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Electing Officers, how do you guys do it?
This will be more for the Vol depts as your full time depts do not ask the general force(correct me if i am wrong) who they think should be, capt, lt, chief, etc.
What I want to know is how the selection process is made for truck and engine capts. and Lt's...as well as how you elect/choose Chief and assistants? Is there any critieria, qualifications that need to be met before someone can even THINK of being an officer...as well as any requirements on the number of calls, training, etc that they must do each year to maintain that status.
Thank you in advance,
Jason
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on
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Testing based on merit, experience, values, and training??? What? Are you mad?
Who the hell does this J Brooks think he is??? It's about who has the most blue lights on their vehicle, and has the most cool war stories. Doesn't he know anything?
You better watch with these crazy ideas buddy, or I'll round up all my drinkin buddies, and we'll vote you right off FFN!
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Most qualified candidate? Huh?
In answer to your question about at least having to be qualified....We had a lieutenant a few years back that had never taken firefighter essentials, and had never been in a fire. How's that for qualified?
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Permalink Reply by Jason Brooks on
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I know, I know. I had a moment of clarity and the common sense in me came it. It will not happen again.
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Capt,
Unfortunately in a lot, not all, of volunteer departments they vote for officers. I personally know a couple of very qualified individuals that were Chiefs that were voted out, due to upsetting the membership. Both of these guys are also full time firefighters with a lot of experience. Unfortunately, there are still a bunch of departments that operate this way. It is really too bad that books like Chase Sargent's "From Buddy to Boss", are not only not read, but not even on the radar. The I have a cool lit up truck and am a nice guy syndrome, it one of the worst things in the fire service. Like said previously, I also know of someone that became an officer in a very short time with little or no training. The majr problem arises when someone gets hurt of GFB killed. THe lawyers will have a field day on the these departments, yet nobody will learn from this stupidity.
Sorry guys, that damn common sense voice was screaming at me again.
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Permalink Reply by Jason on
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J, you are not alone in that thought...In a small town its hard dealing with people you know and get along with, but there is still a job to be done and to be done safely. SOG's, SOP's, requirements and By-Laws need to be met and FOLLOWED.
Brooks, its very sad that the common sense voice you hear screming at you is all too often not even heard in many peoples ears anymore. We are in a time where without leadership, at any level and any job, people just run all over you doing what they WANT. It makes your dept look bad, and for those that don't think that others notice, THEY DO.
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Permalink Reply by Chief Dino on
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Coming from the Military, I was surprised to find that my dept. doesn't really have any minimum requirements for Officer and Chief positions. That being said, our current Chief has been with the Dept over 20 years, our 1st Assistant Chief, and former Chief, was a founding member 25 years ago, our 2nd Assistant Chief has 15 years with the Dept. starting as a junior at 14. I'm the Training Chief, 20 yrs in the Navy and a certified instructor (both Military and NFPA). Is it the right way to do things? No, but it works for us. We all know how hard it is to change the thinking of an organization. You beat your head on the wall long enough and it will crack . . . the wall, not your head. :)
TCSS
Shawn
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