Comments on: Too Inexperienced to Command? http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/ The Fire/EMS Digital Dayroom Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:34:00 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-6041 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:30:12 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-6041 Hi Dave,<br><br>Sorry for the late reply. During the last budget crisis we learned that our state has NO minimum requirements to be a firefighter or fire officer.<br><br>Mike Hi Dave,

Sorry for the late reply. During the last budget crisis we learned that our state has NO minimum requirements to be a firefighter or fire officer.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-6040 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:28:58 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-6040 Gregg:<br><br>An excellent post, I agree that the Officer Candidate School is a better model of promotion.<br><br>Mike Gregg:

An excellent post, I agree that the Officer Candidate School is a better model of promotion.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-6042 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:27:38 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-6042 Chief:<br><br>"Being "certified " does not mean one is "qualified""<br><br>A great start to a column! <br><br>Thanks for sharing.<br><br>Mike Chief:

“Being “certified ” does not mean one is “qualified”"

A great start to a column!

Thanks for sharing.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-6043 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:26:32 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-6043 Hi Hallway, a belated thanks for your comments.<br><br>Your experience with the oral and written are (unfortunately) not unique. Of the three building construction questions on my first fire supervisory test, one was about cast iron columns (from Brannigan) ... we found ONE building in a 399 square mile county with that construction feature!! Hi Hallway, a belated thanks for your comments.

Your experience with the oral and written are (unfortunately) not unique. Of the three building construction questions on my first fire supervisory test, one was about cast iron columns (from Brannigan) … we found ONE building in a 399 square mile county with that construction feature!!

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4594 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:12 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4594 Hi Dave,<br><br>Sorry for the late reply. During the last budget crisis we learned that our state has NO minimum requirements to be a firefighter or fire officer.<br><br>Mike Hi Dave,

Sorry for the late reply. During the last budget crisis we learned that our state has NO minimum requirements to be a firefighter or fire officer.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4593 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:28:58 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4593 Gregg:<br><br>An excellent post, I agree that the Officer Candidate School is a better model of promotion.<br><br>Mike Gregg:

An excellent post, I agree that the Officer Candidate School is a better model of promotion.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4595 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:38 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4595 Chief:<br><br>"Being "certified " does not mean one is "qualified""<br><br>A great start to a column! <br><br>Thanks for sharing.<br><br>Mike Chief:

“Being “certified ” does not mean one is “qualified”"

A great start to a column!

Thanks for sharing.

Mike

]]> By: Mike "FossilMedic" Ward http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4596 Mike "FossilMedic" Ward Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:26:32 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4596 Hi Hallway, a belated thanks for your comments.<br><br>Your experience with the oral and written are (unfortunately) not unique. Of the three building construction questions on my first fire supervisory test, one was about cast iron columns (from Brannigan) ... we found ONE building in a 399 square mile county with that construction feature!! Hi Hallway, a belated thanks for your comments.

Your experience with the oral and written are (unfortunately) not unique. Of the three building construction questions on my first fire supervisory test, one was about cast iron columns (from Brannigan) … we found ONE building in a 399 square mile county with that construction feature!!

]]> By: HallwaySledge http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4480 HallwaySledge Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:58:00 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4480 Is it that we have too many inexperienced or uneducated members taking the promotional exams or that the promotional exams themselves are not made to promote those who will make the best leaders? Not "officers", but "leaders". I recently took my dept's promotional exam for Lieutenant with 9 years at this job and 15 total years experience. Out of 7 oral interview questions NOT A SINGLE ONE had anything to do with tactics, strategy or leadership. Every question was a rules and regs or management based question. Right there it told me my dept wanted people to manage firefighters in the station and deal with personnel issues. The written exam was no better. Nickel knowledge with a huge emphasis on Haz-mat. From talking with other brothers and sisters my experience with the promotional is not unique. Maybe this is where at least part of the problem lies. Is it that we have too many inexperienced or uneducated members taking the promotional exams or that the promotional exams themselves are not made to promote those who will make the best leaders? Not “officers”, but “leaders”. I recently took my dept's promotional exam for Lieutenant with 9 years at this job and 15 total years experience. Out of 7 oral interview questions NOT A SINGLE ONE had anything to do with tactics, strategy or leadership. Every question was a rules and regs or management based question. Right there it told me my dept wanted people to manage firefighters in the station and deal with personnel issues. The written exam was no better. Nickel knowledge with a huge emphasis on Haz-mat. From talking with other brothers and sisters my experience with the promotional is not unique. Maybe this is where at least part of the problem lies.

]]> By: David LeBlanc http://firegeezer.com/2009/11/05/too-inexperienced-to-command/comment-page-1/#comment-4477 David LeBlanc Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:45:44 +0000 http://firegeezer.com/?p=17390#comment-4477 Here is a question. Have we or will we promote Firefighters that have never been to a working fire?<br><br>Fire Duty is down. Some places have minimal qualifications for promotion. The Fire Service as a whole lacks mandatory training requirements. (As opposed to our Blue Brothers that have training requirements set by law.)<br><br>I would say that a Metro Department has a better chance of promoting more experienced members, But as Gregg stated there are flaws there too.<br><br>I think that inexperienced Firefighters get into situations they shouldn't be in, I think that inexperienced Officers can allow that to happen. Finally I think our declining manpower levels set us all up for failure, especially when combined with the above. Here is a question. Have we or will we promote Firefighters that have never been to a working fire?

Fire Duty is down. Some places have minimal qualifications for promotion. The Fire Service as a whole lacks mandatory training requirements. (As opposed to our Blue Brothers that have training requirements set by law.)

I would say that a Metro Department has a better chance of promoting more experienced members, But as Gregg stated there are flaws there too.

I think that inexperienced Firefighters get into situations they shouldn't be in, I think that inexperienced Officers can allow that to happen. Finally I think our declining manpower levels set us all up for failure, especially when combined with the above.

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