Copper State Firemen Podcast
Copper State Firemen
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Podcast for Firemen burning the ships of Complacency, Laziness, and Excuses. We are promoting love and passion for the job, encouraging eagerness, and mastering the craft of the Fire Service!
The information, opinions, values, recommendations, and ideas are of the host and individuals on this podcast, and are not affiliated or endorsed by the fire department, organization, or companies the individuals works for. This podcast is for general information only! Indorced by Copper State Fools and Solid Fondation team LLC.
Copper State Firemen Podcast
Fire Vets Brotherhood and Mentorship for Veterans in Fire Service
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Transition from military service to the fire service has never been more accessible, and this episode offers a unique exploration of how veterans can seamlessly enter this vital field. Discover from Nick Tenaglia, a veteran and seasoned firefighter, the remarkable similarities in mindset and skills that make veterans exceptional candidates for firefighting roles. Listen as Nick sheds light on the invaluable mentorship offered by the Valley Firefighter Veteran Society and Fire Vets program, guiding veterans through their challenging yet rewarding journey to become firefighters.
Immerse yourself in the personal stories and experiences shared by veterans who have transitioned to the fire service. Nick illustrates the significance of finding a department that aligns with personal values and how mentorship and community are pivotal in navigating the recruitment process. From the camaraderie reminiscent of military life to balancing work, family, and educational pursuits, this episode uncovers the essential dedication and perseverance required to excel in a firefighting career.
Engage with the cultural parallels between military and fire service life, focusing on the brotherhood that veterans find in their new roles. This episode emphasizes the importance of family support, department traditions, and even the role of organizations like the FOOLS in fostering camaraderie and mentorship. With insights on practical steps like ride-alongs and community involvement, we celebrate the blend of professionalism and shared values that make the fire service an attractive and fulfilling career path for veterans and others like minded
The mindset and mentality and transition from military service into the fire service has a lot of overlay that directly relates and contributes Things like brotherhood, camaraderie, prior skills, learning how to operate in chaotic environments based off of the knowledge of your training and resorting to it and critically think in those situations to help you overcome any kind of adversity or challenge and accomplish goals. In the veteran community you see a lot of people with those experiences prior that are directly able to relate them into the fire service. I think they make a great candidate because of it.
Speaker 2:Welcome everybody. Copper State Fireman Podcast. This podcast is for firemen burning the ships of complacency, laziness and excuses. We're is for firemen burning the ships of complacency, laziness and excuses. We're promoting love and passion for the job, encouraging eagerness and mastering the craft of the fire service. Remember the information, opinion, values, recommendation and ideas are the host and the individuals of this podcast and are not affiliated or endorsed by the fire departments, organization or companies the individuals work for. This podcast is for general information use only. Brought to you by the Copper State Fools and sponsored by Solid Foundation Team LLC. Let's go All right. Welcome back everybody. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2:I'm sitting down here with Nick Tamalia. Nick, he's been in the American Fire Service now for eight years. Prior to that he served 11 years in the Arizona Army National Guard as the infantryman, worked his way all the way up to sergeant, so now he's currently a firefighter. He holds a specialty of TRT and hazmat, so he's an all-hazards fireman. He's also a fire ground survival instructor. He's taught high school fire science program. He is a mentor for the fire vets which we're going to do a deep dive into today. He's been part of the hiring process for the current department he works for he teaches engine company functions and hose line management, but, more important, that water application within his department Big ticket things that Nick's proud of here is his job.
Speaker 2:So it's being a husband, father, firefighter. Of course, he's proud to have been a soldier for the best country in the world, the United States of America, right, and now he's currently in the American Fire Service. So Nick's sitting down here solid dude, right, we're here to talk about the fire vets as a whole, and I'm sure we'll kind of get off topic a little bit. But, dude, so for the people that don't know, and this is near and dear to my heart, so we'll expand on this, but let's just start off with the basics, brother. So what is the fire vets, right?
Speaker 1:So Valley Firefighter Veteran Society. It's a nonprofit group. It was started back, as I want to say, 2012 as Honor Vet and then in 2014 became Valley Veteran Firefighter Society, long-term for Fire Vet. The organization was created to help mentor and guide veterans and military service members in the transition of leaving the military and going into the fire service. As everybody knows, the fire service can be a very competitive and tough thing to get into and the organization helps bridge that gap and teach people about culture, expectations and mentor and guide them throughout the hiring process to lead them to ultimately complete their goal and be successful in it.
Speaker 2:Dude, I love it. So, again, this is coming from a veteran, right, he has served our country, right. So, dude, I love it. So, again, this is coming from a veteran, right, he has served our country, right, so he sees the importance from this. So, from your opinion, nick, right, and I can't ask for anybody better. Why focus on the veterans? You know so. There's so many opportunities we could hit different demographics of people and everything else. And before we get into the whole recruitment idea, because that's something that's brand new to the fire service, why, in your opinion and the fire vets right why is it so important to focus on these veterans?
Speaker 1:So a couple of things first and foremost. The unique thing with fire vet as an affinity group is you don't have to be a veteran to be a part of it and go through the mentorship program.
Speaker 1:Oh see, I didn't even know that which is very cool, and some of the best candidates that we've helped along the way over the years have no prior service experience. However, the mindset and mentality and transition from military service into the fire service has a lot of overlay that directly relates and contributes Things like brotherhood, camaraderie, prior skills, learning how to operate in chaotic environments based off of the knowledge of your training and resorting to it and critically think in those situations to help you overcome any kind of adversity or challenge and accomplish goals. In the veteran community you see a lot of people with those experiences prior that are directly able to relate them into the fire service. I think they make a great candidate because of it.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And the other thing too, like being a veteran myself also. So it's one of those things where the guys that haven't been or haven't served their country prior to they don't understand the amount of responsibility that these veterans have at a very young age and it's it's super similar to the fire service. So across the nation right now and I know you guys are having the same issue in the department you work compared to the department I work with because it's it's a nationwide issue right now when it comes down to the quality of applicants and really the desire to be a fireman anymore, because we we all realize there's there's way easier ways to make a lot more money.
