Question About Volunteer Vs Career?

[renbrowninc]

Hey everyone, I'm new here. My name is Ren, I'm 16 going on 17. I posted a large question over in the Fire Explorer & Jr Firefighting section, but I have more.
:)


I really hope this doesn't offend anyone, and I promise you that is not my intent of asking this. I was just curious as to if volunteer firefighters are looked down upon by career firefighters or society because it's not their 'career'? Are they viewed as less qualified or less respectable? [Once again, I'm not trying to be rude. I dont know how else to word this.]


I certainly have a ton of respect for firefighters everywhere. This is just something I've wondered about for a while.

I have a career I'm starting online, to own an online empire. But I still plan to fulfill my dream of becoming a firefighter. I'll probably become a volunteer firefighter and so I'm just trying to figure out the differences.


Thank you for your time.

Keep safe,
Ren Brown.

[company141]

US fire service: 80% volunteer

There are different veiws on this subject that often lead to fights. I watched one thread go bad fast, so bad that the thread was closed by the webteem.

My view is that the only difference is that one is paid and the other is not. It takes a lot of work to become a paid firefighter. It is one of the most competative positions out there, therefore you have to have lots of experiance and the right credentials to even be considered.

Some say that the paid firefighter has a lot more experiance because they go on more calls and have more training. This is far from the truth. I know vollies that put in more hours than piad personell. Some vollies live primarily at the fire station as a resident! I know a Captian Berret that has been a vollie for twenty over twenty years. He is head of the KCFR probie school. KCFR has wanted to pay him but he refuses because he has his own buisness to run.

FDNY's Richard Pcciotto, Deputy Chief Battalion 11 called an evacuation on 9/11/2001 from the thirty fifth floor of the WTC north tower. On his way down he found a group of people who were not moving. He saw that they were in wheel chairs, walkers, crutches and the like. Each of these people were assisted by two or three people that they had met on the way down. These volunteers had helped these physicaly challanged people down over seventy flights of stairs. The disabled got moving after a short time and as they went they called out the names of the courageous people helping them. Chif Picciotto explains that this sight brought him to tears, that these people would give themselves up for sombody else. But what is the difference between Chief's men and these people? None. Both showed immense courage and selflessness.

[jerry4184]

There are too many threads, and too much fighting over this. Short answer, a firefighter worth a damn, will be worth a damn, regardless of where his/her paycheck comes from. That's all that needs said.

[company141]

Paid firefighting is often one day on three days off with twenty four hour tours (shifts). During these tours you have some down time. So you can easily be a full time paid firefighter and rais a succsesful online buisness. I know firefighters that own there own buisnesses.

[KenNFD1219]

Jerry: Best answer yet in the never ending (and useless) debate.

P.S. in before the lock!

[PureAdrenalin]

There are too many threads, and too much fighting over this. Short answer, a firefighter worth a damn, will be worth a damn, regardless of where his/her paycheck comes from. That's all that needs said.

+300, some get paid, some don't. I'm not in it for the money and I have just as much pride, if not more than some career guys. Hell, I drive 45min just to vollie where I do..I get a measly wage to run calls, but like I said..i'm not there for the money. I'm there because I want to be. If I never had to worry about money..aka..winning the lottery, or if I suddenly didn't need to pay bills. I'd quit my full time job, and just sit in my vollie house all day just to run calls there.

[jasper45]

I know firefighters that own there own buisnesses.

Seen a lot of that in your years of experience, have ya? :rolleyes:

[KenNFD1219]

I have a career I'm starting online, to own an online empire.This just begs the questions; what kind of empire?

[the1141man]

This just begs the questions; what kind of empire?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/SDF_Soldier/civilization4.jpg

At 16? Most likely that kind. ;)

Hey, whatdyaknow, made it in before the flamefest started! :D

[company141]

Seen a lot of that in your years of experience, have ya? :rolleyes:

Are you picking on me because I am new or is it that obviouse that I don't know what the he// I am talking about :)

Keep'n this post light brother!

[jasper45]

Are you picking on me because I am new or is it that obviouse that I don't know what the he// I am talking about :)

Keep'n this post light brother!

Just keeping you honest, and feeling you out. The whole thread had a typical, suspicious feel about it.

No worries.

[z28kindaguy]

In my opinion the career system is a bit better. I have a good amount of experience in both and everyone will probably have a different opinion on this. While in the academy, I received training that I never saw in my FF1 and FF2 class. Also, you get to practice these evolutions more than just a couple of times.

