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FDNY LOWERING HIRING STANDARDS
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Letters to the Editor
Sound the Alarm on Fire Test
To the Editor:
Much exuberance accompanied recent announcements regarding the results of
the FDNY recruitment program, and many facts were presented to support claims that it, and the written test it led up to, were very good things.
I would like to present some facts which were not trumpeted but which the people who may have to work with the firefighters produced by this test, as well as those who will be (ostensibly) protected by them, deserve to know.
I will also include some of my opinions (which are not necessarily those
of the FDNY) since opinions, as opposed to objective and cognitive
knowledge, were so highly prized on said test.
There were 195 questions; 105 of them were subjective (therefore
illegitimate) and 87 of those 105 accepted more than one answer. This was an opinion poll, or a guessing game; not a test. In addition, DCAS did not explain beforehand how it would score this test, leading to suspicion that it wanted to be able to "cook" or manipulate the answers to achieve a desired result.
Why else would 45 percent of all questions have more than one answer? I'll tell you why - FDNY sources stated after the test "that the test was a way to have as many applicants as possible pass" and that "the idea is to get as many candidates to pass as possible and then let the extended training period weed them out." I'm sure that candidates who spent a great deal of time, money and effort preparing will be very happy to hear that; maybe they should sue for fraud. LINK
Political correctness has come to the FDNY like a tidal wave. In an effort to achieve a Fire Department that looks right, liberal city administrators have set out to lower hiring standards, an effort that will eventually destroy the Department and cost people their lives.
The letter to the editor is by Paul Mannix a FDNY Deputy Chief. This is highly unusual because most guys in his position have no interest in speaking out on such a controversial and sensitive subject. Anyone who does is usually branded a racist immediately by critics in order to destroy them and their credibility.
The problem here for those critics is that Deputy Chief Mannix is not someone who can be so easily dismissed. There is intense competition for promotion in the FDNY like most fire departments. Usually only the best advance. So in order to become a Deputy Chief you have to know your stuff. If a guy like Chief Mannix is speaking out we should listen to him. It takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude for someone in his position to speak out. Even though he is a Deputy Chief he will still be subject to retaliation for expressing his views. Such are the ways in the highly politically charged and politically correct environment of the U.S. Fire Service. More often than not these opinions are expressed by retired members who are safe from retribution.
The Fire and Emergency Services like Law Enforcement are not your normal jobs. Many liberal politicians and administrators wish to see them as just that, any other job. They don't realize or are indifferent to the facts that these jobs require people who are willing to place their personal well being in danger in order to accomplish their mission. This requires that you place your faith in your co-workers who you must depend on to perform their job in order for you to come out alive. Like a police officer summoned to back up another at a car stop. Only when that police officer knows that someone has his back can he safely focus his attention on the subjects in question. Likewise a Firefighter who is manning a hose inside a fire must have total faith in his pump operator. If the pump operator loses water because he is inept and a product of low hiring standards then the nozzle man will be burned up and victims not rescued.
Some people just aren't cut out to be cops or fireman. Their life's talents lie in different directions. But somehow there are those people who think they "have a right" to those jobs regardless of their talent. Thats where we run into big problems. Those people bring multitudes of problems that cause breakdowns in teamwork or mission assignments that inevitably cause greater property loss and in the worst cases death of members and civilians.
We see the same thing in promotions. While promoting people in any profession is always controversial, it becomes even more so in a job where you are leading people directly into harms way. There is simply no room for low standards in hiring or promotion in law enforcement or emergency services. Unfortunately we are constantly forced to play the cards we are dealt. We can't afford this kind of nonsense. Hats off to Chief Mannix. No guts, no glory.
Letters to the Editor
Sound the Alarm on Fire Test
To the Editor:
Much exuberance accompanied recent announcements regarding the results of
the FDNY recruitment program, and many facts were presented to support claims that it, and the written test it led up to, were very good things.
I would like to present some facts which were not trumpeted but which the people who may have to work with the firefighters produced by this test, as well as those who will be (ostensibly) protected by them, deserve to know.
I will also include some of my opinions (which are not necessarily those
of the FDNY) since opinions, as opposed to objective and cognitive
knowledge, were so highly prized on said test.
There were 195 questions; 105 of them were subjective (therefore
illegitimate) and 87 of those 105 accepted more than one answer. This was an opinion poll, or a guessing game; not a test. In addition, DCAS did not explain beforehand how it would score this test, leading to suspicion that it wanted to be able to "cook" or manipulate the answers to achieve a desired result.
Why else would 45 percent of all questions have more than one answer? I'll tell you why - FDNY sources stated after the test "that the test was a way to have as many applicants as possible pass" and that "the idea is to get as many candidates to pass as possible and then let the extended training period weed them out." I'm sure that candidates who spent a great deal of time, money and effort preparing will be very happy to hear that; maybe they should sue for fraud. LINK
Political correctness has come to the FDNY like a tidal wave. In an effort to achieve a Fire Department that looks right, liberal city administrators have set out to lower hiring standards, an effort that will eventually destroy the Department and cost people their lives.
