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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on January 12, 2008 at 12:04am

Here we are going to need some more imput from you. What have you trained on so far? If you get us that list we can narrow it down for you a little better.
As a Explorer there are many aspects of the fire service to learn. Unfortunately its a lot of "go for"ing so Item recognition is crutial. (name, use and locations are a must)
Memorize streets in your town. Practice donning and doffing your PPE. Keep your equipment in top notch shape. (having pride goes a long ways) You can get into basic SCBA training. Take any and every opportunity you have to train seriously, and any class you can take, take it. Get that list to me and between myself and the rest of FFN we can help ya a little. Good Luck and Stay safe

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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on January 12, 2008 at 10:23pm

You should train on anything and everything you can get your hands on. You are a cadet you should be on the apparatus floor twice the time you are in front of the tv while at the firehouse.

For self study there are tons of websites and magazines to look at. A littel incetive and an internet serch engine and you will find more than enough to keep you busy.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on January 13, 2008 at 1:38am

Go to firefighterclosecall.com It should be your first step. He's right, when your at the firehouse you should be training and not worried about TV. You can watch TV at home

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Permalink Reply by Chris Ambrogio on January 13, 2008 at 1:55pm

hey im a junior/ explorer captain....... wat kind of things have you guys done so far???? one thing i started when i got in2 office is that every second tuesday of each month we have a junior meeting and besides discussing buisness i started us doing this thing where all my guys and girls pick one thing we want to learn about each month and then depending on what it is i get a senior member to come in and teach us about it...... in the past 3 months we have learned about chimney fires, guidelines for operating at a car accident and, we learned how to pump...... next month we r gonna learn about ppv (positive pressure ventilation) and also the correct way to check an scba ( the way u need 2 do it itn firefighter 1) so we learn something every month not 2 mention the full company drills we have every mon. night so let me no wat u think if u need more detail about how i run my meetings or wat ever add me and send me a message b safe

junior LT.
Christopher Ambrogio

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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on January 13, 2008 at 3:19pm

Here are a few things that we did when I was a cadet and when I became a senior member did with cadets although you sound like you are on the right track.


1. Set out the expectations the first time they walk in the door. That way they know right off how much work this is going to be and how much work is expected of them. The serious ones will stick around so you don't have to waste time with the ones who are there just for glory.
2. Make every new cadet introduce themselves to all of the line officers and board members. That way they know who the bosses are and who to go to if they have a question or issue. This will also let the officers know who this kid is thats hanigng out at the station and give them an opportunity to set expectations.
3. First thing they should learn is the tools and equipment location on the engine. They shouldn't even be able to ride until they memorize where everything is. This includes how to chage and fill SCBA bottles.
4. Once they learn the equipment do exactly what you have been doing. Picking a drill a month and going over it.
5. Get them into a FF1 class ASAP if they have FF1 encourage them to seek training outside the FD (Attend with them if you can then have the FD pay for dinner to show them you support them becoming better)
6. Establish a cadet of the year award and recognize the best cadet with a plaque.
7. Establish and incentive program. Base it of calls, duty hours, work hours whatever. Then reward the best of each month with an FD related gift. (Supscripition to a fire service publication, flashlight, glove strap, FD clothes, etc.)
8. When they come to the FD make them come in a duty uniform.
9. Make them wash or clean something everytime they are in the building. (this will keep the grizzled vets happy)
10. Take them to the closest Career FD so that they can see what its like to do this for a living and show them how much hard work you gotta put in to make it there. (some great firefighters never get hired)
11. Get them involved with comittes in the FD.

Like I said you sound like your on the right track. Keep up the good work.

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Permalink Reply by mike wright on January 18, 2008 at 10:59pm

One thing that is important when you learn names and placement know them by what the firemen call them and not what the slang is for them. I say in on a meeting for cadets and they called everything by a easier name so the cadets could remember. I asked the instuctor what is going to happen when a ff needs a tool and the cadets dont know what it is. You need to know the tool, placement and the use for every tool on there.

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Permalink Reply by Trevor Neel-Cadet 2850 on January 18, 2008 at 11:19pm

well chris, we have a meeting every 1st and 3rd sunday of every month after the Main mtg. Well since it's winter we have went over our trucks alot, but altogether we've went over all the equipment the trucks carry, practiced operating the truck controls, learned and practiced the hose care and hookup, how to land aircare, jaws operation, air bottle refill and usuage, and thats the problem we dont know what else we can go over. I have the worst part of it all, i'm the only Cadet that don't FD family so i can't learn from family aobut their training. So i have to go off of experience, which is the few runs i've been on and the 3 training fires. I just want to know something maybe our instructor has missed or something that just helps in that one second where your like, what am i doing. be safe

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Permalink Reply by Childressfirefighter36 on February 24, 2009 at 9:43pm

I am a cadet in Childress, and we have a meeting on the 1st Tuesday of every month, and the 3rd Tuesday we have a drill. One of the other volunteers put on the drill, sometimes we just work on the other trucks. A family lost their house, everything they had last month. The call came in at 8:39pm. We got back to the station at 3:33am. The house was engulfed upon arrivial, the only thing we could do was make sure nothing else caught fire. We have 250 to 300 calls per year. Already we have 40 calls, and he are a small town. Thanks for reading this....and be careful out there....to all my fellow firefighters. Joshua 1:9KJV

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