Ok, I don't know if I'm posting this in the right place, I've never been on a forum before to ask a question so here I go.
I'm a new firefighter EMT in Ohio. I've been trying to get a job the past 6 months since graduating with my certification. I'm a 19 year old male, I'm in decent firefighter shape(CPAT a few seconds short of 8 minutes, run six miles 4 times a week) and I graduated as the Valedictorian of my class and school. I've never gotten a ticket, never been in an accident, never done drugs, and have never been arrested. I've tested for several departments and have done reasonably well on most. (Lets face it when I first started testing and filling out applications I had no idea what I was doing compared to now.)
I have progressively gotten further and further into the testing process as time has gone by, but I think I've hit a dead end. The past two departments I've gone in for interviews for the Chief(and the other instance the Captain) told me that I was a wonderful candidate, but for the most part they're going to pass me over because I'm wet behind the ears, and green like the grass on a golf course. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if I didn't have so many other firefighters vouching that I'm a great kid and will make a good firefighter.(I'm an explorer, local fire department, and I'm pretty well liked up there)So lately I've been thinking about pursuing one of my other plans, the Marine corp Reserves(I originally placed this on the backburner, and tried to get my foot in the door with a department as a part-timer and pursuing my paramedic certification)
I have always wanted to be a marine, even before I fell in love with firefighting. Now I finally get to my question, I was wondering if the Marine Corp would help plead my case with fire departments more than medic school at the moment? I mainly want to prove that I'm not some stupid irresponsible 19 year old. I can go into the marines whenever I want, they want me bad. Also I'm going to do my paramedic training as well, but I was wondering if some of you firefighters may have some advice to help my current problem. The next class at the medic school I want to go to is another 4 months down the road. I just don't want to wait four months and not have made any improvements to my current situation(I'm an admitted workaholic). I can't even land a spot as a volunteer firefighter despite all the people I know, and that vouch for me. Sorry for making such a long post, I hope someone actually got to the end of this and can offer some advice. Basically, will the Marines help me prove to fire departments that I'm capable, and that they should see more in my application than, 19 year old male.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Dan Reid on
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Andrew,
Statistically it is easier to be accepted to Harvard than it is to become a paid firefighter, meaning you need to be patient, six months is not a very long time and I hate to say it but it may be years before you get hired. Keep trying to get on with a volunteer department and keep applying with career departments. Maybe you should take some fire science college courses and work towards a degree. Going after your medic is also great, just keep plugging. So far as the Marines I have no input on that, hopefully someone else can offer advice there. I will say this. I changed my career plans after 2.5 years of college, studying to be a cop. I then realized I wanted to be a firefighter, I joined the Air Force to become a firefighter and after 4 years I had experience and certifications, it still took me time to get hired but I got hired. I am not saying that is what you should do, just that to get what you want you will need to work hard and find a way to do it! Ask the departments in your area what they are looking for in recruits and go out and do it.
Hope that helps a little, good luck
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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First and foremost, the issue isn't about you personally, it is about your age. Despite what you bring to the table, you do lack the real world experience and maturity which only comes with time. While you may have something to offer, there may be other candidates offering more and it is what a dept needs as opposed to what you want.
So if you are thinking USMC reserves, go for it. Consider going active even, but the military does help by the discipline, leadership, teamwork, and core values. The military is not going to "vouch" for you per se.......not sure what you are getting at there.....but serving brings in its own merits that speak for themselves. One thing to remember is even if going reserves you will have 13 weeks of boot camp and then go directly to your schooling, so anticipate several months away from home and subsequently school. The other aspect is you will be on the hook for service activation for the next (typically 6) years. This can impact how and when you can go through testing processes for a job.
Being a reservist, it is possible to go for paramedic and I would encourage that anyway. Just because school is down the road, you do need to take things down a peg too in your enthusiasm. While you state you don't want to wait 4 months without improving your situation, being a "workaholic" is also not a great thing to be either, it shows that you lack patience, which is just as important in this job. There are always things to do that can help you like working a job, volunteering, etc. Again having all the fire certs in the world is not going to make things any better to appear more responsible and mature for the age.
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Permalink Reply by Corey Hanson on
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Here is advice from a Marine and volley firefighter. First, hate to tell you, just as the other guys have said or hinted at, patience is going to be key in this. I have been trying to get hired for the past 6 years WITH military experience. It took my uncle 10 years with experience as a firefighter and dispatcher. Age is likely an issue with all of that.
