What I care about - all my station and I getting home safely every day
What I don't care about - how we/I manage that, just so long as we're successful

What I care about - that the apparatus operator drives safely and knows what he/she is doing at the panel.
What I don't care about - how many certs they have, I want time in the saddle first.

What I care about - a well maintained apparatus, any make, ANY color.
What I don't care about - who made it, it could be chartreuse for all I care.

What I care about - getting the job done
What I don't care about - at any cost

What I care about - scene safety, team work
What I don't care about - stupid people, freelancers

What I care about - if you bring a POV to the scene, park it on the scene side and way, way, way back from the scene. If you can fight fires, you can walk a little to do so.
What I don't care about - the color of lights on the POV that brought you there.

What I care about - speaking up, if you see something, say something, we work together
What I don't care about - the voice of inexperience. Questions are fine, questioning commands, not so much.

What I care about - Seeing the most qualified people promoted, our lives may depend on them
What I don't care about - how much you are liked. I can learn to like someone that knows what the hell they are doing.

What I care about - that my department will make the best possible choice when purchasing turnout gear, we have the money and we know how to spend it.
What I don't care about - who makes it or its color. they all end up getting dirty.

What I care about - SCBA, we happen to use Scotts, all our surrounding towns do, we are now all on the same page for interchangeability. If the SCBA works, It works for me.
What I don't care about - who thinks what is better, I'm sure they all have their good and bad points. we happen to buy Scott.

What I care about - that we can all get off the rig and be ready to work
What I don't care about - how to keep my mask from fogging. it's smokey in there, mask fog is the least of my concerns. And no we don't mask up in the truck.

What I care about - the voice of experience, if you've been there, done that, I am willing to listen to it.
What I don't care about - if you haven't been in a good smoker, are a probie, an explorer or some other peripheral position, you probably won't have a lot to offer that i will be interested in hearing.

What I care about - sleeping in my bed at the end of the day
What I don't care about - hurt feelings along the way. if you can fight fires you can take a little low hanger busting and criticism, I know I can.

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Thanks to my bro Jack for his words of wisdom. Words to live by!
This is great. I am printing it off. To hang on the wall. It is good advise to pass on. Chief Sharp is right Words to live by!
Interesting thta someone just posted about this on my blog: http://averagejakeff.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/what-counts-more-age-...

Some of them are right on....some of them are egotistical and closed minded. Specifically about the experience. While experience is great its not the end all.....typically experience is the name people give to there mistakes.

My dad is a 30 year fireman, and Ive got on 14 years....he said to me not long ago "you passed me a long time ago as a fireman" Simply stating he felt I was more talented, and more educated than he was about the job.

I have seen 30 year men that couldnt pump a fire truck, and seen Junior men run the pumps, or a line way better, and vice versa.

When dealing with experience you have to ensure is it 30 years of experience, or 1 year 30 times over.....also experience is much like your fire truck. This industry is always evolving and changing so like the fire truck experience has to get some "preventative maintenance" every once in a while to make sure its still relevant, and in good order.

My Capt. at work says this "Experience only means not making the same mistake twice, training, and a good plan keeps you from making it the first time"
Would you please use periods at the end of all your senetences. That way when I copy and paste your awsome list I don't see all the green and red lines on microsoft word. LOL. Just kidding Bro. Excellent List Chief. I have made a copy and placed it on my training board in plane sight for all ponder.
I totally and hold heartedly agree with you. I have experienced this "time on the job equals experience attitude" in my organization. That is so far from the truth. I have seen 10, 15, 20+ year "experienced people" look at me like a deer in headlights when I ask them to thow a one man 24 ft. extension ladder. Or ask a driver if he could teach pump ops to less experienced people. What do you mean pump ops?
You can have years of service but not years of experience. You can have all the certs in the world and all the educational degrees know to man. But, if your organization does not have a progressive and discplined culture there just wall paper. The culture should allow you to use this knowledge, if they don't you may have bigger problems.
First an formost
This list as I stated in the title is not mine. DamnThing- Jack wrote this and it is indeed words to ponder and think about. If you like them well great. If you dont well so what.
Well Im glad your so open minded......(sarcasm)
Curious, which ones are egotistical and closed minded?
Apparently I gave the impression that I'm not. Hummmmmmm?
Good words Bro!
All good, Chief. Thanks for sharing that and kudos to Jack - DamnThing for authoring it. Especially love the last one.
Words of wisdom!!
I have taken the time to read all responses and i respect everyones view. Yours however is right on the money. We are in a results based business. We do not show up and say "oh well, we showed up and yes! its on fire...we cant do anything". We get called to make the day better for the people we serve and while that costs, its a simple fact that we have to pay bills too. dedication does not pay the rent

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