New guy

[Gambit7]

New guy here. I'm in my 20's, work in IT, and I've decided that after a long period of searching/praying/taking tests, I'm going to become a Firefighter.

I've been putting together a list of the things I need to do first, like get my CPR card, then enroll in an EMT class, start a really good workout program, do some volunteer work, etc.

Any advice or hints would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[jam24u]

Number one.... Visit this site often and participate.

If your planning to go career, many departments select candidates with military service backgrounds (as they should) or have some college fire service credits.

Other than that, I would find the department you want to be associated with, call them and find out about their selection process. Definitely get in shape because they are going to be tough about that.

Now you could begin by applying to a volunteer department that has a history of being a pipeline for career departments. Often they are in suburb areas.

There is a thread section here devoted to career firefighting. Hanging out there would be advisable.

Good Luck

[Gambit7]

Thanks Jam. I'm gonna go check out the career area and do some searches for fitness/workout related posts.

A close friend of mine is the son of someone who helps run the physical tests for a local Fire Department, so I'm getting in contact with her to find out more about the requirements and any ideas she might have for preparation.

I don't have any military background, but I do plan to take some fire science classes or something similar. A local college also has a volunteer firefighter training program that is really pretty cheap and looks interesting.

Thanks for your help.

[ProgressiveRescue]

Hey New Guy!
Thanks for joining the forum. If there's any advice I could give you it's follow your dreams and they will pan out. It takes a lot of dedication to become a firefighter. Take all tests you can and become a volunteer to get free training and some experience.
Keep your nose in these forums you'll learn a lot.
Mike Donahue
Specialized Rescue Forum Moderator

[Gambit7]

Thanks for the encouragement Mike. I've been making a list of the local Fire Departments with volunteer programs and Citizen's Fire Academy programs. I'm looking forward to the learning experiences and the challenges along the road that I'll face.

Thanks.