Speaker 2:But, with all that said, right in the military and you can attest to this at 23, 24, 25 years old, you're a supervisor, You're E4, E5, maybe even E6, getting up to what we would consider the chief rank in the fire service, almost as a very young individual now in charge of not four or five, six guys like we're asking our company officers to do. Right, you're in charge of a platoon, maybe 100, maybe 50, maybe a couple hundred, right? So that's what like when it comes down to the veteran side, their exposure at a very early age is a good transition. You kind of feel the same way about that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'd have to agree. I think you know, obviously in the military there's a lot of immaturity.
Speaker 2:Of course.
Speaker 1:But there's also a lot of quick maturity that happens at a very young age and the responsibilities that are taken upon yourself. The thing that I see that's a lot different is in the fire service. It's not uncommon to see somebody do 30 years in the fire service, correct? Whereas in the military people will do four years, be done with their time in the service and, you know, never look back Right, so um.
Speaker 2:It's almost a stepping stone to usually public safety of some sort, but another career path.
Speaker 1:Yes, oftentimes I you know um in interactions I see a lot of uh people that go into public safety right from the military, so it's a very unique to see that happen.
Speaker 2:Yeah absolutely so when it comes down to the actual fire vets itself. So now we now we know, you know why you guys exist, right, and what you're actually doing. So, uh, tell me more about the fire vets and what you guys have to offer. Like what, say, if me as a veteran, okay, and I want to get hired on the fire service and I reach out to you, right, I find you guys online. You have a website, we do firevetorg Okay, so I go to firevetorg right, we'll plug that again at the end of the show, but so I go there and I get in contact with you. I'm fresh out of the military, I the military, I'm getting ready to get discharged. Whatever the case might be, what is a fire vet's going to do for me? Like, what do you?
Speaker 1:guys do for these veterans, and even non-veterans, to help them get hired. What's that process look like? So, um, over the years there's been some transition in how we do mentorship. I'd say. As of right now somebody reaches out, I get their contact information, share mine with them as well, and I'll invite them to come down to our next mentorship meeting that we do at the training academy.
Speaker 2:How often are those meetings? Usually Monthly, monthly First Monday of every month. Copy.
Speaker 1:So I'll have them come down to do a mentorship meeting. Sometimes, depending on situations and circumstances for both myself or the candidate coming through, I'll meet with them, or have them come meet with me even before then at the station. Um, if they have any kind of questions, things like that, where I can talk, chat with them, see what their goals and ambitions are and how I can help them accomplish those from there, um, we do a variety of different things. We'll have opportunities on certain shifts to be able to do workouts with firefighters, other fire vet mentors to help guide and mentor them in the appropriate functions in order to be physically ready for fire training academy. So we give that opportunity for them as well.
Speaker 2:We have a so you're basically saying that you put them through like a fireman workout? Is that what?
Speaker 1:you're doing? Yeah, I do skills courses. Is that what're doing? Yeah, I do in skills courses.
Speaker 2:Do you have turnout gear for the guys, or how does that work?
Speaker 1:Yeah, right now it's kind of hot out here, so we have guys working on PTs, some guys will get turnout gear for some guys going through the process and I say guys, but it could be females too, just using that term as a general term.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and people know too, and we'll just, we'll stress it again, we've talked about in previous episodes, right? When we say boys, guys, right, firemen, uh, it's all in relation to the brother and the sisterhood. So excuse our lack of PC, but it's, it's just how we talk. So, yeah, the boys, right.
Speaker 1:Yep, so we have the guys coming through doing workouts using hand tools, dragging tires, things that are going to be functional fitness on the fire ground. Okay, ensure that they're able to apply the skills necessary in the training academy without their physical capability being any kind of hindrance. Okay, so we'll do that. And, just like anything with with fire vet, I tell candidates all the time it's you get out of it what you put into it there. Um, the process is different for everybody, right? So you have some people that are working on getting their EMT in order to be able to apply. You have some people that have never tested before, some that have tested before, some that have interviews in the pipeline. They're coming up. So, depending on where the candidate is at the stage of their hiring process, depending on where the candidate is at the stage of their hiring process, the mentorship is directed for that, right.
Speaker 1:So if they're in test taking time, whether it's whatever city that they're testing with, the focus now becomes the test right, Because if you can't pass the test, you can't get an interview If they're in the process of having a first round interview somewhere, the gear shifts now into focusing on interview preparation. With that being said, physical fitness is a constant in it.
Speaker 2:So that's going to be continually happening.
Speaker 1:As firefighters or candidates become successful in the process and become firefighter recruits or getting ready to go into the recruit position, then our focus shifts with those particular candidates to help gear them up with skills and things that they're going to be doing in the academy. So when they get there.
Speaker 1:it's not the first time that they've touched a hose line, it's not the first time they've taken a plug. Those types of things that make them familiar with it, familiar with their SCBA, their air packs going through fire, ground survival techniques, those things that will help set them up for success in the academy.
Speaker 2:So you're basically doing all this with these candidates right Prior to them even getting a job offer. Is that correct? Okay, so, and and I heard you say multiple cities, right. So you guys, as a program, you're basically, are you okay with anyone coming down and saying, hey man, I want to test for city A, B and C and you guys don't care? Is that the case?
