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What The Academy Didn't Teach You...
Hey everyone, my name is Jimmy and this is my first post. I'm currently in a fire academy and am loving every minute of it. Class is fun and I learn something new every day. The thought of being a career firefighter has not always been a welcome one to me, but since joining the HVFD, I now know this is the right path for me.
I've been on the volunteer department for about a year and-a-half now and have been taught some things by my fellow volunteers that have not been mentioned in class. This got me thinking. I've always heard that once you get out of the academy, it is just the beginning. And so I ask you this: What important lessons and methods have you learned that the fire academy just couldn't/didn't teach you? Maybe some of those things you wish you would have known when you first stepped into your job as a probie.
I also want to add real quick that over the year-and-a-half that I've been on the department, this website has been my single most valuable research tool. I've learned so much about the fire service from the articles and the forums, and I wanted to say thanks. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you people. Thanks guys, looking forward to reading your responses!
I've been on the volunteer department for about a year and-a-half now and have been taught some things by my fellow volunteers that have not been mentioned in class. This got me thinking. I've always heard that once you get out of the academy, it is just the beginning. And so I ask you this: What important lessons and methods have you learned that the fire academy just couldn't/didn't teach you? Maybe some of those things you wish you would have known when you first stepped into your job as a probie.
I also want to add real quick that over the year-and-a-half that I've been on the department, this website has been my single most valuable research tool. I've learned so much about the fire service from the articles and the forums, and I wanted to say thanks. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you people. Thanks guys, looking forward to reading your responses!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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the fire academy is like riding a bike with training wheels... get out of the academy and the training wheels go away... what was a lesson in the academy turns into reality where you take the basics you learned and add to them, every day...
and as far as lessons learned... it never stops... that's the lesson Jim, schooling never stops... and neither should your quest for knowledge.
Live the dream!
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Doug on
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Things don't always go as planned. It's not a controlled environment, and like clockwork, like your practicals and evolutions are, it's controlled chaos. Adapt, improvise and overcome... quickly, concisely and on the fly.
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Permalink Reply by Station10Capt106 on
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The biggest lesson you need to learn is to be able to improvise. There is no "normal" call, every call will be different. It is up to us to draw from our training and experience to put together an appropriate plan of action.
The Acadamy (and any other class room or training scenario) will give you the basic foundation from which you will then develop and build your our action plan. No matter what we do there is no "one" right way to do it. There are are always multiple ways of attacking the same problem. Our training and experience will lead us towards the technique that works best for us, but we need to be man enough to admit that something isn't working right and willing to switch strategies if needed.
So my advice is to keep your eyes and ears open. Observe the techniques of those around you. Ask questions to clarify things if you don't understand and also be willing to offer suggestions when you think that there is a better way. Learning should be a dynamic process that every member of the department embraces. I am more scared of the person who thinks they know it all than from the one who says they don't know.
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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on
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Jimmy,
With all due respect to all my peers here on FFN, my advice is to forget anything you heard, read or were taught outside the classroom. Until you pass the test. Some of the classroom stuff is replaced by experience and better ways once you are out in the "real world", but may be incorrect or out of sequence according to training. So concentrate on the class information and learn it. Then you can un-learn it once you get the cert!
TCSS and Welcome aboard!
Reg
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Permalink Reply by Jake Fireman on
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I would never say that you should forget everything you learned in the academy....however...the academy is just what it says...A TRAINING GROUND! It shows you a good amount of the equipment and the VERY basics of how to use it. The "real world" is usually not so forgiving as the academy. In the real world you have not been "fighting fires" in the same buildings for weeks and months, You dont get that full crew of 5 or 7 or 12 that we often have in the academy setting, you dont get nice level cement around your building to throw a ladder..and in the real world you can not just stop the evolution and start over!
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Organized Chaos is what you're going to find at your first working fire. Don't freak out, listen to your Officer, stay close and just remember, you can change your underwear when you get back to the station.
As you're on a volunteer department, keep in mind that you are in a Fire Department that happens to be volunteer. The people that need you don't care what if anything you make, what they care about is that their fire department shows up, with people that know what they are doing.
If you haven't been told, ASK what tool(s) to take.
Make sure you have all your PPE, with you and on.
If your department is riding in with their masks on, ask them how they are going to see what's going on and is it going to affect their situational awareness? Masks in the rig are a BAD idea.
Safety, safety, safety.
Asking questions is GOOD, not listening to the answer is NOT good. If you don't understand the answer, ask it again. Don't do what you THINK you were told, do what you WERE told to do.
Once you're told to pick up, do it. Be everywhere, track down tools, walk out hoses, help re-pack the hoses, including the supply lines. As a probie you shouldn't be on break when others are still working. Help back at the station to make sure everything is cleaned, accounted for and put away.
It takes a career to make a good name for yourself, it only takes a minute to make a bad one.
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Permalink Reply by blair4630 on
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Well I have to agree with your sentiments about this website. I am volunteer, and did not go through the state academy. I did what's called the firefighter essentials course, which is through state instructors, but held at local fire stations. I will say this...I have learned many things, and gotten links to other useful websites through the FFN. This is certainly a greaet reference/educational site, and I have no doubt that I have/am becoming a better firefighter because of discovering this site.
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Permalink Reply by James Sulecki on
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Thanks for the helpful replies. I understand what you mean. It seems like most of you are saying that knowledge comes with real-world experience. I really like the bicycle analogy by the way. Alright, well I guess it's time to start cracking the books! Thanks again guys.
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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
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As they told me on graduation day "Today is the beginning you have been given knowledge to build on. The things you have learned here are not everything you need they are just the things to help you along the way in your career."
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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I would just like to emphasize one main word on one topic that Jack mentioned. And it's a biggie.."Make sure you have all your PPE, with you and on."
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Permalink Reply by larry jenkins on
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The thing to take away from the academy is that this is basic trainning. "Basic" don't forget that. You will learn something new everyday of your career. My suggestion once you leave the academy is to get to the busiest company in your department. Your street knowledge will build on your basics. You don't get it by sitting on your ass in a slow company. Technology changes so fast in this business if you stand still it won't take much time for it to pass you by
I have 36 years in I learn something new everyday. You can't get true expierence by reading a book, get out there and do it.
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Permalink Reply by Chiefy on
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Remember, just because you have a little experience outside of the classroom, you are tested ONLY on what you are taught in the classroom. Even if you think the way they taught you was wrong, do it and answer like you were taught!
Than, afterwords.....go out and learn in the real world everyday. I learned something new everyday I jumped into my boots.
Also, take every class offered. If they offer a free class on underwater basket-weaving during rescues....take it. Even if you don't think you will learn anything new from a class, you will always learn how to learn and how others teach!
And my biggest advice about classes is take a Firefighter Survival class. Find it and take it even if you have to pay. There is no better class that will save your life.
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