on April 1. That's been my line of thinking all day at least, course i'm still checking my email every hour!
-ww

[Whaler]

Thanks Fargo. I too have been checking my email throughout the day. I agree with you about the timeline. I hope they do it soon though..... the suppense is killing me.

Keep us posted and good luck.

[AirForceFire24]

yeah, my interview was monday night...supposed to be at 8, didnt get in till 840...had a 3 hour drive home, but i felt bad cause the guy behind me had an even longer drive....i havnt heard ne thing yet and ive been checking non-stop....its depressing...but whats even more depressing is the fact i prolly wont get it...lol...i got in an accidident on the way home on 495 NB....yea, if ne one was traveling and saw 7 cars on the shoulders...i was in that...haha....ambulance didnt even check me out...and i didnt sign a refusal letter...i dont know how they do things down there but, here in PA, we check EVERYONE and get refusals if we dont transport!!!

Good luck!!

[AirForceFire24]

by the way, i meant to say....the Deputy Chief and Wayne Bass DID say I will be hearing from them within the next 2 weeks...i dont know if ne one else was told this....so, while i will be checking Everyday still, i would like everyone to know that i might not be right away that we get this reply

[Fargo2722]

oh man, that sucks about the accident. I was wondering about you and the drive because all that weather came in around 7-7:30 Monday night and I was hoping that didn't jam you up. wow. glad you didn't get hurt. Yeah I thought you always had to sign some kind of RMA in that situation. strange. good point about the 2 weeks thing. I'm sure they're going to need lots of time to sift through the material as well as our background info. I hate the waiting but I keeping reminding myself that this processes is still so much quicker than any other one I've ever been part of.

[jagr68]

Guys,
Check your emails. I was just notified that I am one of the 19 selected! :-)
Good luck everybody!

[Fargo2722]

Thanks for the heads up jagr68, I also got the nod. See you this weekend.

[AirForceFire24]

Well, Congratulations guys. I myself was not so lucky. I am definitely bummed out, but i guess this will only help me for future interviews. Well, have fun all!!

This just putd an exclamation mark on possibly the worst week of my life...haha

[jagr68]

AirForce,
Keep your head up. It will happen eventually. I have waited many years for this opportunity. I have been in your position many times and I know how disappointing and frustrating it can be. Your time will come. Keep pluggin' and good luck on your future endeavors.