Speaker 1:Absolutely Okay, you know absolutely. They're care. Is that the case? Absolutely Okay, you know absolutely. Um, there to one sport the American fire service right. Moreover, in the metropolitan area where we work right now, we work off automatic aid, so there's a good chance that we're going to be seeing them working in a neighboring city anyways, right, right. So the whole goal is that we want good people get into the fire service right and make this better than it was before we got there, when we got there, and moving forward into the future as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I mean, and we it's a little cliche, but I've mentioned this multiple times right, Because I hold hardly believe in it, like guys will say that all the time. Right, hey, leave it better than you found it Right, but that actually does mean something to us, right? It means something to the guys that sit down in front of us on this podcast. It means something for the Copper State Fools members. I mean it means something because we wholeheartedly want the American Fire Service, no matter what freaking city, county, whatever you work in, just to be better, more efficient, more aggressive. Right, to do the job that we all signed up to do and to do it very well. Right, and that's protecting the public property. I mean, you name it. So just a little bit more about the fire vets. It's like. So I'll tell a quick little story. So me and Nick actually met together when we were both in the process to try to get hired out here, right, with the fire vets. So Nick is prior military, I'm prior military, and it's funny because we went two completely different routes. You know, we both happen to see each other at the, at the station or at the academy that day to do a workout, um, or one of the mentorship meetings. And then I remember it was just like, hey, the at that time the department that you were applying for was starting in like November, right. And then I was actually asked and I love telling this story, I tell this story to the guys I work with right now because they're most of the time they're surprised the gentleman that was running the fire vets at that time had asked me, because I was a fireman back east, I was literally flying out to Arizona just to even see if I liked the state, right. And I'm like I don't even know what departments are out here, right, I know Phoenix exists because they're big. Right, so let me just see if I even like the state, see how they operate on the West Coast compared to the East Coast, right.
Speaker 2:And I remember the guy that ran the fire vets at that time had asked me he's like all right, steve, who else are you going to apply with? Right. And I'm like, dude, I have no idea. Right, and this is my favorite story ever, right. So he goes all right, listen. And the department he works for, right. He goes, we're the best, right. And then jokingly I say, well, duh, I'm the best. That's why I'm sitting here, right, so we have a good little laugh about that, right. And then he goes. The only other department that he goes me personally I would apply with was the one that I now currently work for, right. And so I'm like, interesting, you know.
Speaker 2:So this is a guy that works for a very large fire department right, and he is wanting guys to work good guys to work for the same department, right. But has such a good outlook, was like hey, first question, who else? Right. And I'm like it then gives me a recommendation and then, sure as shit, the department I work for now happened to open up in May when the other one was opening up in November, right. So it was one of those things. And I told him I'm like, hey, I'm going to apply here. He goes, listen, he's like cool, we're here 24-7. Like, if you want to ride with us, ride with us.
Speaker 2:And it was funny, I never met a single fireman for the department I work for now until the day I went through the physical agility test, right.
Speaker 2:And then the interviews and everything else, and everyone was surprised and I strictly put it back to the fire vets why I was successful, because at least the guys in your organization were like, hey, this is what you need to expect, right, and I did the workouts with you guys and everything else, and it's like Holy cow, it's a different atmosphere, it's different gear, it's a different mentality, I mean everything's.
Speaker 2:It's the American fire service, but it's all fucking different, right, and I'm like Holy shit. So if it wasn't for them, I don't know if I would have been successful in my first shot. And the crazy thing about it is like I was that guy flying from East to West coast every single time for our testing process. It was like eight flights and eight flights equivalent to $8,000 between hotel rooms, flights, rental cars, I mean you name it to come out to do the process, right, and without the fire vets basically saying, hey, bro, stay with us, like I got got. I mean it was just like they open their arms. So that's the kind of program that these guys are. So talk a little more about that, like what you guys do for these, these dudes that are, you know, trying to get a job.
Speaker 1:It's funny that you mentioned that. Um, I you know I've had a variety of different mentors throughout the process of when I was trying to become a firefighter. Um, some of the big ones throughout it were fire vet mentors as well. Um, but I had one outside of it that had nothing to do with the department that I work with now and, um, he was no part of fire vet at all and it's going through the process and we're having a chat and he was telling me you know, he's like, hey, you know what. You need to figure out where you want to be. I think this is the department that you want to work for. He's like, I can see it in you. He's like, but you're testing all over the place. You're spinning your wheels and you're going to get burnt out, he's like. So I'm not saying not to go test everywhere. He's like, but a lot of your eggs are in this basket and maybe you should start making that your primary focus, because you're going to XYZ department over here testing and you might strike lightning, he's like, but the chances right now, with how competitive they are, that's probably not where you belong. And he had a lot of friends with the department that I work for currently and he was telling me he's like hey, I just think personality wise, that's where you'll probably fit in the best, because we talk about traditions, buyer service, culture, etiquette, all that stuff right. And Because we talk about traditions, buyer service, culture, etiquette, all that stuff right, and while it's the same and there's a lot of value in it across the board, across the country, there is internal subcultures and things like that. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:So he encouraged me to focus with the department that I wanted to be on and, sure enough, after I took his advice with that, a couple months later, it panned out. I was offered an opportunity to come back and do an interview and was shortly thereafter in the fire Academy Perfect. So, with that being said, um, I have this discussion with people all the time at the mentorship meetings because I know a lot of the mentors, um, including myself. We all work with the same department and I encourage guys that have been successful through the process and work with other departments to come back and help out with mentorship and give back to the fire vet program and essentially grow it. That way, we have points of contact at the other departments. Like, hey, we have this really good guy. He's coming, he's testing with your guys' organization. Can we send them over to you and have them learn about your guys' culture? Specifically? Things are going to set them up for success If they go work with this department in the East Valley versus in the West Valley.
