The acute shortage of applicants for volunteer FD’s and ambulance squads has been widely discussed. It’s a problem that has been growing steadily for the past several years and caused a lot of speculation about what the solution could be.
But there is a city in India where the problem is just the opposite. In Ahmedabad Municipality the waiting list is four years to join the volunteer fire service and they just instituted a more stringent physical fitness requirement in order to thin out the applicant base further.
Their stature requirements call for them to be at least 5 ft-5 inches in height, have a minimum chest size of 30 inches, and weigh between 110 and 176 lbs. In addition, after four years of training and preparation, the final step of acceptance has been put into place requiring them to:
- Run a half-mile in 2 minutes
- Make a long jump of 14 ft. (in no more than 3 attempts)
- Make a high jump of 7 ft.
Only for the young you say? Well, they say so, too. Chief fire officer MF Dastoor said the higher benchmark was necessary to induct deserving talent.
“We don’t want aging firemen but those who pass the real energy and strength test should survive,” he said.
[photopress:india_b.jpg,full,centered]
Another perceived problem that they are facing is their preference to give the positions to people who are more financially needy. Many of the applicants are gainfully employed and are spending all this time and effort to get on the brigade because being a member is a status symbol in their community.
The Bombay India Express has all the details HERE.
So there you have it…..the two-step solution to your recruiting problems.
1. Raise your standards
2. Make the position a status-symbol.
Let us know how you make out.
Now let’s get the equipment checked out. I’ll start the coffee.
