Fire Service Instructor 1 here I come!

Passed my Fire2 Monday, I am ECSTATIC! Taking my Instructor 1 on the 26th of this month.I'm thrilled! I've been reading a book and taking a test on it at the end of the month since january and I've been blessed enough to have passed all of them on the first try. After I (hopefully) pass my instructor 1 I'm going to take a little break. I'm all tested out. I still want to get my officer 1 and instructor 2, and then my driver/operator-pumper. But those can wait til the end of the year. Just had to let this all out, I'm so excited!!!!
LOGUE


[EDITED 5/19/09]
Just so everyone who decided to post on this for future reference. I have no intentions of becoming an Instructor right now. I don't want to be a captain/chief/etc. right now. I'm just ambitious and enthusiastic about furthering my education right now. I want to be on the end of a hose and atop a ladder and at the pump panel for atleast a good 10yrs. I enjoy hands on training and gaining the experience I need to be a better firefighter. I just want to knock out my bookwork/certifications/tests right now while I'm still young. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Dave on May 18, 2009 at 7:28pm
The best instructors i ever had never had any of those certs! Then again, what they did have was 30 plus years of heavy fire duty on Engine's, Trucks and Rescue's. Certs are good for your wall, Nothing beats experience.
Permalink Reply by Tony P on May 19, 2009 at 12:43am
Some of the poorest instructors I've seen have a wealth of experience, and certificates in being an instructor. The single, to me, most important thing is an inate ability to be able to pass on what you know, to be able to talk to the students, to be able to involve them. Something those instructors I just mentioned didn't have.

So I put it as:
1. ability to teach - something a person is probably born with, it's natural to them
2. experience - you don't have to be the best but you do need the understanding
3. instructor qualification - this will help a born instructor master the techniques.
Permalink Reply by Todd on May 19, 2009 at 7:15pm
Wow Jonathan, Some of these guys are chastising you alot for wanting to succeed in your fire service career.
My opinion is that taking on too much training so soon may be bad for some people but for others it will help them excel at their careers, remember everyone, we are all different people and what is good or bad for one doesn't mean it is good or bad for all.
With the numbers of volunteers dwindling left and right i would love to have a few young people on my dept. with the enthusiasm and passion for learning. Most show up and 2 or 3 months go by and they "KNOW EVERYTHING". Keep your head up and remember the Certs are good but there are also things you learn from experience that a book never teaches.

I also have to say that someone doing this for 30 years has a lot of experience but it doesn't mean they know about every situation, i continuously learn new and exciting things on a daily basis.
In fact the guy that been around 30 years had to be taught by the younger generation they should be wear respritory protection.......Good Luck
Permalink Reply by FETC on May 19, 2009 at 7:44pm
I continue to follow and stand by my original response... taking the now to get them out of the way???
Permalink Reply by Jonathan on May 19, 2009 at 9:23pm
Thanks Todd. I'm just really ethusiastic and aggressive when it comes to things I love and want. I have no intent on being an instructor right now, but later on in life I would like to be a captain and having my officer 1 would help me in pursuing that goal. I don't want to be the youngest chief, hell I don't even want to be a chief at all. I love fighting fire and training hands on. I love driving those big red engines and climbing the ladders. I love dragging hose and getting soaked and being exhausted in the summer heat. I love the fire service. And while I'm still young and excited about pursuing my education I'm going to get as many certs as possible. I'm going to gain the experience I need over the next 50yrs of my life because I plan on continuing to learn throughout my career. The day you say you've learned all that there is to learn, is the day you should turn in your gear and retire. I wish I could get more hands on training, but finding somewhere to do it and getting people to do it is just such a problem... I wish people around my area loved to train and learn as much as I do.
-Logue
Permalink Reply by DUST on May 19, 2009 at 9:46pm
First off, Congratulations on your Fire 2! If you don't intend to teach anytime soon why take the classes now? Instead why not take classes that you will be putting to use on the job now. Get your EMT, your RT, driver/operator and other specialized fire classes Follow the USFA pyramid. Good luck!
Permalink Reply by Jonathan on May 19, 2009 at 9:56pm
Dust thank you, and I do want to get my EMT, but its just finding a class in my area. And fitting it into my schedule. The same for driver/operator. I've got the book on it and it looks like I'm going to have to read it on my own and take the test because I can't find a class in my area. I want to learn so many things so bad, but it's just finding the classes that's so much trouble man.
Permalink Reply by Jonathan on May 25, 2009 at 11:04pm
Little update, I take my test tomorrow night at 1800hrs. I've been taking practice tests, going over slideshows, and reading my book. I've scored so high as a 97% and as low as a 71%(granted the practice tests included instructor 2 questions also) I ended up averaging with a passing grade of 85% (IFSAC requires a passing score of 70%) so I'm not worried at all. To be honest I think I could probably pass my instructor 2 right now as well, but I won't be taking that for a good little while. I'll let y'all know how it went sometime wednesday when I get off shift. Thanks for all the responses by the way.
TCSS Logue
Smoke EaterPermalink Reply by Smoke Eater on May 26, 2009 at 12:31pm
Hey Jonathan, one thing you may want to remember is that once you get your cert you do have to teach. The requirements are that you have to have 30 hrs. of instruction in 3 yrs. so about 10 hrs. a yr.
Permalink Reply by Jonathan on May 27, 2009 at 8:48am
Hey capt, is this an ifsac requirement or is it a state requirement. Because I asked the coordinator giving the test and he never heard of that before.
On a side note, it stormed last night and I was caught up at the station doing work which made me leave much later than I'd planned. By the time I got there i was 2minutes late... I started at 1805 and finished at 1830. It was an 80 question test and I'm 100% I passed it.
Talked it over with my coordinator and I'm going to go straight on to my Instructor 2 test which is coming up on the 9th of June. All of the material I've been studying for Instructor 1 included instructor 2 as well and I'm very confident in my ability to pass it aswell. That's the update on my testings.
-Logue
Smoke EaterPermalink Reply by Smoke Eater on June 1, 2009 at 3:55am
I'm not sure. I think it is an ifsac requirement. I can ask tomarrow night. We have class then.
Permalink Reply by Bull on June 1, 2009 at 9:23am
Congrats brother, I am Fire officer I certified, and it fills great when you accomplish each cert. Keep up the good work. I understand your wanting to get your certs out of the way while your young, but please remember one thing, don't stop training. you can never learn enough, plus our job changes all the time with new technologies and studies etc. Keep up the good work and if you need any help or advice don't be afraid to ask.
by the way, I'm the Captain in my Department, and its great. Don't be afraid to be a leader. You sound as if you could be a great one with your enthusiasm.

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