fire dept merger,rookies?

[ENGDOC]

our 28 man dept is being mereged with a very large metro f.d. in oct. i have heard much debait over what kind of attitude our members should take when we get transfered out ,i say be humble and take the new guy approach ie keep mouth shut and learn the new routine others say we arnt rookies and should act like its another day.any thoughts? :

[Smoke286]

Sounds like a plan

[daysleeper47]

Well, you can garuntee most of them are going to have the attitude that YOU joined THEIR department. I say forget that. Smoke's right, you aren't rookies. As long as you follow the departments procedures, I say that you go in with the thinking that this is not THEIR department, but BOTH of your department. If you've put in the time, you deserve the benefit of the doubt and the credit.

[sprinkle]

Do you ever remember when you started at a new school, that feeling of a squadron of butterflies floating around inside your belly. That was because you did not know what to expect, it was all new. This situation is different, it's not a new school and it's not all new.

When departments merge - I've been there so I know - you work as a team. There will be the one or two from each side that think they know it all or what to play the big man. Many just get on with the job in hand, learn from each other and advance together for the sake of all concerned.

Any management team that will be leading this merger will, or should, be watching for any flash points. They should intervene quickly to stem the potential problems. If they fail to act or ignore major problems then action should be taken against them and removed from the manangement team.

As stated, just do your job and get to know the other guys. Keep the wise cracks out of the way until you know everyones personalities. The ones who like a joke and the ones who prefer to be left alone. All that should be happening on both sides. Good luck and above all, don't worry.