Volunteer in US?

Hi..

I was wondering if some of you guys can come with examples of the the volunteer department works in YOUR area.
I am thinking about moving to the US for a couple of years, and could be very nice to know more about the volunteer fire services.

In Denmark you have to both live and work close to the fire house, as you have 5 minutes from the alarm to get to the fire station, change, get in the engine, and get out of the station.
When going from your job/home to the fire station you have to obey all trafic-rules such as speed limits, rule for overtaking, red lights etc.

How it is "over there" ?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Damo on October 14, 2010 at 8:16am

Sune,

I looked into this a little for you as I am from Europe myself and I have gone through the ardious journey of getting my green card and dealing the immigration service. Keep in mind that I am not a lawyer and anything I tell you please double check for yourself. But, I know for a fact unless you come on a work visa you can stay 90 days on the visa waiver program, this can be extended for another 30, but that costs a lot of money. So, if you do get in with a FD, you are allowed to "volunteer", you cannot be paid in anyway. So, the best way would be to get in with a volunteer dept and maybe try and get an exchange going with them and your FD in Denmark. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer on this, but it could be an expensive lesson if you get here and immigration just turn you straight around and make you head home. If you make it down south, drop by Klein FD Station 35 and say hi, plus bring a t-shirt we love to swap.

Jersey girls, hahaha, Snookie, I think I will stick to my Georgia Peaches.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sune Schønnemann on October 14, 2010 at 8:23am

Hi Power.. Nice name by the way :-D

Where in Europe are you from?

I know that getting a green card is a LOOONG process (if it's ever going to happen), and my plan is also that I will start with getting as much education and so on as I can, and then see what happens.

Maine state offers GED-exams in Europe, so I think I'll do that first of.
I have also taken some of the NFA-Online courses like Fire Service Supervision, terrorism-awareness course and ICS-100/NIMS..

My plan is - when the GED is on order - to go to the US for as long as I can, do some EMT courses and perhaps FF1 when I am there, and try to get in with a volunteer dept.. In that way I can spend a couple of months in the US, learn a bunch of stuff, and get the feel of US firefighting..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scotty V on October 14, 2010 at 8:24am

Those things are not even from jersey lol snookie is from nyc... Also women in jersey love their firemen lol

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damo on October 14, 2010 at 9:10am

I always thought Snookie had escaped from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Krauter on October 14, 2010 at 9:51am

Hey Damian, ist this an invitation for everyone, smile....
But think about, i live about 30 kilometers away from frankfurt/main airport...
and it could be, that i come over and tell thedepartments that you are my sponsor....laugh...

Greets from Germany

Tom

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damo on October 14, 2010 at 10:08am

Thanks Sune, I am trying to talk my wife into naming our first born either Max or Will, but she doesn't seem interested in either of those. I am from England originally and ended up in the States 10 years ago this Christmas. What an amazing place and I have loved every second of being here.

That is a great idea to get as certified or as well trained as you could before coming over here. Also, it might be worth looking into something specialized that the particular FD is missing and that may improve your chances. For our basic training to become a vollie, we needed to complete the NIMS courses IS-100, 200, 700, and 704 and we might have to take 800 shortly. So, there is something you can work for as FEMA are wanting everyone trained on this stuff pretty quickly.

I wish I had known how great it was to be part of the brotherhood, then I would have tried to get on full time. It certainly is an awesome experience.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sune Schønnemann on October 14, 2010 at 10:14am

Max Power..... I'm a huge simpsons-fan, so that just makes it even more fun..

My plan about moving might be a bit delayed now..
I was talking to my brother who studies at a university in Copenhagen, and according to him if I pass the GED-exam that I am going to take next weekend, then I can combine that+my experience to apply for college and become a bachelor in disaster management..
- It is a new education in Denmark (started this summer), so that could be really sweet..
But it's a very attractive education, and hard to get accepted..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damo on October 14, 2010 at 10:20am

Tom,

You know you guys are more than welcome. You might have to sleep on the hose bed of the truck though. But, if you spring for some good German beer, we might let you sleep in the day room.

Cheers
D

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Damo on October 14, 2010 at 10:27am

The Simpsons stole that idea from me, but that was a really funny episode.

Thats too funny, I was looking at doing the same course once I get my two year degree in Paramedicince. The way FEMA is pushing their ideas over here and all the "man made disasters" and natural distasters, it will be the degree to have in our field. With that degree and your experience you shouldn't have a problem getting a sponsor to get a job over here in the future.

Good luck with your studies.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sune Schønnemann on October 14, 2010 at 10:33am

Thanks a lot..!

Think it's quite unfair that you guys can get a degree in paramedicine..
In Denmark is it "only" a technical education (but takes 3½ year), and then you are only a basic ambulance tech.. Takes 4-5 years of education+5 years of practical experience to become a paramedic..
- But it's still only considered a technical education (not even a technical degree, just plan manual labor)..!

But that will hopefully change in the future..

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom Krauter on October 14, 2010 at 11:24am

You need Beer?, some good German Beer?, let me know, where to ship to....

Take care of you, and com home healthy every day...

Tom

for some truck pictures

www.feuerwehr-grossauheim.de