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Joined the Air Force
I have recently joined the air force and was offerd crash rescue and i just want to know if anyone could tell me the pros and cons of getting my training in the military, and what it will do for me when i get out?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brian F. Moriarty on
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I did it, I loved it! A great opportunity to serve your country and get some experience. But you have to make the most of it. Apply for schools, study, if your in the states see what is available in the community like the volleys. Go to collage nights and weekends if possible. And there is still plenty of time to see the world and enjoy the beneifits of being a young military man.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I agree about getting schooling as well as your military training. Chances are that you will get IFSAC certs for firefighting, which can transfer to civilian depts (not all certs may transfer though and it does depend on the state), but also concentrate on knocking out college credits. If looking for a career job as a firefighter, your training will definately help, but be aware that many career depts are requesting further education and a degree to get hired, so basically do NOT rely solely upon your military training and experience to land you a job. Be proactive. Good luck and congratulations.
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Permalink Reply by Norman E. Flanders on
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Congrats on your willingness to join the US Military and serve this great nation. My hats off to you and I wish you the best. You and you alone can make or break your career.
I was an Air National Guard Fire Protection Specialist. I loved it. I had the best training and made many great friends.
The PRO's = The Air Force Fire Academy will be the best training you will ever receive. The potential for advancement and additional training are none better and never ending. While there take advantage of earning a degree in fire science.
* While there seek every avenue of training, whether military or civilian schooling. You and your desire to learn, train and be a better knowledgeable firefighter are based on your willingness to achieve.
* Set a goal for your self and work your hardest to achieve it. Let nothing get in your way.
* Once your out of boot camp, through fire training and assigned to your base, look into what the area FD's have to offer for you to join. You can use this as an additional avenue for broadening your career and knowledge. Beside you may be an asset to help this F D
* Once you've completed your tour of duty your ARFF training and knowledge can be used to land you a full time position at an airport. You may even be lucky to get that position at the air base your stationed at.
The CONS = Could be only established by YOU and your willingness not to seek every avenue of training, just working to get by as needed, not being the best at everything you do and not establishing an achievable career goal.
Brad, best of luck, you have made a fantastic choice in a career in fire protection in the Air Force one you will not regret. Use this as a keystone in building your foundation in your goal to be a successful fire fighter.
Stay safe, train often and share knowledge.
Norm Flanders, Chief
Clarendon Fire Association
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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Jump on that opportunity like a dog on a porterhouse!
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Permalink Reply by Jay Nicholson on
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As others have said, take advantage of every educational benefit you can. To this day I still regret not doing all I could. I would suggest going into this with the mind set of doing 20. This is your 'career' now and you should do everything in your power to advance that career. Not that you will retire from the USAF, but go into it thinking you will.
Nothing you do there will help you in my neck of the woods unless you come here with a paramedic cert. But the country is a big place and other places may give you preference.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick on
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This is a great opportunity for you. You will get your training for free. You get military credit points on civil service exams. Federal fire departments (base civilian depts) give hiring preference to prior military service people. The great thing about getting in with a federal dept. is you can transfer anywhere there is a U.S. military base. Example: you get hired in Missouri and get bored, you can transfer to an open spot in say Florida.
I know the transfer process from military training to getting a State of Ohio fire card is pretty easy.
Thank you for serving our country.
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Permalink Reply by Marcus A. Oliver on
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Pro's....Training is FREE. Over the last 13 years I have seen many states, including mine adopt the "IFSAC" system or revamp it to mirror it. With that said, whatever you can absorb during your tour will do nothing but benefit you if the fire service is where you want to be. That could be retired from the AF at 38 if your 18 and right into the civilian sector either by taking an entry level exam or using your experience from the AF to do a lateral hire, dependant on FD requirements and if they recognize your certs..most should. I saw someone mention FED FIRE another great avenue. I myself started as a resident FF after the ARMY and then went FED FIRE before going to the county. FED FIRE is very similar to active duty in the sense that you can transfer all over the world...as a civilian. I saw someone mention College. While in active duty they will pay for that also, however you have to pay first. The fire service is a great family and I wish you well in your endevors and WELCOME...hoohaa!
Neg's none your already there...turn every training opportunity into a positive situation that will take you further down the road!
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Permalink Reply by John Rulli Jr. on
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congrats!!
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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I don't believe that having a CFR background will necessarily help you out getting a job the same way being a certified paramedic does. However, with that said, what it will give you is experience. This will prove to be invaluable when it comes time to taking an oral board and answering the question, "what have you done to prepare for this job?". Anyone who can reply, "I served my country sir, and learned this job well...", has a pretty damn good chance of getting one of the badges earmarked for a non-paramedic firefighter, and believe it or not, those jobs are out there.
Once you complete your tour(s), and you do get hired by a large department and you will... You will be very difficult to compete against compared to the local boys that never left their backyards. You've been around the block a couple of times serving in the military, and you have learned how to play the game in the process.
Congratulations Brad, your on the carosel and now you can start reaching for the brass rings! Go for any training and experience you can collect. It will all prove to be very useful in the big picture of your career.
TCSS,
CBz
"An opportunity is not an opportunity unless you fully expoit it!"
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Permalink Reply by lang on
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Hey congrats on the air force and fire protection. Pros some of the best training you can ever get, take all the traing you can get, you get your vet points. Some cities will except your certs some will send you through thier academy again. I know people who didn't get jobs because a person they were going against was prior military. Cons it's not like a regular fire house you have to keep in mind your in the military and some things you say and do can come back and bite you in the ass. You'll have to deal with the know it alls who've been a few years have a 3 inch binder of certs but have never been in a fire. There are also the guys who use there stripes in a bad way. Also one last tip get overseas as soon as possible the friendships you'll come back with are second to none. It's a great job I've been doin it for almost 4 years now best job in the air force. Just on a side note we had a code this mornin and we left with the save
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Permalink Reply by Korrey on
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Congrats to you for picking the air force. There's really no cons in any job if you love it. I was always told to pick a job that you'll love to getup in the morning to go to. There's a lot of advantages to going into the service that will payoff in the future. If you can go visit a crash rescue department it would benefit you greatly.
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