The letter to the editor is by Paul Mannix a FDNY Deputy Chief. This is highly unusual because most guys in his position have no interest in speaking out on such a controversial and sensitive subject. Anyone who does is usually branded a racist immediately by critics in order to destroy them and their credibility.
The problem here for those critics is that Deputy Chief Mannix is not someone who can be so easily dismissed. There is intense competition for promotion in the FDNY like most fire departments. Usually only the best advance. So in order to become a Deputy Chief you have to know your stuff. If a guy like Chief Mannix is speaking out we should listen to him. It takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude for someone in his position to speak out. Even though he is a Deputy Chief he will still be subject to retaliation for expressing his views. Such are the ways in the highly politically charged and politically correct environment of the U.S. Fire Service. More often than not these opinions are expressed by retired members who are safe from retribution.
The Fire and Emergency Services like Law Enforcement are not your normal jobs. Many liberal politicians and administrators wish to see them as just that, any other job. They don't realize or are indifferent to the facts that these jobs require people who are willing to place their personal well being in danger in order to accomplish their mission. This requires that you place your faith in your co-workers who you must depend on to perform their job in order for you to come out alive. Like a police officer summoned to back up another at a car stop. Only when that police officer knows that someone has his back can he safely focus his attention on the subjects in question. Likewise a Firefighter who is manning a hose inside a fire must have total faith in his pump operator. If the pump operator loses water because he is inept and a product of low hiring standards then the nozzle man will be burned up and victims not rescued.
Some people just aren't cut out to be cops or fireman. Their life's talents lie in different directions. But somehow there are those people who think they "have a right" to those jobs regardless of their talent. Thats where we run into big problems. Those people bring multitudes of problems that cause breakdowns in teamwork or mission assignments that inevitably cause greater property loss and in the worst cases death of members and civilians.
We see the same thing in promotions. While promoting people in any profession is always controversial, it becomes even more so in a job where you are leading people directly into harms way. There is simply no room for low standards in hiring or promotion in law enforcement or emergency services. Unfortunately we are constantly forced to play the cards we are dealt. We can't afford this kind of nonsense. Hats off to Chief Mannix. No guts, no glory.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Heather Langston on January 25, 2008 at 3:05pm
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Bravo! My helmet is off to you for bringing this issue to light in a frank manner. I am a female driver engineer with ten years experience in the field.
I'd love to relay a story that I believe applies to this situation. Several years ago, I responded to a reported house fire. My partner and I were on a wet rescue and the engine was a few minutes behind us. On that engine was a crew of three, one of which was only allowed to perform 'EMS' functions because she had injured herself while lifting an airway bag. In my mind, this individual was about as useful as a football bat, but more on that later. At any rate, two of the engine crew and myself prepared to make entry through the front door and the 'EMS' only female was left on the pump panel so that she wouldn't hurt herself hauling hose or wearing an air pack. We quickly found the seat of the fire and attempted to extinguish the flames...except we had no water pressure because our 'seasoned but slightly injured' firefighter had no idea how to work the pump panel. She was utterly unable to get water to her crew. Fortunately, the fire was small enough that the trickle we did have contained it until a knowledgable soul was able to take over and pump the truck.
So, why was a slightly injured and obviously incompetent individual able to even call herself a firefighter? Well, she pulled out the trusty discrimination card and lawyered her way into a profession that she clearly was not suited for. This female has been terminated from multiple departments for inability to perform her duties, only to rebound with a trumped up law suit every time.
I honestly believe that anyone who can stand the heat, has the brains to follow and eventually give orders, and is dedicated to the profession deserves a chance to become a firefighter. The instant that an individual screams discrimination and the bean counters cower, the profession is tainted. People don't deserve to just be called a firefighter. The title is earned after much sacrifice. The simple fact is that not everyone is cut out to be in emergency services and ignoring that is just plain dangerous.
Lowering standards does nothing more than endanger the lives of firefighters and civilians.
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Comment by Spanner 122 on January 25, 2008 at 10:38am
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Great post indeed. The biggest issue of course with lowering stanards to "allow more to pass" is as you say, hiring those who believe they "have a right to the job" and don't truly understand what it takes to handel the pressures that come with it. After being involved in some very intense situations, I can rightfully say you are correct, this job is not for everyone.
Another issue that this creates is the backlash for those who do belong, but because they fall into the categories of those who are being recruited (minorities including women). Meaning there is the potential to lump all women and minorities into the "hired because..." category. It gives the impression that these people could not pass if the standards were not lowered... not as smart, not as strong, not as capable. This in itself can create an atmosphere void of trust.
Lowering standards to have more people to pass, and awarding interviews to those who pass (as is happening in my city, women who pass the next round of testing will be awarded interviews automatically) only belittles the efforts of those who work for years, give their blood sweat and tears in order to finally be awarded the job they have long sought. With thousands applying every year without incentives, without easier testing, and hundreds left to fall off the eligibility list due to list expirations, why do we need to convince more to apply, help more to pass and then push them through recruit training only to churn out poor firefighters? It makes very little sense, considering when responding, the public only cares if you can do the job, not your race or gender. Never has someone stopped my co-workers at the door and said, no white men please, I would like to good representation of the city to put our my fire/treat my husband's heart attack/breach that door/extricate my loved one from that car, etc, etc.
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