Leaving July 16th

[Firedawg1983]

Anyone in the July 16th group leaving for Iraq? I'm previous Air Force firefighter and can't wait!!! I've already been deployed to Iraq and if anyone has questions or anything at all email me airforcefirefighter23@hotmail. com

Brian

[surfingpirates]

Hey Brian,
I was a firedawg myself, got out Aug 31st! I was stationed at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming and Yokota AB, Japan. Deployed to Baghdad Int'l.

[Firedawg1983]

awesome!! I was at Tyndall AFB FL and deployed to Kirkuk(Freedom AB). Are you leaving this month? What all are you taking to Houston? I heard we shouldn't take gerbers bc we can't wear them on our uniform and we can only use them in full bunker gear. I guess a few people were messing around and ruined it for everyone. I'm going to take my big fire gear bag for all my stuff in houston and have a backpack that I got from Iraq and I'm taking that as my carry on

[Firerider69er]

Firedawg,
I'm leaving for Houston on Sept 11th, 2007. Used to be stationed at Tyndall long time ago. Looking to make the best out of anything and everything. Don't know where I'll be going, I guess when I get to Houston they will give me the skinny.

[Firedawg1983]

When were you at Tyndall? Well when we go to Houston we leave there and go to Dubai and then into BIAP(Bahgdad Intl) and from there we will know what base we are going to be stationed at.

[Firerider69er]

Hey Firedawg!
I was there in the early 80's. 1982-1986. I'll be leaving for Houston on the 10th of Sept. Had to wait till then. I'm the Commander of the Honor Guard here at Kennedy Space Center and myself and another firefighter are going to Worcester, MA sometime in July/August to present 7 Worcester Fire Dept patches to the families and the dept. that were flown aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. One of the patches is going to be presented to Dennis Leary of RescueMe. One of the firefighters was Dennis' cousin. My dad retired from Worcester and I was born and raised there so this is kind of a BIG deal.

Anyway appreciate what "correct" information is available. Jim D.

[Firedawg1983]

that's cool about being there in the late 80's. I'm sure I don't know anyone that was there around that time but who knows!! Kennedy Space Center would be a sweet fire dept to work at!!! I would just love to have one of the fire dept patches!! That's awesome about the stuff in Worchester!! I'm sure you guys are looking forward to that!! Maybe I'll see you out in the sandbox!!

[h20squirter]

hey firedawg, you got any hiring info for kennedy space center? i live about an hour away and would like to apply there.

[Firerider69er]

First, it's a contract fire dept here. Contract is going to expire in October 2008. No hiring at all here, they are looking to get rid of some people. We provide fire protection for Kennedy Space Center AND Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Lots of exotic chemicals here, not many fires. You don't want fires here!!! VERY SAFETY wise here sometimes to the point of overkill. I'm sure you know Mr. Hogberg at Tyndall. I worked for Mike Delonjay while I was there. But I'm sure we know a couple of people.
Never know I may see ya in the sandbox. Stay in touch. Jim D.

[Firedawg1983]

HAHA yeah I know Mr. Hogberg!!! Yeah I'm sure we do know a few more people then. I think H2O Squirter wanted to know about Hiring out there at Kennedy Space Center. Yeah I'm sure I'll run into you out there sometime.

[surfingpirates]

well my date to houston was bumped from june 18th to now july 18th. the veterans office bounced me around and couldnt finish my stuff in time. kinda my fault for going there i guess. oh well.

[Firedawg1983]

That's crazy!! what happened?

[Firedawg1983]

All I've got left is my medical stuff(which my doc said was going to cost about 200 bucks) and my passport which I can get in one day. I have the inside scoop on getting a passport like the next day. email me if you need any help getting it ASAP

[Firerider69er]

Hey Firedawg!
If you got an "inside" way to speed up the passport deal let me know. I sent my passport in to get renewed, but sent it in the "regular way" and NOT expedited. (STUPID MISTAKE!!!!) I have been trying for 3 days to get through on the phone....thats a joke. If you can help in any way that would help alot and take one more thing off the list. I'm sure there are some old civilians still there at Tyndall that I worked with. You can e-mail at Firerider69er@yahoo.com if you like.

Trying to get a job here at Kennedy is next to impossible. Especially when this contract is coming to an end in a year. If it wasn't....somebody would have to retire or die before a slot came open. The most senior guy on the floor started in Feb 1967!!!!!!!!!! About 90% of the people on the floor had at least 10 years prior experience when they started and have 15-25 years here at the rocket ranch for a total of 25-35 years!!!! We don't even know who will be bidding on the contract next year....one of the bidders COULD be Wackenhut!!! Thats who we kinda work for now. They are partners with Northrup Grumman for this contract which has been here since Oct. 1998.