Speaker 1:You know those types of things. You're asking what, what we do for these guys. I would say the biggest thing in my opinion, uh, of what we do for candidates going through the process is allowing them the opportunities to really dive in to the culture of the fire service and the subcultures within different departments, shifts, stations, those types of things so they can learn as much as they can and gain as much job knowledge as they can. So they can then take the knowledge of their experiences prior and connect the dots to the fire service and the expectations so they know what they're getting into. So they don't get on the job and say, well, I didn't have any idea this was going on, and now they leave two years afterwards.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's that's a struggle that I think all of us are having right now across the nation, because and it it is partially our fault and when I say our fault, I mean guys already on the job when you get dudes coming in to either ride along or or and I'm curious if you run into it with the mentorship program for the fire vets too but we do a great job of saying, hey, the fire service could give you all these benefits. Right, great schedule time with the family, decent pay, right, the calling, just being able to help people get back to the community. I mean, the list goes on and on and on and on right. And what I've been recently asking, especially new guys trying to get hired, is that I know what we have to offer to you. Right, what do you, in your personal experiences right in your life prior to trying to become a fireman, what do you bring to the city, county, department that you want to work for? You know, and I think that hems up a lot of people. And then, more importantly too, is and it's what you were kind of like saying, and I love the fact you guys do hey, where do you really want to work? Right, okay, it's department a, right.
Speaker 2:So we're going to go to department a and do you know how many calls they run a year? Do you know how many stations they have, things along those lines. Because, so, the department just like you, the department I work for now is very busy, just like yours, right? So we're having an issue now where guys come in and we tell them you know, we run these many calls, right, we have trucks that run 35 to 4,000 calls a year individually. You know, like, but those are just numbers, you know. And then all of a sudden they run them right and they don't know what that feels like.
Speaker 2:And then five years later they're like, hey, I'm going to go to a podunk fire department, that there's nothing wrong with that, right. But we just me personally, right? We just spent all this time, money and effort to make you a fucking great fireman, right, we just spent all this time, money and effort to make you a fucking great fireman, right for this department. And then now you're going to basically put your tail between your legs and run because it's too busy, right? It's like, bro, we told you it was busy. I almost want to and I'm curious if you guys are doing this at all. I almost like to tell people all the negatives now. Hey, do you understand the chance you get a divorce is higher than the rest of the nation? You understand that the chance you gain cancer is high Like I almost want to unsell them the job and then, if they show back up, be like all right now, we're in right now. Now let me tell you all the the brotherhood stuff and all the benefits.
Speaker 1:I don't, I don't know, just some way to create some kind of buy-in Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's it does. It's not going to work Right. You know, like they have to want it more than you guys want it. You're just an avenue for them.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and that's why I said, um, you know, it's what you put into it. Yeah, um, there's a lot of times over the last couple of years where you know, I was trying to do my on almost every off day to be able to get back to people, following up with people, and it got to the point where it's like we can't be begging people to come in here. I'd rather, personally, take one good candidate than 10 that don't really give a shit. Yeah, right, and they have to put in the work. When I was going through the process, I was putting in the work day after day. It would be early in the morning, late at night.
Speaker 1:I was working my job outside the military. I was a guardsman, so I was doing my military thing as well as a father, a husband, right as a full-time student. And it's about work-life balance and being able to find the dedication in order to be able to make the commitment and be successful in the process, and it's what I wanted to do. So I did everything in my power to be able to hopefully make a successful outcome, to be able to become a fireman, and I was passionate about it, and the more I dove into learning about the culture and the fire service itself and the job itself. The more I wanted to be involved, the more I wanted to do it.
Speaker 2:How? I know this is a little off topic, but just because I don't get a chance to talk to veterans every single day, right, and I like to share their experience. What, to you, right, does a fire service emulate for the military that you like the most? Like? What is it? Is there anything that you correlate from the military that you really enjoyed and then the fire service also has that that you're like? Man, this is like the perfect, like melting pot.
Speaker 1:So the first time I did a ride along, I stepped into a fire station and the first firefighter I met was checking off his equipment in the truck. It was, you know, zero, 700 in the morning. Given good relief, and I walk in there with box of donuts and had no expectation of what to do. I didn't really know at that time. Um, I was just told hey, show up the station at this time and this is a ride.
Speaker 2:You don't have a job yet, right?
Speaker 1:no, okay, yeah, this is very first ride along that I did show up at the station this time this out. You know this outfit some slacks and a shirt tucked in and bring something. Bring something, donuts or something like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, hey look, I can follow direction, right yeah.
Speaker 1:And that's kind of a tradition thing, right yeah absolutely. Ice cream, something like that for the station. They're invite you into their house, bring him a little gift. So I show up, walk up. He's checking off the equipment on his truck and I'd never seen an SCBA at that time. I'd never grown up around the fire service, I didn't know much about it.
Speaker 2:I was just kind of going there.
Speaker 1:Completely blind, yeah yeah, and just hoping to learn. And he was going through the equipment, showed me the truck. Super friendly guy I was thinking in my head at the time. I was like this is freaking cool. Like it reminded me of setting up your kit and getting your equipment ready for missions and things like that in the military, like knowing your equipment, your function. I was like, right there, that was the first thing that related to it.
Speaker 2:It's almost like that professionalism right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know to me like it might sound as an immature word, but I thought it was cool. I was like this is awesome.
Speaker 2:Dude, it is fucking badass.
Speaker 1:This is something that I enjoyed about the military was having my equipment ready, my rig set for different stuff, and that kind of was the first thing right. And then at that station that particular day, there's three other people there that were prior service military. They invited me inside and they're like hey, we want to get to know you for a second, Sit down and have some coffee. And they started drilling me with some questions and how'd you do?
Speaker 2:I guess I did all right.
Speaker 1:Back to come and ride. So I said, hey, before we start doing our morning duty stuff, sit down, have a cup of coffee with us real quick, we want to get to know you a little bit. Okay, sat down with them and just the banter between them, the joking, the camaraderie, they're all. All three of them were in different branches. I think one was in the marine corps, one was in the army and one was in the air force prior. They're all talking shit about it to each other. You know, and yeah, and you know it's all in good nature and they really care about each other. So that kind of banter, joking back and forth, that that stuff, that brotherhood, I saw it immediately and I was like same way in the military too, and then you start doing your morning duties and learning.
