What would you do?

[CaulkDavid.]

Im 20 yrs old, been a vol. for about 7 yrs now, I have also work ems part time for a lil over a year now. I would love to get a career in the fire service and plan to start looken this summer. My issue is my current job (e.m.s.) has a full time spot that i could possibly have next week if i wanted it. should I take this offer or should i continue working part time and focus my time on the fire dept stuff? Any advice would be helpfull. thanks!

[voyager9]

All else being equal, I'd take the full-time position. I don't know the market in your area but it could take a long time to get a full time fire spot.

[islandfire03]

Take the full time EMS position and go back to school and get into a paramedic degree program. It will serve you well.

[TillamanTrk1]

it all depends on what you really want man. Do you prefer EMS or Fire.. Do you really need the full time gig... Are fire depts in your area hiring.. Although EMS is a HUGE part of ANY fire dept you sign up with these days, If you want to be a FIREman then keep truckin' towards the the fulltime fire spot. If you are in need of a Full time job then take what Gods giving ya.. All in all, its what you really want.. or need.. Good luck with whatever you decide

[FWDbuff]

What would I do?????

Here's what I would do.....

I would start seriously thinking about enlisting in one of the branches of the United States Military. If you are an EMT and enjoy that, then perhaps the Navy or Army as a Medical Corpsman. Or perhaps the USAF as a Firefighter....Enlisting in the Military is a win-win situation. You get to repay your country for the freedom (of choosing whether or not you get to enlist) in the most patriotic method..... You also:

-Get confidence, discipline, training, three squares a day
-The benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, which pays for you to go to college while you are enlisted or afterwards....
-Most of all, you are entitled to veterans preferance points for many many municipal firefighter and police civil service exams, which is of tremendous benefit when you are competing with thousands of applicants for very few positions.

What would I do?? Enlist. Do 4 years. Keep your nose clean, and take college courses (on Uncle Sam's dime) while you are in. Then, when you get out, start taking each and every civil service exam for cop and fireman that comes down the pike.

[fire49]

What is required in your state to apply for a position ???

If you have it

Take the full time job and apply away

[admpaul]

Take the full time job and then work your way to paramedic with them paying for it. Hang around a few years then start looking. In the mean time(before or after medic school) take some fire classes to see if its something you want to do. Don't do both at the same time.

[FIREMECH1]

Here's what I would do.....

I would start seriously thinking about enlisting in one of the branches of the United States Military. If you are an EMT and enjoy that, then perhaps the Navy or Army as a Medical Corpsman. Or perhaps the USAF as a Firefighter....Enlisting in the Military is a win-win situation. You get to repay your country for the freedom (of choosing whether or not you get to enlist) in the most patriotic method..... You also:

-Get confidence, discipline, training, three squares a day
-The benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, which pays for you to go to college while you are enlisted or afterwards....
-Most of all, you are entitled to veterans preferance points for many many municipal firefighter and police civil service exams, which is of tremendous benefit when you are competing with thousands of applicants for very few positions.

What would I do?? Enlist. Do 4 years. Keep your nose clean, and take college courses (on Uncle Sam's dime) while you are in. Then, when you get out, start taking each and every civil service exam for cop and fireman that comes down the pike.

Reason #2 why I like you.

FM1

[FWDbuff]

Reason #2 why I like you.

FM1

What's reason #1? The fact that I offered to bail you and your buddy out of jail if you howled at the moon too loudly????

[CaulkDavid.]

Sorry for the delay lol. Thanks for the input!

[JohnVBFD]

Here's what I would do.....

I would start seriously thinking about enlisting in one of the branches of the United States Military. If you are an EMT and enjoy that, then perhaps the Navy or Army as a Medical Corpsman. Or perhaps the USAF as a Firefighter....Enlisting in the Military is a win-win situation. You get to repay your country for the freedom (of choosing whether or not you get to enlist) in the most patriotic method..... You also:

-Get confidence, discipline, training, three squares a day
-The benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, which pays for you to go to college while you are enlisted or afterwards....
-Most of all, you are entitled to veterans preferance points for many many municipal firefighter and police civil service exams, which is of tremendous benefit when you are competing with thousands of applicants for very few positions.

What would I do?? Enlist. Do 4 years. Keep your nose clean, and take college courses (on Uncle Sam's dime) while you are in. Then, when you get out, start taking each and every civil service exam for cop and fireman that comes down the pike.

Not for nothing here...but you do realize that there are literally THOUSANDS of serviceman who's jobs are on the line in a down-sizing military? I know of 12 Sailors in the past 5 months who Big Navy is saying, "Thank you, we no longer require your service. Start your separation package and fair winds." These people range from E3's with 4 years of service to E5's with 16 years of service. Over 1,900 other Sailors have an Enlistment Retention Board Hearing in September to determine if they will be separated by the end of December.

If the individual wanted to serve in the Military, or would like to, they will reach that conclusion on their own. Watching people lose their jobs who have been and still are honorably serving their country, for yet another 4 year jockey is insulting to those being kicked out.

[FiremanLyman]

I respect a person that does 2 years in any branch of the service much much more than you're average liberaltard hippie "we don't need a military" idiot, who doesn't realize he is only able to have his "views and opinions" because the people fighting the wars make it possible.

[/rant]

Preach on!

[JohnVBFD]

Are you implying it's the guys who join the militarys fault? I know of one guy in this country I can for sure point the finger at for "dowsizing" the U.S. military.