Anyway...if you can help with the passport thing I sure would appreciate it. Hope to meet ya one day over there. Kinda pass the time quick talking to someone who was stationed at the same base, and maybe know a few of the people we worked with. Talk to ya later. Jim D.

[Firerider69er]

Hey H2o,
Patches are scarce here. They treat them like they were GOLD. But i'll see what I can find....maybe the uniform store MIGHT have some that I can buy.

[Firedawg1983]

I just sent you an email with the details Jim. Hopefully it helps you out!! That's alot of time in service out there!! WOW!! I can understand that though working with all the hazmat and of course the shuttle crew. Yeah that would definitely be something to talk about over there in our spare time which I'm sure we will have plenty of!! I've already picked out a truck I'm going to buy when I come home for my first R&R!! haha I can't wait!!

[Firerider69er]

Thanks for the info Firedawg. Yep, many years period.... overall. Don't really know what I'll do with the $$. I have most of the toys I want. Myself and another firefighter are restoring a 1938 Seagrave that we are going to use to carry the caskets of the firefighters here at the space center, even after I leave here. I'll always be part of the Honor Guard here. Right now I'm the Commander.

But I guess my wife and I will do some traveling and ride the Harley ALOT. But I'm planning on going over there for alot longer than most of the firefighters on here. I would like to retire. I'll be debt free in a year!!!! Thats a big celebration in itself!!!!
But i'll see how it goes and try and see how long this type of gig will go on for. You'll be there before I will, if you could write back and just let me know how you like it. Doesn't matter to me if its good or bad, I've had both worlds and it always comes out the same. I get along with anyone.

[Firerider69er]

I know that info has been put out on the PT test, but has anyone said if its a pass/fail thing? One of the firefighters here was asking. What exactly are they looking for? I was serious....5 push ups and 5 sit ups!! How many do they expect from you??? Since they really don't clarify what the requirement or amount is to be accomplished. Just alot of guys asking hear and somewhat laughing.....jokingly.
Believe me..... I'll be the first to admit i'm not 19yrs and a gym rat. But far from being lazy. Suppose to work SMARTER not harder! Let me know, the guys think i'm kidding. But I don't have ANY specifics to give them. This is just to funny!!!!LOL

I guess I'm looking forward to losing 15-20 lbs while in the sandbox!!!!LOL

[h20squirter]

hey firerider. no worries on the pt test, just try, and u will pass it. i haven't heard of anyone failing it.

[Firedawg1983]

That's awesome about restoring the 1938 Seagrave!! I would love to see pics of it when it's all done. Yeah money I'm just going to buy a new truck and save the rest. I will definitely let you know how I like it out there and how it goes. I'm sure it will be great. I get along with anyone as well. It's such a long and tedious process to get on a civilian dept so I may do it for a long time as well. The PT test is exactly what you have been hearing!! 2 minutes for push ups 2 minutes for sit ups and a 25 yd dash or whatever. I haven't heard of anyone failing more like do as much as you can and give it your best!! LOL Last time I was there I lost about 32 lbs and that was in about three months!! I was right at 190 when I got there and when I came home I was just above 160!! You will get nice and tan as well. Oh speaking of that when you go out there make sure you take some sunglasses like the oakleys I have that cover your whole eye. I think the ones I have are like M frame or something like that but nothing is worse than blowing sand into your eyes

[Firerider69er]

Gotcha Firedawg on the googles for the eyes! Never leave the house here in Florida without them. Plus I'm taking extra ones. Will give the PT test my all!!!LOL Was never one for situps and stuff!!! But pull 7 astronauts out of the space shuttle and let me know how you feel!!! Situps and pushups won't help you there!!! Sure won't help you saving a 200lb guy either. Already have a nice tan!!! But I will be doing this for the long haul, never been one for giving up or doing short stints. Looking at the end result, retirement in 5-7 years!!!! Take care and keep in touch. Jim D. Kennedy Space Center Fire.Rescue

[Firedawg1983]

yeah I'm going to bring two pairs with me. Yeah I was never a big fan of push ups and sit ups but oh well. I'm thinkin about doing it for the long haul as well. figured I do it for 10 years even being 23 I come back when I'm 33 and have a little over a million dollars saved up not too bad!! Yeah I'm going to have to work on my tan again being back up here in Indiana for the past couple of months instead of Florida has got me back to normal

