Hey (insert name here) there is a training opportunity, you interested?
This is a question that almost every firefighter has been asked.
FEMA and State agencies spend millions every year offering up training for first responders across the country. The National Fire Academy and the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama, and Security and Emergency Response Training Center in Pueblo, Colorado are just some of the locations across the United States where firefighters can go completely free of charge to advance their skills and knowledge. I’ve never understood why any firefighter, career or volunteer, would pass up these opportunities when training budgets continue to shrink or are non-existent.
Why are you not using the free firefighter training?
When I ask my own personnel that question I get a variety of answers, but two seem to be the most common. One, I can’t afford to miss time from my part time job. Two, I can’t be away from my family for that long.
Number one is not something I will speak to because I understand having to make ends meet. For some, that part time job is the only way they can survive and if you’re a volunteer then the job in question may be the only job. That leaves number two and it is the real reason I sat down at my computer to share my thoughts with you today.
Ladies, I was inspired to write this while in Colorado conducting training. Being away from home stinks, especially if you consider I just got married!! Beth will tell you that while we have been together I have taken advantage of several out of state training and conferences that have taken me away for weeks at a time. Like her, I am driven to advance my career. I’m lucky that, while she hates me being gone, she tolerates these trips.
This is the crux of this post, understanding and tolerance. Firefighting is a challenging and dangerous career. I will let you in on a little secret – most of the time your firefighter is either doing very non-life threatening things or EMS calls; this fact is the reason that training is so important.
For me I attend courses that will prepare me for a chief position, but every now and then I attend a real hands on training that will better prepare me to keep my firefighter's safe. Colorado was one such training where I learned how to deal with railroad tank car derailments, spills, and fires. You know, the stuff that happens once in a career and can kill you if you make a wrong move. These opportunities to learn are crucial for your firefighter to store away knowledge in their brain.
I had the privilege to train with firefighters from across the country both career and volunteer. We all shared the goal of going home in one piece at the end of the day. It’s like that credit card commercial: One trip to Colorado – $$$$$ One hotel and rental car – $$$$$ the information gained – PRICELESS
My challenge to all the wives reading this – Please don’t be the reason your firefighter doesn't take advantage of the training opportunities. Trust me when I say I understand not wanting your firefighter away from home. I understand the loneliness that goes with being away from home, and I can sympathize with the difficulties of maintaining a household without your firefighter for a week.
However, I can’t stress enough to you that what they will learn will make them better. It will keep them safer. It will help bring them home at the end of shift. Plus you can hold it over them to watch the kids for a “Girls Weekend” after each training they attend. (I’ll deny saying that last part if asked) (***this is Val, I won't let him deny it***) Finally, chief officers love personnel who show initiative to train and better themselves. Come promotion time this could make the difference.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks for reading.
***Val again (I know, it's like I own the place or something)***
Ladies if you have any questions for R, you can post here or email Beth at BethB(at)wifebehindthefire(dot)com if you prefer it to be more private.
My name is Richard Berkobien and I am a career Battalion Chief with the Richland Hills FD in Richland Hills, TX. I have been in the fire service for over 20 yrs, starting my journey as a vollie with RHFD, doing a short stint in College Station and coming back to spend last 15 years at RHFD. I am married to Beth M (who writes for WBF as well), live in the Fort Worth Metroplex, and have three crazy pups together.
As his wife, I will tell you it sucks to be away from him… We got married Aug 1, he left Aug 3rd was back Aug 7th, then was gone to another conference aug 12 – 15 (though in town and home at night) and now is going firetruck shopping Aug 19-20 (on duty Aug 18). It blows… but it backs him a better firefighter and leader. Besides, I will start traveling to china soon for my work, which will be the ultimate pay back. If they have the opportunity to go to the big training centers… let him go. Besides, he had a blast and the biggest smile on his face. Who can say no to that?
Holly is having trouble with Java… so this comment is from Holly R:
I am all about it R….train away!!! My FF takes advantage of all trainings that are offered off site of our station….problem is….there are not many offered in our area. Our dept. does have training night every Monday night…they set up different scenarios and work through them as they would if it were a live event. They have also set up with our sister dept.’s, a large training event each year, recently they had a mock bus roll over with injuries and we did a huge water shuttle, because some of our areas we do not have hydrants (like our local State Park), so they pumped from a lake into drop tanks to move water with tankers from several area dept.’s. My husband is a Volunteer, so we cannot afford for him to take much time off work for travel to train, because he is our main income, but if he went for a weekend to a training that he could get to on time off and wasn’t real far travel…I am all about it…I don’t think you can train enough. Thank you for your insight… Great article!
NFA in Emmitsburg, MD is free and they do have vollie based courses that are usually Friday Night to Sunday Evening. If you are fortunate enough to live near there you can submit for mileage/fuel reimbursement. You do have to pay for airfare up front, but it is reimbursed within 4 to 6 wks.
Hopefully this post will go through….
Thank you for that information…I really appreciate that….I will let him know. We are in Ohio so that is not close us, but it’s something to keep in mind for him…I am sure that if he can work it out, he would love to go.
When he was volunteer it wasn’t even a thought for him to go away to training. Construction is no work, no pay. Thankfully they did a lot of extra drills with two neighboring depts and a few times a year they would go to class at the state academy.
I’m working on him going out to train more now, but it’s all out of pocket. Our dept used to have a huge training budget to send guys out, but every penny was cut out now of course. With a kid in college and the other a junior, it’s difficult to fork out the money even though it’s very necessary.
If you can get the dept to commit one or two member to the schools, they can bring back the information to the dept. That is a way to bring back fresh training ideas without having a huge outlay.
Also remember that NFA is free. You just have to pay for your air fare up front and then it is reimbursed to you, usually within 4 to 6 wks. My dept will pay for the week meal plan and that is roughly $100 and is three squares a day. My only out of pocket is the pub. 🙂