I have something that concerns me and I have got to get this out. The other day I went to take a PT test to see if I could get on as a fulltime firefighter at a nearby county fire dept. I felt good when I got there.. Well they was useing this vest not sure how much the thing weighed?? But it was the heaveist thing I have ever put on in my life!! I have been in the fire service for 18 years and being in fullturnout gear with an SCBA on would not be as heavy as this vest!! I didnt even get halfway through the course until I went down , I gave out!! And to those of you who think I am a whimp , let me assure you I am not I am in good physical condition, besides being in the fire service for 18 years i have also worked and lived on on a farm so I am used to heavy work!! But this vest should not be used in the fire service , I wasnt the only one haveing trouble with it!! I am also a safety officer with the volunteer dept I am with and like I said fire gear and SCBA weighs less than this vest!! I know depts need the testing but use a firecoat and an SCBA with actual wieght not these vest!!!!!! The idea in new SCBA design and also fire gear design is to make it so it has less wieght on a firefighter than to add weight to them , the less weight you can place on a firefighter the better they can perform there jobs and reduce firefighter fatigue.. If you ask me this vest is just asking for a lawsuit!! If memebers want to use it to do weight traing in and then let them use it but dont make it a mandatory thing!!
One... Quit yelling (all caps)
Two... You started this by complaining about the vest. The department uses this for a reason on their tests.
Three... Quit whining, if all you have to prove is to yourself
Four... If you truly love what you do, then you will do whatever it take to make it happen regardless of whether you have to wear a vest or not, you make it work and you prove to yourself that no matter the situation you can get the job done.
Five... I think you owe everyone an apology for your attitude because it has been less than professional.
I have a weight vest that I use in all my workouts now. I keep the weight at about 40#, and it has been an excellent way to boost my cardio, and it burns more calories as well. As stated above, we train to be prepared for anything. You may not have any high rises, heck maybe not even any two story buildings, but what if you have to carry out a victim?
I am a firm believer in training with the equipment we use, but the weight vest is an excellent tool. The 10# is what the manufacturer recommends starting at, this is the legal system at work basically.
You realize that in order to get an interview that you must pass the physical agility? You further realize that much of the job is about personality and composure and you don't exhibit either of those traits? You also further realize your whining and griping about a weighted vest is a moot point with a test which has been challenged and upheld in the courts, right?
His last statement proves, OUR fire dept. has evolved and left the caveman mentality behind. Man or Woman..if you can do the job and pull you're weight....you're in. I guess that's why he's changing professions (if that's what you want to call it) He CAN'T pull his wieght !!