Speaker 1:So, as a rider, let me just kind of go back to here. I tell candidates this all the time when you're going and doing ride-alongs at the fire station, you're trying to emulate the job that you're trying to get. You can't emulate being a recruit in the academy because you're at a station, so the next thing would be to emulate a probationary firefighter. So how do you recommend that they do that? Well, there's a lot of things that we talk about. There's a little chart and guidance pack that has been created to help people along the ways, and we can go into more of that if you'd like, but the very basic functions I'd say is the first thing you do in the morning when you get there is firefighter checks off their equipment, right, and then you start by cleaning up the area that you're at. After you relieve the guy that's on shift and you're checking off your equipment on the truck and everything's squared away and dialed in, you start doing morning duties, things like cleaning the base, mopping them, taking out trash, cleaning bathrooms, right, and it just the a lot of.
Speaker 1:It reminded me of things that you do in the military. Yeah Right, especially at this ground level guy. Those things grasp me into it a little bit more, right. And then the first call of the day goes out, tones go off and get on the truck and put on the on the vest and I'm like this is really cool. It's kind of in the area that I grew up in and I don't even remember what the call was. I think it might've been like a man down or something at the time, right, but I thought it was awesome. You know, I was bought in, I wanted to be more involved and I kept riding along getting more involved and then got introduced to the fire vet program and that's what really really shaped and guided me into being successful in the process.
Speaker 2:So you did your first ride-along before you ever met with the fire vets? Is that correct? Yes, Okay, so how'd you end up hearing about them? Was it the guys on the job that told you about it, those military guys?
Speaker 1:So one of my mentors. So let me go back a little bit In the platoon that I was in in the Army National Guard. I would say the guys in it were predominantly either firemen police officers or private military contractors that were also. I was actually going to school for criminal justice and I thought oh, you're going to be a cop. Yeah, I thought my route was that I had to be a police officer.
Speaker 1:I don't know. That's just what I was going for. I was in school for it and at the time there's a lot of hiring freezes and things like that going on. One of the guys in my platoon was the fireman here locally and sassum's like hey, sir, can I chat with you real quick? He's like yeah, what's going on? You know he's my platoon leader. I was like, hey, uh, is there a way I could maybe come do a ride along or check out what the fire department's like yeah, you know, I I don't really know much about it yeah I don't know and uh, yeah, don't mean yep.
Speaker 1:And uh, yeah, don't mean yep. Come this Saturday, bring donuts, be there at zero 700. Wear this, okay, okay, I'll do it. And, um, yeah, so the I would say the mentality at that time, or his at least, was he wanted to see how much I wanted it before he was going to give me anything.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:I love that I was riding along with them regularly and I went through a hiring process, took a test, just kept riding along, but that test was probably like a two-year test at the time.
Speaker 1:And I waited for that interview and I wasn't successful in it. And I went and met with him after that and I sat out there with him. I told him I was like, hey, this is absolutely what I want to do. I know, this is where I want to be, this is the career path I want to go down. And I was pretty much venting to him like what can I do to be successful in this? And he's like well, first and foremost, stop with your woes, me bullshit. And I was like that's not the route that I was going with it.
Speaker 1:I just want to know what. All right, do this, this and that. And I was like, okay, as I was walking out, I had a piece of paper that had a little fire vet emblem, this sticker here actually, and I said, hey, what's this? It looks like fireman and soldier walking alongside each other. And he said, okay, call this guy. I was like okay, and he told me a little bit about fire vet, what it was, and I said, okay, so I called him and reached out and told me to come down to an event.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I got there and I didn't know who was a fireman, who was a candidate, go through the process, what it was. I was hearing some guys that were just coming off the interviews talking and they're talking about all the things that they're doing, how they're involved in the workouts, they're doing all these things and I was like holy shit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm nowhere close.
Speaker 1:I'm nowhere close to what these guys are doing to be successful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to compete with these dudes.
Speaker 1:Exactly so. If that's what I got to do, then that's what I got to do.
Speaker 1:I just got to change my focus a little bit. For me, involvement is the biggest piece, right? So if you show up and you show up continuously, then you learn, you get the exposure, you learn about the culture, you show up and don't be an idiot, right, you learn about the culture, you show up and don't be an idiot. Maintain and guard your reputation those types of things. It pays off in your successes down the road. So I was coming down there doing ride-alongs, still getting involved. Anytime Firebret was doing philanthropic projects, I was volunteering my time to help out, whether it was backpack drives, fill the boot for the MDA, somebody on Veterans Day, feeding homeless, things like that, anything that I could do to be involved Different fundraisers, those types of things. I'd show up and help Union walks, political walks, those types of things, handing out flyers, Just getting involved as much as.
Speaker 1:I can networking, doing the workouts, getting ready for the academy, and now it was the more and more I got involved, the more and more I wanted to be involved. I think that's what led me to success. There was a few mentors at that time that are still mentors of mine and still also involved with fire vets as well, and there are people I reach out to and work with regularly, and those guys they really were able to take me under their wing, show me the expectations and guide me into what I had to do to be successful through the process and one of the things that I committed to, and I remember sitting down with them.
Speaker 1:I said hey, you know what I think it was like the night or two before the interview that I got hired on. I sat down after the conversation doing interview preparation and things like that. I was like man, if I'm given the opportunity to become a firefighter, I want to be able to do exactly what you guys are doing and give back and be a mentor within this group. And I was told, well, it's expected. Oh, even better. And and I was like fuck, yeah okay, yeah, in my head I'm thinking fuck yeah that's awesome.
Speaker 2:Hey, we didn't give you this knowledge and all this time for you just to take it, get the job and go away, right exactly you now have to pay the price, which is a good thing right, which is awesome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then I was, so I was excited about that expectation.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome because it's not like you begging, because you almost expect to be like hey bro, I really want to be involved. And they're like eh, give it some time. And instead the guy's like uh, yeah, you will be, bro. Like yeah.
