To everyone who thinks they know what's important; like the color of your POV lights, gear, helmet, flip-downs and whether or not you get or deserve to get respect, I thought I would add (one more time) what's important to me.
Feel free to add to the list
What I care about - all my station and I getting home safely every time, 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 interoperability. 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 ball busting and criticism, I know I can.
What I care about - learning the trade, every day.
What I don't care about - people that think they already know it all, I'll be humble at your funeral.
Don't get mad, get better.