Hey everyone. I just wanted to get a few opinions on this topic. As a firefighter with my local department, I have an issue with what our department is not going to do. Our department was awarded a FEMA SAFER grant to hire 12 new firefighters bakc in early July of this year. I was one of those 12 firefighters that were hired. After we were hired, we all recieved our uniforms and gear, but our department did not issue every new firefighter a portable radio. After many of our firefighters had an issue with not recieving radios, we went to the chief to discuss the issue. After discussing the issue with our Chief, he advised us that every firefighter does not need a radio. According to him, only our company officer and pump operaters need radios because they are in charge of our crews and our chief wants to put emphasis on crew integrity. Now, almost all of the firefighters in the department have an issue with this because it is a major safety issue that all of our firefighters don't have radios. Grant it, crew integrity is very important, but what if something went wrong? What if any one of us were seperated from the rest of our crew, or our company officer was to go down, then how would anyone call a mayday? If I could get some input on this, I would greatly appreciate it.