A bit off the topic of chickens...

[ironelf0]

As some of you may or may not know, I'm a volunteer firefighter. I work on a very good department in Central, Kentucky. However I do not want to be volunteer for the rest of my life. In fact, I want to go professional within the next few years.

However, when looking at an article today, I came to the realization of some very sobering facts.

First, less than 5% of applicants become firefigthers. That's less than 1 out of 20. That means I have to be better than at least the other 19 firefighters.

Second, each firefighter usually has ONE chance at becomming a firefighter. If they do not succeed on their first attempt, they may never be able to pass an application process again. This too is sobering.

Third, each firefighter may end up paying for past mistakes they made. This means that even if I change the course of my life, if I even had one bad habbit, it could cost me my career.

I'm just staring at the screen right now, contiplating these thoughts. Can I become good enough to overcome the other 19 or 20 people that I must out perform physically, mentally, and morally? That is a tough question that I must soon face, if I ever want a chance to do what I love doing.

Thanks for letting me vent.

In Christ,
Jesse

[Josh]

Wow, I didn't know it's that difficult to become a firefighter.

I can image how stressful it must be facing such odds. However, and I know this sounds corny and all, but just do your best! :) From what little we know about you, I'm sure you have what it takes to serve your state.

[ironelf0]

Thanks Josh!
I really needed the encouragement lately.

In Christ,
Jesse

[lizzy065]

hi jesse,

it seems u r a ferm believer as am i. i know god will help you through it, if for some reason you dont make it there was a reason why u didnt. we will keep you in our prayers and god will fufill your dreams.


liz

[RonL]

Jesse. Josh gave you the best advise. Just do your best. I'm sure if those statistics omitted the quiters and drop-outs, the percentages would be much higher. If it's God's will, then .............. :)

[Heidicat]

Jesse, like Josh said, you do your best!!! Which should be plenty enough to get the job. Kentucky should be proud to have a guy who wants so badly to be a firefighter.

It almost sounds like trying to become a Navy seal!

You go and do your personal BEST!!! and I have a good feeling that you WILL make it! :wink:

Sending "good luck" vibes to you, Heidi :D

[ironelf0]

Thankyou everyone,
I appreciate the support that you've given me. It means alot when people are willing to stand behind firefighters. I've encountered many situations where the people cuss at those of us who are firefighters- I guess blaming us for the tradegy at hand or in the past. Truth is though is that we don't want to see the incidents that we're at. It's never easy to see someone's home destroyed, or to see someone watching their son die. But we do it. There's never enough money on this earth that could pay us to watch this stuff and in honesty the money that firefighters get isn't much. We may make 30k at a good department. It's just enough to survive, so that we can spend MORE time helping the community.
I appreciate that the people on this forum seem to support firefighters. Not that we're extrodinary people. I remember one book put it: "Firefighters are not extrodinary people but ordinary people that often times find themselves in extrodinary situations."
Again thankyou for your support and the encouragement.

In Christ,
Jesse

[lizzy065]

hey jesse,

my brother is a firefighter and he said it is like nothing any1 can think of. his first situation is when he had to go into a burning building and pull some1 out, he said he felt he did what god wanted. he also stated to me that he would never give itup even if he had to volenteer. all this talk made me decide i enrolled today to finish getting my medics degree, i start school in the fall and i cant wait. just that feeling of knowing i helped some1 in need is all i need.

liz

[ironelf0]

Lizzy,
I don't know what type of experience that you've had with it in the past- but I feel the same as your brother. There is nothing on earth like it. I actually enjoy the feeling of the heat against my skin as I am on the end of a nozzle.
There's a certain rush to knowing that you may not come back- and usually you don't even think of the possibility when you're on the scene. I only remember a couple of times where I was scared. One time being in a field fire where I had the flames chasing me as I was trying to put them out. They were literally backing me up.
The other time was when we had a fully engulfed house that we had to wait and let it burn on its own. As it was said once before "There's enough fire for everyone". In that case, there was a bit too much fire for my taste.
Either way, I'm sure you'll be very good at being a medic. By medic, do you mean EMT or Paramedic?
How old are you Liz? If you're still young enough, have you thought about being a medic on a paid fire department? They have use for those also.
It's rough though. It takes alot of dedication.
Good luck Liz.

In Christ,
Jesse