Speaker 1:And that was cool and I, you know, being a mentor now over the years, expected as well. Yeah, when you get into the, when you get into the fire service, it's expected to give back. Yeah, and that's something we do culturally, not only within fire vet, but we should be doing within the fire service as well right, yeah, across the country. That's how it should be that you know, taking care of our own allows us to be able to take care of the customer, so yeah.
Speaker 2:So still talking about the fire vets here, right? So actually, before I get into this is I'd like to say this so, um, that moment that you had on the fire truck, that you're putting that vest on, you're like, oh shit, this is cool, right. So I had a guy and I like to dive it out. So garrett lee said this one. He calls it the fire truck moment and he still has it. He's a captain now, so he goes. Every once in a while he goes.
Speaker 2:I have that fire truck moment. I'm like, bro, explain that to me. What does that mean? He goes. It's when I stop doing what I'm doing. He's like it'd be anything. It'd be like, oh dark, 30 and we just cleared a job or we're going to medical. He's like it doesn't freaking matter. He goes and I just sit back, I look around real quick and it's like, holy shit, dude, I'm on a fucking firetruck. He's like it's like firetruck moment where it's like, damn, this is badass, right, like because this job is cool as fuck, so, anyway. So the fire truck moment, I love it, and that was, you know, because of that ride along and then instilled with the fire vets. I'm curious, though, because obviously the fire vets. Main mission initially when they're coming across is hey, let's help veterans get into the fire service. So at what point or why did you guys transition and say, hey, we'll take non-veterans also? Just curious If you know that answer.
Speaker 1:I, you veterans, also just curious if you know that answer I, you know what? I don't know because, uh, when I was going through the process and I think when we had actually met at the time, I'm pretty sure there was guys going through the process as well that were candidates trying to be successful in the hiring process, that were coming down volunteering time within the fire vet affinity group, that were also down.
Speaker 2:Prior service okay I mean, I'm like I said, I'm a thousand percent. I think it's's amazing. I was just curious if there, if there was and and. Again, like I said, if there's, if there's any other information that we get to, I'll add it into the notes on the show. But I think it's amazing that you're helping groups outside the veterans too. Obviously, the main focus is the veterans for this, but opening up to everybody is huge because all that information is valuable for the American fire service.
Speaker 2:And again, like you had said it before, leave it better than we found it. Right, and that's part of it. It's. You're not looking to lead. Leave your department better than you found it. You're trying to improve the American fire service as a whole, which is the whole reason why the fools exist as a international chapter. Right, it's the only. It's the only reason we are sitting down today talking. Right, it's because we are both passionate about the fire service and we want to make it better as a whole. Right, we both work for different cities. It doesn't fucking matter. Right, because we're both firemen, we love this job. Right, and we want to know as much as we can. We want to learn from each other. So I think the opportunity that you guys are allotting people with this fire vet program, especially allowing, allowing non-veterans to get into, is amazing. So, with that said, though, we know your main focus, so I just want to kind of gear towards the veterans for a second here.
Speaker 2:You remember I don't know if they call it differently in different service so I was prior Coast Guard, right, so we called it TAPS class. When you're getting ready to get out of the military, is that what the army called it? Or the National Guard? It's basically a week-ish long class, and it's one of those things where they're trying to teach you how to become a civilian again. I don't know if that was maybe active duty only, um, I didn't do anything, okay. So what they do have is, um, what's called taps class, right, and again, prior service guys outside of the branch I was in, you might call it something different, but basically it's a demobilization of your military strike and it's it's bare basics.
Speaker 2:It's like, hey, listen, can't call guys pussies anymore out in the public, and you're like what do you mean? You can't call them pussy, you know. It's like it's basically trying to teach you how to go back to civilian life, right, because you've now been told and taught from when you were very young. This is how we act. We're very aggressive, right. Hence why prior military guys are typically very good firemen, right? Or at least our culture and our nature, because that kind of goes hand in hand with each other.
Speaker 2:It's down to like the fire vets itself going with that, that kind of attitude. Do you see, because of the lack of interest we now have across the nation in the fire service, do you feel like organizations like the fire vets or anything out there, right I'm just listening to you guys because you're sitting down with me Should we be trying to tap into these large military bases that are very close to, say, the city or the county you work in? They might even be in, right, so I'll use an example. So here in the Valley we have a very large Air Force base, very large right. I don't know of any departments currently, right now going there during like a quote unquote demob clash to civilianize guys again to say, hey, have you thought about the fire service? I mean, have you guys kind of talked about that?
Speaker 1:That's been a discussion for a while now, okay, and it's actually something that our department has been looking into as well in our recruitment section. Oh good, have we done it yet? No, right, so it's just something that's kind of actively been working on. It's been a slow moving process, okay, yeah, I know we've talked about that quite a bit within fire vet as well, with the other mentors and the executive board as well, and chatting about hey, this is something we need to tap into and do yeah, and it's.
Speaker 2:It's funny, just recent I mean very recent future we've been talking about in the department I work for too, just like, and not on the, not on the management level or anything like that, but just among the guys going like, hey, why are we not tapping into these resources? Because we all love prior military guys, typically, right, you know. So why are we? Why are we not using that? We're all complaining about the lack of qualified guys, or like we'll have you know X amount of people test. We whittle them down, right, right, we go through the entire process. Then now, all of a sudden, the fire chief says, hey, we need 20 dudes, but we're giving them a list of 10 because they're the only 10 that we're willing to hire. Right, so, at least holding that standard to the moment.