[Firerider69er]

Hey Firedawg! Will shoot out some pics of the 1938. Right now we just got done doing all the body work, filler, and primer ourselves! ALOT of work!!!! Have to wait on the painter to shoot the base coat then we can start reassembling. We done a frame off deal! LOTS of work and MONEY!! Why do you think i'm going to iraq.....money to help finish the job. Need about $10,000-$15,000 to finsh it real nice. ALL the gauges have to be sent off to be restored, steering wheel sent off and the rest of the chrome$$$$$$$!!!! Seat is getting completely redone plus a bunch of other things. Trying to get as much done as I can before I leave, my partner will have to pick it up from there till I come home in a year. It's just a frame, engine, tranny and pump with the wheels on right now. We got it started on the 27th of March, first time in 20 years!!! Flat head V-12, 2 carbs, 2 distributors, even a crank start for all the tough guys!! It came originally with an electric start push button....THANK GOD!! Talk to you later. Keep in touch even when you get in country. Jim D.

[Firedawg1983]

I look forward to seeing those pics!!! Well I guess I'm the only firefighter leaving July 16th!! I haven't heard of anyone else going on that date!!

[surfingpirates]

Well I will get to Houston a lil after you leave. I get there the 18th of July. They moved my wheels up date a month. The Veterans Office scheduled all my medical appointments for the required med packet. I get to my first appointment and they say they cant continue because I was never assigned a primary care doc. That process would take a few weeks... On a good note I knocked everything out with Concentra Medical who Wackenhut deals with. Didnt even have to spend a penny. Saved me $477!!! So good luck to you guys who are about to take off. See you guys soon. Take care - SP

[Firedawg1983]

Concetra medical? how did you go through that?

[surfingpirates]

I called the office and told them my dilemma. They told me to check out a place called Concentra Medical Center (checkout the website). So after all the exams I went to check-out. The clerk told me I owe nothing. They bill the company because they work with them or something like that. I was kinda stunned but figured what the heck, so I rolled with it. I hope everything runs smooth... SP

[Firedawg1983]

yeah I checked out the website and talked to people at the local clinic here and they said I need to get a paper from WSI stating that I'm a firefighter for the company and it's fir a physical. they said as soon as they recieve that the company pays for it. I'm going to call WSI first thing in the morning and find out what I have to do to get them to fax a paper over to the docs office

[Firedawg1983]

surfingpirates I talked to India this morning and she said that thats a different branch of WSI that pays for the physical. She told me firefighters have to pay up front and will be reimbursed in houston. You got lucky buddy!!

[Firedawg1983]

Thanks to the AF all I had to do is get one shot for all the shots required for WSI and I didn't even need to get that one if I wanted!! I saved about 200 bucks!!

[Firedawg1983]

well I'm getting my passport on monday and then two weeks of freedom left before I leave!!

[Firedawg1983]

got my passport today and leavin in two weeks!!

[LukeKillough]

HA! Talked to India, then Monique, then Astrid, then Monique again, and they finally figured out where things went awry! I am confirmed (for the 3rd time...I'm beginning to doubt the true meaning of that word...lol) for the 16th of July. So, Firedawg, I'll see you there bro!

[Firedawg1983]

haha awesome well I'll see you on the 16th!! I guess it's just you and I so far. I haven't heard from anyone else leaving on the 16th

[fxgodzillaxx]

hey all i have been looking at all the stuff people have been saying and im tryin hard to get all my stuff in a row to get that way.....is there any thing to i might need to know .....just some useful stuff .........thanks ..adam email----fxgodzillaxx@aol.com

[Firedawg1983]

what do you need Adam?? ask away

[fxgodzillaxx]

just wantin to see how things are over there .....i have a few more things i have to do so i can leave i was told on the pt test you have 2 min to do sits up and 2 min for push ups and you cant stop ............. what happens if u do stop for liuke 10 sec and start again ??? i mean damn im not in the best shape but il try...lol........ how is the living cond over there tents, huts, ect ????? and what is a advage day like there ....... trust me il have more ? but trust me il ask them later im just wanting to get over there and see whats its like .......i think this will be a good thing for me im 33 div and no kids..........i can get ahead in life...............i hope if anyone want to tell me something feel free i have a buddy there now ......so its always good to have friends .................... thanks again adam