February '08 Recruit Class

[spisc85]

Anyone else going to the February class? I just found out I'm going. Any info would be great from people who have been there/are there.

Sean

[ffbfd3]

Sean which dept. is sending you?

[spisc85]

Newington Fire is sponsoring me

[Mfire138]

You mean Hartford County Firefighter I course?

[spisc85]

nah the recruit program. It's weird for a volly to go to it but I get my GI Benefits if I go so why the hell not?

[ffbfd3]

I can't give you specific info on Connecticut's academy. I have been through two others and found the hard work was well worth it in the end. You'll meet people from all over the state and some of these classmates will be friends for a lifetime. Pay attention, work hard, you'll be fine.

[Mfire138]

nah the recruit program. It's weird for a volly to go to it but I get my GI Benefits if I go so why the hell not?

Thats great. Enjoy the class.

[RBohan2]

I was in class 39 we had 2 volly's in there by the time class was over one was offered a job. What a good time. Lots of hard work running and studying. I had a good time and learned alot. Instructors are first class up there you can tell they really care about teaching and not just presenting material and testing you on it. You will have a good time and make many friends.

[technoviking]

Anyone else going to the February class? I just found out I'm going. Any info would be great from people who have been there/are there.

Sean

What?. You mean I can come to the great town of CT and go to the academy of ct and be a real fireman without being hired somewhere? I asked this question months ago.

[crankshaft]

I was in class 39 we had 2 volly's in there by the time class was over one was offered a job. What a good time. Lots of hard work running and studying. I had a good time and learned alot. Instructors are first class up there you can tell they really care about teaching and not just presenting material and testing you on it. You will have a good time and make many friends.

Bohan I heard you were the biggest BEATER at the academy.

[Shrek801]

Whatever Bohan was at the academy, he's been a nice black cloud since he showed up on the line.

Three months on the line and we've caught 4 or 5 good jobs on our shift.

[HTFDJAKE]

I hope Newington VOLUNTEER Fire Department isn't paying 5 grand to send you. That would be a huge waste of money.

[spisc85]

No they aren't, I'm paying for it.

[PapaGanoush]

...................

[crankshaft]

Whatever Bohan was at the academy, he's been a nice black cloud since he showed up on the line.

Three months on the line and we've caught 4 or 5 good jobs on our shift.

His he BOXERS OR BRIEFS?

So what are you saying, he's good with matches?

[KeithA8]

I think puting yourself through the academy is a great idea. It will make you more marketable in the job market. It is as simple as you are cheaper to hire!

[RBohan2]

His he BOXERS OR BRIEFS?

So what are you saying, he's good with matches?



I wear Boxers don't know why your intrested though kinda weird

[pinjob]

seems like someones hit a nerve

[nadeau526]

Newington Fire is sponsoring me

I believe you are going to the hartford county Fire 1 not the recruit class. NVFD does not take place in recruit classes. What company are you a member of?

[spisc85]

I'm with Co. 1 but I am going to the recruit fire at the fire academy. On my own dollar though.

[TurkII]

What a great way to waste $5000 and 14 weeks of your time. Go take an EMT class or HAZ MAT class or better yet, get some college education.

Taking the Recruit class on your own will not make you any more likely to get hired on a career department and even if you are hired the day after you graduate from your recruit class your new career department will send you back to another class on their dollar.

Any of the instructors will tell you about plenty of people that have been through two recruit classes within 1 or 2 years because they've changed departments.

Seriously. Consider a better way to spend your time and money.

[crankshaft]

If you have the money and the time why not. The only dept that I know of that will send you back to the academy is Milford, you know there Class 1 right? I'm sure there are more but Danbury, Norwalk, Hamden, Bristol, Westport, Wallingford, Meriden, West Hartford, Farmington, West Haven and North Haven I believe will all take your cert from the academy and not send you back. So it could be worth it if you time it right. Some have time limits, Danbury is three years, Norwalk is two I think.

Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford all run their own academy so nothing matters there. Good luck and have fun.

[KeithA8]

I strongly dissagree with Turk! I think the recruit class is a great way to accomplish all the certs you get in 14 short weeks. It's the most efficiant training you will ever experience in the fire service. Your peers will be serious professional recruits who take this job very seriously! They will be a very positive roll in your experience and job hunt. The instructors are the states top shelf! They are not part-time week end warrior instructors you some times get in the regional schools. That being said the recruit program does not have any full time instructors but most of them are career guys from the job. Their instruction is valuable. No where else can you go and get the amount of education in 14 weeks - even college! Does that mean you shouldn't go to college? No! If you are serious about getting hired you should attend college and an EMT class at the least. The recruit cert in your back pocket is the single most valuable thing you could bring to a chiefs interview! Hands down! Even if they send you again it proves you attended on your own ambition and completed it. The second time around will be just as fun as the first except you will have all the homework done already! Is it expensive? Hell yeh! Is it worth it? If your serious about geting the job it is. Does it garauntee you the job? NO!!!! But it sure helps!