Speaker 2:But it's like so how do we tap into that potential? So that's always curious if you guys were even considering or if that was a conversation. So I'm really happy to hear that it's been an active conversation, because it's really new information to me. And then when someone was like, hey, why aren't we doing this? It's like. Then I started asking other guys. I'm like wait, why? Yeah, you're right, why didn't I freaking think of that to start with, but like, why, yeah, like, wow, yeah. So I'm glad that you guys are tapping into that. What do you think that the Fire Vets offers these candidates trying to get hired? What is a big benefit that you guys offer as an organization, as a nonprofit, that other or that they wouldn't get outside of your program? Is there anything that, like, you guys really hold like a pride with, like, hey, we turn out these guys because of anything along those lines?
Speaker 1:So a couple of things. One I would say I think I mentioned this earlier is the opportunity to gain the job knowledge that they need to be successful throughout.
Speaker 2:So.
Speaker 1:I would say that's one of the biggest proponents right To help them be successful in the process. Something else I think that they gain is everybody has different stages of their life and things that they have right, and some of them might be a little bit lost. Some guys might not have that sense of brotherhood or camaraderie that they once had before and they're searching it, or a group or something that they could be involved in. And oftentimes I know personally within going through the fire vet program, I built bonds and networked with guys that were candidates just like myself, other people that I'm competing against for the job, and we built, you know, a relationship prior to getting hired and then now we work on the department together, we're mentors, together, we're, you know, building that relationship Right. So I would say to me I think that's a big thing as well, giving, I guess, you know, like a fraternal organization.
Speaker 2:And again, these are my words, right, so please correct me if you feel differently it's almost like a brotherhood inside of the brotherhood. Do you feel like that? Absolutely, yeah, okay, because it's like, again, not secret society stuff, like we're talking about it openly and like, but like, not only are you a brother in the American fire service, but now you're a brother of the fire vets too, which is another extension off of that, which is, like I said, even another closely knit group, which which I love, like I said, and that's kind of what the Copper State Fools are about too. It's a brotherhood inside of our brotherhood already, right, and again, just like the fire vets, it spans, you know, across all different departments, has nothing to do with any particular department, which is, which is great, you know, because it's about, like you had said it before, like, hey, let's get you, you know you individual, you know Jason Smith to the.
Speaker 2:You know not only the department but the area that you were going to thrive in, right, because, as you said before, like, not everyone is meant to work for every single fire department. Every department's a little bit different and you know it's, it's geared for individuals. So, hey, let's take the time. It sounds like you guys do that Like let's take time to figure out who you are and where you would actually kind of fit in. Right, absolutely Okay, because I've had those conversations, those very candid conversations, and it's been like, hey bro, listen, do I think you'd be a good fireman one day? Yes, is this department that you're currently saying in front of me, the department for you? No, right, and that and that's not me being mean, that's just me being honest and transparent because I want to see them succeed.
Speaker 1:You know, absolutely, and I think that's really what you guys are about, right For sure, okay, yep, ultimately leading people to success of where they want to be, what they want to be doing, and if we can mentor and guide them in doing that.
Speaker 2:Amazing, absolutely amazing. All right, so we talked a lot about the fire vets Before we get into going into the questions for season one or whatever, and I know we glanced across a bunch of stuff, but there's just so much and I really want guys to be able to check out the website, do their own research and information and then, more importantly, hey, if you're on the freaking job, right, and if there's some sort of affiliation or group out there like the fire vets or the fools or any of these organizations, give back to them right. I'm sure that the fire vets and I'll let Nick speak on this in a second, but organizations like the fire vets I'll just do abroad are probably more than happy to have guys on the job come up to and say, hey, how can I help you guys be successful? Because you either help me or I know you've helped somebody else, or whatever the case might be Like. Does that make sense to you?
Speaker 1:Absolutely no. I think involvement and giving back is important because it's what keeps you know, keeps the gears turning and makes it easy to pass torches as you progress throughout doing different things Right.
Speaker 2:Right. And then, like you said, the, the idea, like you guys, were founded in, you know, uh, 2012, ish, right, somewhere around there. I want to hold a hard date to y'all, but it's. It's 2024, right now, right? So shit, that's what's that? 12 years, my math sucks, right, so that's 12 years already.
Speaker 2:So, ideally, I know you want, you guys want to see the fire vets twice as big when you retire, right, and just keep growing and growing and growing, and that's, that's a part of you guys want to see the fire vets twice as big when you retire, right, and just keep growing and growing and growing, and that's, that's a part of it.
Speaker 2:You guys cannot be successful, we can't be successful for fools, uh, chapters and stuff like that, unless we have that buy-in and that give back from members, right For sure, right, and the best way to get back is to to get onto something that you believe in, right, and if right, and if you're a prior military guy out there, um, if you're in the valley, especially if you're listening to this, right, like, reach out to these guys, uh, they're helpful, right, and they're honest, they'll be transparent with you and they will, they will set you up for success, no matter where that leads you down down the road. Um so, with that said, is there anything else you want to talk about with the fire vets? I know we kind of glanced across it, but I want to at least get the bulk of that information out for the guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no. Um. Only thing else I could say is you know, if you're passionate about wanting to do this, you want to be, want to become a firefighter. Put in the work on the front end, get involved, learn about the culture, find how your experiences relate to the different areas of the job and show up.
Speaker 2:There you go, right there. Show up is probably the biggest thing. I've heard guys say that if these guys would just show up and at least give half effort, it would be better than we normally get Right. But showing up is is the majority of the battle. And, like you said, then pay attention, you know, listen, get those mentors and you'll be. I guarantee you, if you, if you get together with a guy like Nick and the program, the fire vets, you will be successful. If you put the time and the effort in, I guarantee you they will not let you fail, as long as you're motivated enough. Does this sound about right? Yep, dude, awesome. Well, thank you so much for taking time to talk about the fire vets. Let's get into the uh, the fun stuff here. So let's do the lighthearted. These are the questions right For season one. They're all the same questions for everyone we interviewed for this season. Nick. You ready, buddy? We'll get into question number one.
