age requirments

[HAFD112]

Does your dept. have age requirments?
Ours are 21yo for applicants and 67yo for retirment. We have been considering making some changes to the retirment age. Only having 25 members we need to make room for younger firfighters but we also don't want to lose the experienced guys. How would you react.

The retirment age we affect the Chief and Asst. Chief in the next 4 years.

[nmfire]

Why 21 and not 18?

[tree68]

Eighteen to join (and take NYS classes), no upper limit. Most folks realize it's a younger person's game, but that the old dogs still bring a lot to the table.

[Eng34FF]

Does your dept. have age requirments?
Ours are 21yo for applicants and 67yo for retirment. We have been considering making some changes to the retirment age. Only having 25 members we need to make room for younger firfighters but we also don't want to lose the experienced guys. How would you react.

The retirment age we affect the Chief and Asst. Chief in the next 4 years.

Here it is 16 to join as a junior member and take the classes. We have no upper age limit, but most of the older members stick to driving apparatus or doing admin tasks.

Sounds like you limit the number of members. Maybe that is a place to look if you need to bring in more members.

[HAFD112]

Why 21 and not 18?

At 18 most people are not finish with their education, we don't want to train people and then have them go off to college or move away for a job. The powers that be like to get folks with a steady job, a couple kids, and own a house. I have seen exptions made: but it's 21 in the bylaws.

[JayDudley]

Age

If you have a combined fire department i.e. Paid and Volunteer I think 18 for the lower age and 67 is about right for the upper although there are plenty of us older guy's who can still help out. I would hate to be the one who tells the Chief or Assistant Chief they are out the door because of their age.

[nmfire]

At 18 most people are not finish with their education, we don't want to train people and then have them go off to college or move away for a job. The powers that be like to get folks with a steady job, a couple kids, and own a house. I have seen exptions made: but it's 21 in the bylaws.

Then don't expect to get much of an improvement. Most places that take members at 18 (or younger) keep a good percentage of them as they get older and those people would not have joined if they weren't given the opportunity early.

[Eng34FF]

At 18 most people are not finish with their education, we don't want to train people and then have them go off to college or move away for a job. The powers that be like to get folks with a steady job, a couple kids, and own a house. I have seen exptions made: but it's 21 in the bylaws.

Unfortunately by the time you do all of that, especially the house and kids, you no longer have a lot of time for the required training and to do the volunteer thing. There are exceptions, but the opinion around here is that it's better to catch them early when they have time to train and spend time at the station and then keep them through school and as they get older.

[hwoods]

Yep.........

Unfortunately by the time you do all of that, especially the house and kids, you no longer have a lot of time for the required training and to do the volunteer thing. There are exceptions, but the opinion around here is that it's better to catch them early when they have time to train and spend time at the station and then keep them through school and as they get older.

Absolutely!!......... You have hit it right in the center with those comments.


HAFD - No disrespect intended, but your Rules sound like they are set up to discourage people instead of bring them in. I'm 68, about to turn 69, and if you started on me about "Retirement" (and you were serious) I'd be talking with my Lawyer..........

[PaladinKnight]

Absolutely!!......... You have hit it right in the center with those comments.


HAFD - No disrespect intended, but your Rules sound like they are set up to discourage people instead of bring them in. I'm 68, about to turn 69, and if you started on me about "Retirement" (and you were serious) I'd be talking with my Lawyer..........

Right there with you Harve...

A few years back, it was suggested I was too old to continue service. I proceeded to challenge the powers at be to a foot race, they can pick the distance and course. They decided that it was not necessary to discuss the issue further.

I went ahead and decided to retire anyway since I really didn't want to work for people that didn't know what they were doing any given moment.

That was the best decision of my career. It allowed me to serve on a contract basis for several other departments over the years. Plus, I have been able to live and work in several dream locations.

Even mouse world gets old after a while.

HAFD: Your dept is behind the times my friend. You need to understand that if you get a young persons attention early enough, you will be able to build your future rosters.

Start when they are about 1st or 2nd grade and follow them until they reach 9th. Just change the message for older kids. There are plenty of things that will interest even a 12 and 14 year old. When the time is right, about 15, recruit them into a Cadet or Explorer Program.

If you have the means, adopt a live-in program. Members live at your station while they go to college or technical school. They agree to respond or be available for defined duty hours in exchange for free housing, cable TV, internet, etc... Depending on the situation, you might find it possible to staff the station everyday with these people. Sure, they may move on, but use them while you have them.

Don't overlook females. I have seen some that can run circles around some guys. My wife joined the service while I was on a exchange mission years ago. She even took my position. Talk about tough. She is... and now is Deputy Chief at a different department from where I am; another State.

Morale: Change your thinking and expand your candidate pool. Listen to the guys that have been around a while... like Harve.

I know, change is hard. But so is watching a house burn to the ground because of lack of manpower.

[ChiefKN]

18 to join, but you aren't really good at it until you are 40.

[PaladinKnight]

18 to join, but you aren't really good at it until you are 40.

Or 50.....

[Fitguy51]

It was 18 when I started 41 yrs ago, but now we have Restricted Members that FF1. We have no upper end, but starting next year they are lowering the age we can start collecting from the LOSAP from 65 to 60. If you are collecting you can still participate and add to the plan. If you have only 25 members why would have to make room for new ones. We have over 100 members in our FD.

[FIRE117]

Age Requirement

Our state workers compensation coverage requires age 18 and older.

Even if a firefighter completes FF1 at your department and eventually moves to another department, he will be an asset at his new department.

I know it takes alot of time, energy and funding to train new firefighters to FF1, but if every department did this, all firefighters would have the training.

I have had several members join our FD that completed FF1 at their previous FD. It was great getting a new member who already had the training.

Those older guys who have been around for years, can be an asset as mentors to the newer guys. Showing them the ropes. Younger guys are eager to learn and one training officer cannot do it all. If any of those older members have an expertise and want to teach classes, let them do it.

[hwoods]

Yeah.........

Or 50.....

Or 60......