Im also going to tell you this, the recruiters want you bad...not the Marines. Every branch is cutting down and not just jumping on everyone that comes in. So my first piece of advice is lose the cockiness because if/when you actually go through with the best decision of your life, cockiness has no room for a junior Marine, trust me, I learned that the hard way. Accept the fact you are the low man on the totem pole, accept some humility and learn from your elders and veterans. Military background looks good on everything. If you want to do it, do it 100% do your 4 years active duty then come out and try to get hired. It will give you time to mature and give you experience in the real world under a chain of command. Also, if you are so interested in becoming a medic, look into the Navy and become a corpsman, get hooked up with a grunt unit and deploy. You want experience and certs and live the Marine life...thats the way to do it.
None of this is meant in a condescending way, but have patience young jedi.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Moore on
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Mr. Jones,
In my personal opinion, to answer your question...No, joining the Marines will not make you any faster a firefighhter than going to McDonalds makes you a cheeseburger. Sounds like you are a victim of geography or economics. Either you are not in the right place or you are, like many other folks, looking for a job in a market thats flooded...maybe both! Broaden your horizon. If you are willing to jump into a stint with the Marines, how about changing your location (geography thing again) and see where else in the U.S. you might have a better chance. I don't think your age has a great deal to do with anything. I know of departments that provide resident firefighter programs. We currently have two in our station and they posess your qualifications and are NOT MARRIED and have NO CHILDREN. I wish you the best of luck and hang in there!
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Permalink Reply by Gregg Bordner on
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Andrew,
Not knowing where in the country the other people who have responded to your post are from, I'm from the Seattle area and have to agree with their responses as well. Most departments in our area really won't consider people under the age of 21 as serious candidate because of their age. Might seem unfair but if you look what our duties entail, not many at that age are "ready to face the challenges" that might come on any given day.
My suggestion to you is very similar to the others that have responded, get as much experience as you can and work toward your goal in every direction, but don't get discouraged because it's not happening for you within 6 months. That's a reflection of that maturity, this is a career your talking about and not a job. Careers take hard work and dedication to achieve, and you will get there but it's not going to happen for you over night. If you were sharing this after 5 years of testing it would be a different conversation.
Your military thoughts might be a good one, departments do give extra points for military service and the life experiences that you'll gain and grow through will become evident in the way you carry yourself in all situations including your testing and interview process.
Never give up on your dreams, just do something everyday to make those become your reality.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew T. Jones on
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Thank you everyone for your responses. You really have given me honest answers, and this helped me realize that I need to have more patience and humility. I'm going to keep working at getting a job and the Marines. I'm going to take some serious time and make my decision on what is next on for me. This really has been a huge help to me, and thank you. I will try to use all of your advice and make the best decision I can. I couldn't have asked for more help than what I've been given, really, thank you.
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Permalink Reply by DAVID JACOBS on
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Hi Andrew
Wish you well in your endevours.I was in the Navy for four years went in not really knowing what I wanted to do so I went into submarines and was in the striker program which allowed you to choose a career path.I decided on the hospital corps which took me to San Diiego and picked up a lot of great experience in the medical field.Now if you want,you could go into that because you could be attached to a marine group as a medic tremendous opportunity here you could do all kinds of crazy stuff and pick up a lot of experience.As far as firefighting everything in San Diego was paid but we would still go to fires to observe I learned a heck of alot.Pick up as much college and classes if you can lots to offer in there.I was a volunteer since 1975 did a lot of bingo,breakfasts.you name it we did it for fundraisers.Maybe in your area do it volunteer for a while to pick up experience.Sound like you have a good level head on your shoulders which is a great thing.Give yourself some time and lay all your cards out lots to play you are young.Keep plugging someone will see your capabilities! Wish you well!---Dave Jacobs
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Thank you Mr. Jacobs,
It has started to pay off, I'm starting my medic in March, and then I'm going to make my move for the military, I will have to think about being a corpsmen, that's a good window. Although I'm not hired yet, a lot of the firefighters who train me at my local department in the Explorer program are trying to get me hired, as well as with the new year brings Fire Chiefs with new budgets and slots to fill on rosters. I have hope, I'm to stubborn to give up after a few months of not getting hired. I just have been taking my frustration and focusing it towards bettering myself as a candidate for fire departments. Your advice hasn't fallen on deaf ears. I will take that to heart and use it as well as I can. Thank you once again.
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Permalink Reply by Anthony Summers on
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I read the other posts and they are all excellent advice ( speaking from a former AF Res medic and my best friend was an AF Res FF). Just be patient and it will happen. And ALWAYS remember, if you don't know, ASK! You might get a smart-ass answer, but we are all brother and we are all willing to help one another.
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