[spisc85]

Alright here is why I'm taking the recruit program now:

1. Just got off of Active Duty
2. Can't spare weekends just to do Fire 1 because of a year long NG commitment I have.
3. I just finished my first semester of college
4. I am in an EMT class that finished right before the Academy starts.
5. 14 Weeks is a semester so I still get my VA benefits, (State schools are free to vets in CT so I'm not worried about spending money on college)
6. I want a lot of training, its one of the big things the Army taught me is training is second only to experience.

So what do you say we stop telling me how much of a waste of money and time this is??

[pinjob]

I think it's great that your doing this. obviously your serious about the fire service and are going to take all the classes anyway so why not get most of it all done in one shot. Good luck on getting info on the program from someone recent.

[crankshaft]

awful quiet here tonight.....

[BFDPerez]

Spend the 5grand and go to medic school that will be more marketable for a job these days.

[LCKAngels]

If that's your reasoning for attending I wish you the best of luck. I was in recruit class 23 and had 6 canadians in my class that paid for the class out of their own pockets and were just as respected throughout the course (10 weeks then) as anybody else because of their attitude and committment.

Just understand, many union contracts dictate that new hires complete recruit school and don't get into language as to whether or not to send someone if he/she has already attended. Particularly now that the recruit class has changed so much over the last several years. So expect to attend again, however the second time it will be easy for you.

Strongly consider paramedic school as this is perhaps just as valuable as showing you can pass recruit class. The candidacy pool of firefighter/paramedics is slim to none! My dept (No. Haven) is proposing hiring 9 more firefighters a majority of which are likely to be medics if there's still any out there that will make a good FF.

[gade120]

i just graduated from class 40 and we had a guy go through on his own dollar. I think it's a great idea and good luck to you!! If you have any questions just ask

[RNP977]

If you get the chance to go....do it. Going through the recruit program is a good move if you’re looking to move to the career side of the fire service. Depending on what department you’re testing for and how long after you graduate from the program will usually dictate whether or not they'll send you back. One thing you might want to watch out for is workmen’s comp if you get hurt whose going to cover you. But it's a blast and some of the best training you'll ever get.

[SPFDRum]

Alright here is why I'm taking the recruit program now:

1. Just got off of Active Duty
2. Can't spare weekends just to do Fire 1 because of a year long NG commitment I have.
3. I just finished my first semester of college
4. I am in an EMT class that finished right before the Academy starts.
5. 14 Weeks is a semester so I still get my VA benefits, (State schools are free to vets in CT so I'm not worried about spending money on college)
6. I want a lot of training, its one of the big things the Army taught me is training is second only to experience.

So what do you say we stop telling me how much of a waste of money and time this is??

All valid and intelligent. You add medic school in there, especially on your VA benefits, I think you have put yourself at the head of the pack.
Good Luck.

[brian051]

i will also be attending the cfa feb 13,

[brian051]

i just graduated from class 40 and we had a guy go through on his own dollar. I think it's a great idea and good luck to you!! If you have any questions just ask

i am going to the cfa on feb 13, for n.b. what was the schedule for running and p.t. and congrads on your new position.

[ChrisXL64]

BUMPING this up, I also found out strong possibility of going. Looking to gather any and all info possible. PT,,,Classes,,,Written Assignments,,, etc etc etc Thanks Guys.

[Shrek801]

Chris, its not to bad. I was there two summers ago. I don't know if they changed anything since it was bumped up to 14 weeks this last fall.

Class work is pretty easy. Homework and quizzes come straight out of whatever chapter you're studying. Plus, you're usually doing the homework with the other recruits in the day room at the academy. The quizzes are based off of the homework and reading.

PT is, well, PT. They change it up, which is nice. They get you motivated and you really do as well as you can. It becomes a team mentality of helping each other out. Some guys will be good at the runs, others at swimming (which is the best), and others at the strength days. Its only an hour in the morning anyway.

The instructors are great. They aren't drill sergeants, they are stringent. Keep in mind, they're fireman too. They're a good bunch of people. Not to mention good fireman.

[RNP977]

For PT it'll depend on the size of your class but for the most part 4 days of workin out 1 day in the pool. Just watch out for the tower. For assignments you’ll get the IFSTA manual and the study guide for home work nothing too demanding. The class room stuff is pretty cut and dry nothing to get worked up over. It’s a good program and they got some of the best people in the industry teaching it.

[ChrisXL64]

Gotcha,,,,I've heard its like a combo of running and lifting for PT,,,true?

[PurplePants8]

Pool days and running days are not bad. Regular PT days can be tough. The most brutal part is doing ladders or hose advancement all day and then sitting in 3 hours of NIMS or hazmat.

[123fire]

What ever you do dont get your panties in a bunch about the pt. If your in half decent shape you will do fine.

[FFIrish1]

PT is not bad, if you are in decent shape. The run days are paced by the slowest runner ( usually ). The strength days can be tough, I think someone mentioned running the tower. "All Day Every Day."

[westsidetruck]

Hope you made out ok.. How was the GRA? .....ALL DAY EVERY DAY.