Also, whats wrong with 4 year jockeys?? My dad did 28, ended up a Master Gunny in the Marines. I didn't feel like going that long. I respect a person that does 2 years in any branch of the service much much more than you're average liberaltard hippie "we don't need a military" idiot, who doesn't realize he is only able to have his "views and opinions" because the people fighting the wars make it possible.

[/rant]

One, slightly off to put two different area's together to make one quote. No where did I state it was the Serviceman's fault. However, they are the one's losing their job, some with quite lengthy time of service who wanted it to be their career.

Two- I am sure, as someone who served you can recognize the difference between somoene who joins because they want to, does their four years and decides it isn't their cup of tea and leaves. Compared to the person who joins to get points on a test, whines and complains their four years there.

It is insulting to see a 16 year honorably serving vet losing their job while others are saying just take a job in the military to use the military. As someone who's served and still continues to serve I know you know the exact difference I mean.

[BigGriffC12]

One, slightly off to put two different area's together to make one quote. No where did I state it was the Serviceman's fault. However, they are the one's losing their job, some with quite lengthy time of service who wanted it to be their career.

Two- I am sure, as someone who served you can recognize the difference between somoene who joins because they want to, does their four years and decides it isn't their cup of tea and leaves. Compared to the person who joins to get points on a test, whines and complains their four years there.

It is insulting to see a 16 year honorably serving vet losing their job while others are saying just take a job in the military to use the military. As someone who's served and still continues to serve I know you know the exact difference I mean.

The military uses you..so why not use them. You are giving them your blood, sweat, and tears, and I'm some cases your limbs, eyesight and your mental health as well.

They deploy you at will to wherever your commanders see fit, and they do what makes THEM look good. The days of officers and NCOs looking out for the welfare of their soldiers is over..yea, I'm sure there's a few out there with the good mentality but most are getting out because they are tired.

So...if someone chooses to go into the military for 2 years..6 years, or 30 years and retire a CSM or rear admiral or what have you..that is their decision, not yours, not their parents, not their recruiters.

and before you go off and try to comment on me, I served 7 and a half years..3 deployments over seas, purple heart recipient, Sadr City, April 4th 2004 "black Sunday"

and you know what, I would NEVER turn anyone away from the military...it is a great asset, and it is a great honor to do things that people here would never have the opportunity to do, to see cultures, and to experience things that people have no idea of, other then what they see on TV. Those benefits, the GI bill, both post 9/11 and Montgomery are there for the soldier to use to benefit his career in and out of the military. The military discounts at Lowe's and home depot are there for us to use because we have earned it.

Bottom line..My opinion is that if you go overseas, and get shot at, and breath in that nasty crap from the KBR burn pits, run missions for 12,24,48,72,96 hours with out sleep, without a meal of any kind or go live on an outpost for weeks on end with no shower, with no change of clothes or see your friends get killed or maimed by bullets and shrapnel or by a suicide bomber or because of lax force protection SOPs put in place by garbage NCOs and officers they deserve EVERYTHING that they can get from the military weather it be a free education, or 10 points on a civil service exam, or 5 dollars off at Lowe's or a free meal at a diner somewhere because you are in your uniform.

And maybe if that E5 who has been in for 16 years tried a little harder to get promoted he wouldn't be an E5, or maybe if he re-classed his MOS or whatever it is called in the navy he would be higher up on the food chain. Sometimes you need to trim the fat.

Now back to the point at hand, The military is a great thing, personally, I would select the Navy, simply because they do have firefighters aboard ships, and you do get to travel to more places then Iraq. The air force would be my second option, but due to budget reasons they are downsizing so unless you are in a high need MOS or if you have any medical issues you will be released. I'm not sure if you can transfer your medic training over to the civilian side, I know you can't here in Pennsylvania so that's something worth looking in to. Also something to consider, with the economy being so bad and the high amount of people entering the service there is a wait time to begin basic training so another option is to talk to a recruiter, get your medic cert, and take some Gen ed courses and you might be able to do trauma nurse..not sure the exact requirements but for a resume builder, I'd take working in a CSH(combat surgical hospital) overseas and then working in a hospital stateside, then picking up cigarette butts, mowing lawns and guarding shipping containers in the motor pool as a Line medic in the army.

I would seriously consider talking to a recruiter, if for no other reason then just get some good info, can't hurt and it might change your mind..

If that is the route of if you have any questions..feel free to PM me, I can answer anything you have questions on..

[FiremanLyman]

...
and before you go off and try to comment on me, I served 7 and a half years..3 deployments over seas, purple heart recipient, Sadr City, April 4th 2004 "black Sunday"
...

Brother, hip of the hat to you. Black Sunday, Sadr City Multi-Use Range. I was with Air Cavalry Brigade (was 4BDE at the time), 1CD at the time. That was the opening shots of a dark period, glad you made it out.

Not only does the military give you the +5 bonus points on some civil service tests, GI Bill and other benefits, but it develops young kids into men and women. Gives the newest generation, who on average have some serious sense of entitlement issues and poor work ethic, the ethos needed to succeed in life.

My first platoon was a Stinger missile platoon. I had 2 man teams of 19-22 year olds able to make the call to shoot down enemy aircraft. They woke up every morning and ****ed leadership, critical decision making capabilities, and personal motivation. They were out there on the battlefield alone, sometimes a PFC and a SPC at the most, able to shoot move and communicate effectively. Pull some college weenies in that position, watch them crumble.