Career systems are more likely to follow through with pre planning, fire prevention, and other support services.

[Catch22]

In my opinion the career system is a bit better. I have a good amount of experience in both and everyone will probably have a different opinion on this. While in the academy, I received training that I never saw in my FF1 and FF2 class. Also, you get to practice these evolutions more than just a couple of times.

Career systems are more likely to follow through with pre planning, fire prevention, and other support services.

And so it begins.... :rolleyes:

[the1141man]

And so it begins.... :rolleyes:

The avalanche has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote. ;)

Sci-Fi Geek points to whoever can name the series these lines came from, and bonus points to cite the character and the actor... and Grand Sci-Fi Geekdom Masterhood if you can point out another sci-fi series that actor was in, circa 1985. ;)

/hijack

[Lewiston2Capt]

The avalanche has already started, it is too late for the pebbles to vote. ;)

Sci-Fi Geek points to whoever can name the series these lines came from, and bonus points to cite the character and the actor... and Grand Sci-Fi Geekdom Masterhood if you can point out another sci-fi series that actor was in, circa 1985. ;)

/hijack

Babylon 5

Kosh Naranek, Vorlon Ambassador played by Ardwight Chamberlain (sometimes credited as R.D. Chamberlain)

Also played in Robotek.

I'm not really a geek, I was just testing my googling abilities. LOL :D :D

[the1141man]

Babylon 5

Kosh Naranek, Vorlon Ambassador played by Ardwight Chamberlain (sometimes credited as R.D. Chamberlain)

Also played in Robotek.

I'm not really a geek, I was just testing my googling abilities. LOL :D :D

Right, right, right, and mostly right (it's Robotech, not "tek" ;) ).

For your googling abilities I give you the Red Cairns 1010 of Geekdom (+5 INT, +5 WIS, -10 CHA), use it well, young Paddleone. ;) :D

Now for even more "geekful" handouts:
Robotech is not actually (technically) an anime series (as in, you will never find such a series in Japan as anime), though it is obviously "anime"... why is it not true anime?

[mdtaylor]

I was just curious as to if volunteer firefighters are looked down upon by career firefighters or society because it's not their 'career'? Are they viewed as less qualified or less respectable?

How a career firefighter 'treats' a volunteer is a personal choice, not a group attitude. My experience with career firefighters as yielded the following statements:

"What you did at that incident was just as important as what I did."
"I admire you guys because you are willing to do for free what I do for 30k a year."
"Thanks, we wouldn't have had enough water if you hadn't of responded."

And the list goes on... And, there are those of us that are asked to present training classes on various topics.

In my department, albeit small, the volunteers are generally not as qualified under the state laws (a couple are), but are respected and treated pursuant to their individual accomplishments.

[BULL321]

To answer your question in short, any problems that arise between the paid FF and vol. firefighters community is basicly a family fight. We may pick on each other, but we can because we're family. But let someone from the outside job start the fight and watch out. As far as your question about society looking down on VFF, I don't think that they do. Society (the public) does not care who shows up to put the fire out, so as long as the fire is put out and lives are saved. I believe that society hold both groups of firefighters in high reguard and looks upon both groups as being brave, hard working and honorable people.

[fsufireman]

I am presently a Volly at North Palm Beach Fire Department. I can tell you that the career guys dont look down upon us at all.

Hell, there are a few of the paid guys that were Vollys for a few years.

I agree with one of the previous posts, all John Q. Public sees when we arrive at a scene is a guy/gal in bunker gear. The need help. They are not going to ask if you get paid or volunteer!:)

[volfirie]

There are some vols that don't like career and vice versa. When they spout off, just let them, don't get involved. Remember, 'professional' doesn't mean 'getting paid', it means your attitude to the job.
As for public opiniom? We like to say that as long as a big red truck arrives, nobody cares what the label on the door says (we have two fire services in the state, one all career and mine, 98% volunteer). People will be amazed that you do it for a hobby though!

[HereToLearn]

To answer your question in short, any problems that arise between the paid FF and vol. firefighters community is basicly a family fight. We may pick on each other, but we can because we're family. But let someone from the outside job start the fight and watch out. As far as your question about society looking down on VFF, I don't think that they do. Society (the public) does not care who shows up to put the fire out, so as long as the fire is put out and lives are saved. I believe that society hold both groups of firefighters in high reguard and looks upon both groups as being brave, hard working and honorable people.

Well said!