Two of my three daughters started back to school yesterday, which leaves me alone for at least the morning hours with the youngest, Honora (she's 15 months old). Emma, my oldest, said to me that I must be sad because I don't go back to school anymore. Of course I told her, I go to school now just as much as I used to, but I didn't want to say, not everyone I work with does though. When you get to be the chief, do you keep going back to school? When you're the Director of the Task Force, have you learned all there is to learn?

I learn daily from many different avenues, but here's one area I wish more people took an interest in: our National Fire Academy. I wish I had gone there every chance I got when I was young and single, but I only went when I had the time.

Most of you may get these e-mails, but on the chance someone doesn't, if one person reads this and takes the opportunity, then the blog entry is certainly worth it.

National Fire Academy (NFA) Training Opportunities (as of August 20, 2007)
Vacancies exist in the following NFA courses at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. You may refer to the Internet at www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa for more information, or contact the Admissions Office via e-mail at netc-admissions@dhs.gov or by phone at (301) 447-1035. Completed applications (FEMA Form 75-5) may be faxed to (301) 447-1441. If interested, apply immediately!

Note: The NFA policy of only one stipend-supported trip per fiscal year remains. However, a qualified individual may seek to participate
without stipend assistance. PLEASE INDICATE with your application that you are aware of this restriction when you apply for the course.

All vacancies are filled on a first come, first served basis and qualified by using the Student Selection Criteria listed on our Website: www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa

R107 Fire Service Communication 3/3/08-3/14/2008 4 vacancies
R108 Eval Performance-Based Designs 11/25/07-11/30/07 11 vacancies
R129 Fire Service Course Design-1 week 10/21/07-10/26/07 1 vacancy 12/2/07-12/7/07 14 vacancies
R149 EMS: Mgmt of Community Health Risk 3/3/08-3/14/08 14 vacancies
R150 Mgmt. of Emergency Medical Service 3/31/08-4/11/08 11 vacancies
R151 Advance Leader. Issues Emerg. Med. Serv. 1/7/08-1/18/08 7 vacancies
R152 Emerg. Med. Services Special Ops. 1/21/08-2/1/08 9 vacancies
R154 Advanced Safety Operations & Mgmt. 3/16/08-3/21/08 4 vacancies
R203 Fire Dynamics-Fire Modeling 12/10/07-12/21/07 4 vacancies 2/4/08-2/15/08 6 vacancies
R213 Analysis of Arson Management 2/10/08-2/15/08 2 vacancies
R220 Fire Inspection Principles Waitlist for 1st semester sessions
R222 Principles of Fire Protection Structures & Systems Waitlist for 1st semester sessions
R225 Mgmt. OF Fire Prevention Programs 1/7/08-1/18/08 5 vacancies
R227 Fire Protection Systems for Emerg.Ops. 2/24/08-2/29/08 3 vacancies
R229 Haz.Mat.Oper.Site Practices 1/21/08-2/1/08 1 vacancy 3/31/08-4/11/08 15 vacancies
R233 Chemistry for Emergency Response Waitlist for 1st semester sessions
R243 Hazardous Materials Incident Management 11/11/07-11/16/07 5 vacancies 2/3/08-2/8/08 14 vacancies
R247 Advanced Life Support Response to Hazardous Materials Incidents Waitlist for 1st semester sessions
R308 Cmd.& Cntrl.F.D.Ops.Natl & Man-Made 10/8/07-10/19/07 6 vacancies 1/21/08-2/1/08 1 vacancy
R309 Strat. Analysis of Community Risk Reduction 3/31/08-4/11/08 22 vacancies
R314 Cmd. & Cntl. F.D.Ops. Target Hazards 11/11/07-11/14/07 4 vacancies
R331 Organizational Theory in Practice 2/4/08-2/15/08 9 vacancies
R332 Interpersonal Dynamics Fire Serv. Org Waitlist for 1st semester sessions
R333 Fire Service Financial Mgmt. 10/8/07-10/19/08 5 vacancies 1/21/08-2/1/08 9 vacancies
R335 Adm. Pub. Asst. For Community Recovery 2/24/08-2/29/08 18 vacancies 3/16/08-3/21/08 23 vacancies
R342 Training Program Management Waitlist
R348 Changing American Family At Risk 11/25/07-11/30/07 7 vacancies
R353 Community Education Leadership-1 week Waitlist
R359 Discover Road to High Risk Aud-1 week 3/16/08-3/21/08 8 vacancies
R491 NFIRS: Program Manager 11/25/07-11/30/07 19 vacancies 2/24/08-2/29/08 22 vacancies
R506 Executive Planning 1/7/08-1/18/08 12 vacancies
R508 Partnering for Fire Defense & Emerg. Serv. Planning 2/3/08-2/8/08 14 vacancies
R526 Long Term Recovery Planning 2/10/08-2/15/08 24 vacancies
R628 Juv. Firesetter Intervention Specialist 11/25/07-11/30/07 3 vacancies
R810 VIP: Leadership & Admin. 2/17/08-2/22/08 16 vacancies
R815 VIP: Chall. For Local Training Officers 2/17/08-2/22/08 11 vacancies
R822 VIP: Adv. Safety Ops. & Management 2/17/08-2/22/08 15 vacancies
R826 VIP: Presenting Effective Pub Ed 2/17/08-2/22/08 18 vacancies
R831 VIP: Cmd. & Cntrl. Of Incident Op. Waitlist

The following Pilot offerings of new courses have vacancies. Note that
participation in a pilot does not count against the one stipend per year
policy:

P335 Adm. Pub. Asst. For Community Recovery 11/11/07-11-16/07 25 vacancies
P337 Command & General Staff Functions for Local IMTs 11/11/07-11/16/07 25 vacancies
P492 NFIRS: Stands of Cover 12/2/07-12/07/07 24 vacancies
P493 Advanced NFIRS 3/16/08-3/21/08 24 vacancies
P526 Long Term Recovery Planning 11/11/07-11/16/07 24 vacancies