A common question that is posed from current and prospective officers along with engaged firefighters is “how do you deal with superior officers or an organization that doesn’t want to move forward?” First, it’s not always the organization or the superior officers that are the sole problem. I’ve seen good, engaged, enthusiastic firefighters circumvent the […]
Opportunities for Training: Not Just on the Drill Ground
Many times we pass on opportunities to train or learn something although many situations lend themselves to doing so. Look for ways to incorporate the situation or circumstance that you are dealing with into a learning moment. The pictures below are of a company training on aerial ops with a candidate operator. It was a […]
Don’t Wait for Your Ship, You Might Miss It!
In recent weeks I have had the opportunity to be involved in both sides of the promotional process: as a participant and as an interviewer. Both are stressful and will challenge you. You must be able to pull from your training, education, experience and coaching in both circumstances to arrive at a positive decision and […]
You’re a New Officer: Don’t Try to Save the World all at Once!
As progressive, engaged and enthusiastic firefighters, we all took classes, trained hard and created an image of the way we would be when we got promoted. We would do this and we would do that, damn the consequences and those we might piss off. But, when we got there, it may not have all gone […]
For the Prospective Fire Officer: Prepare
I started a new video series and am presenting a new class at FDIC 2015 called “10 Commandments for the Company Officer: A Guide for Success off the Fireground.” The class touches on 10 things for the new company officer to consider for success in the firehouse and dealing with his members. In the first section, or […]