Speaker 1:Let's go.
Speaker 2:All right, dude. So the why right? So we've talked about it. You talked about it just within the fire vets, right hired. We ask it when they're trying to promote. We ask them shit. We ask them within our own department when they're trying to do another job within the department, right, but this is a why why right? Did nick say this is a fucking job I want to do like? When was that fire truck moment for you?
Speaker 1:so, as I mentioned earlier, I was in the service with somebody that was a fireman, the department I worked with and, um, something that sparked my interest, I wanted to check it out, learn about it, went down the station, did a ride, ride along, got more involved, and it's what really grasped me into it.
Speaker 1:Right, so as I was going to say as I learn more and figured out more. It's like some of the things I wanted to do. You know, I wanted to fight fire. I had an opportunity where I saw a fire happen on a ride along. I wanted to be in turnouts. I wanted to be on the other end of the hose line at the fire. It was something that excited me. It's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 1:I've always wanted to work in some form of medicine. When I went to school for criminal justice, I also studied psychology as well, and the opportunity to work in emergency medicine in a dynamic environment, that's something I wanted to do. I wanted to be involved in. When I got into the MT class and got to learn more, it was something that grasped my interest. It was something that I was like this is what I want to do. I want to be involved in and be a part of this and have it as a career. And then, moreover, I wanted to have a career that had purpose in it Purpose, brotherhood, camaraderie, all those things and I saw that in the fire service, just from my experience.
Speaker 2:Purpose right, you were the first person to say that word. Like I love that. Like purpose, yeah, because how many guys leave their job, right, those cubicle Monday through Friday, nine to five, whatever normal work schedule is, we have no idea, right, but how often do they come home from work and they're like, you know, hey babe, like to go to the old lady. Hey, babe, I made a fucking difference today. Right, I filled out three TPS reports. Uh, I filed two things, fax seven and wrote seven emails.
Speaker 2:Dude, I was good, right, nobody, oh, as far as I know, right, no, no other people I hang out with, right, but the purpose right, like the opportunity that we have in the fire service to come home and say I fucking made a difference today. Right, sometimes we don't have that opportunity where we're like, hey, I ran a ton of calls. I don't feel like I made a difference at all. Right, but that's not on us, that's on the, the, the, the type of calls or the incidents or whatever the case that that may be. But, dude, I love when you said purpose right, because it is, it's a calling right. A lot of guys have used that in the past.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would say so. That was probably the biggest proponent of it. So I found myself at a point in my career in the military reenlisting and extending because I got a sense of purpose from being a soldier, being a part of the military. I didn't get that same effect or desire in the careers outside the military that I worked. I worked in finance and lending at the time Okay, finance and lending at the time and while things that I did were very purposeful yeah, things that I did on the private sector were very purposeful and I helped a lot of people out that were in bad circumstances.
Speaker 1:I just didn't get the same type of pride or purpose that I got from military service and I saw that overlay within the fire service. So that was probably one of the biggest key components.
Speaker 2:I love it. That's a great why, man. So, with the why, so now you're on the job. Okay, you've been on the job now right, for eight plus years. So, with that said, for your fire service career doesn't have to be a fireman, can be right. Who has been the most influential person so far, like up to today, right in your fire service career? And then, more importantly, why?
Speaker 1:So I would say I can't pick one individual person at all. I just can't because there's been too many people that have been influential throughout my career different parts of my career, I would say, outside of the fire service. My wife she's been super supportive from the get-go. There was times where I had to readjust schedules to leave for courses in the military, where I was gone for extended periods of time in order to be able to set up schedules months down the road in order to allow me to do things for the fire service to be successful in the hiring process. And when I talk to her about it, do it, do whatever it takes, do what you need to do things for the fire service to be successful in the hiring process. And you know, when I talked to her about it, she do it, do whatever it takes, do what you need to do. She's been supportive throughout my endeavors um, going to various stations, doing specialties, um, teaching, working overtime, especially, you know now, as departments need it Sometimes, guys, I wouldn't say that we're forced to work over time at our particular department, but it's close, yeah, it is pretty close.
Speaker 1:Right, it's taking the line and, um, when that comes up, it's like hey, they. They need somebody today. I'm on the list, I got called, I got to go on hey, do whatever, and she works full time. She's a full-time student, we have a kid right, so she's been, I would say, one of the most influential people throughout my career, just by being there as a support system and a backbone to allow me to be successful in what I do. Other than that, I would say some FireVet mentors, guys that are still doing mentorship within FireVet, that were mentors of mine before I got hired, and guys that are my peers that I came into the fire vet process with. I've formulated a relationship with those people. I've been able to call them when I need them for something and bounce things off them, ask for different advice at stages of my career. So those those individuals as well- Dude, I love it.
Speaker 2:And the fact that you went back to your wife means a lot to me, because you're dude, you hit the nail on the fucking head, because we've learned on all this stuff that you've given back. Between your bio, between talking about the fire vets and everything else, the amount of time that it takes to give back to the departments is a lot right. Hence why we're always asking guys, hey, give back. Because obviously the more guys give back, the less we ask of individuals. Right, but it is especially guys like us that really do have a true passion for this calling right, we're always going to give back.
Speaker 2:But, man, there is a lot of time away from family and it is nothing's worse than trying to give back, right, because your heart's in the right place, but the entire time you have such a guilty feeling because your old lady at home you know, she's fucking pissed off, right, because you're taking so much time away. So to have that support system at home that says, hey, babe, I get it Right, like you do a good job in providing for the family, but, more importantly, I'm supporting you because this is what you enjoy to do, right, and then knowing that you're backed by the most important person in your life right there, gives you the opportunity to be successful. Right when it's the other way around, when you're fighting that coming home man, that's a hard pill to swallow. So I love that man, like guys will always usually list like other firemen and stuff like that, which I believe is great, right, but I'm kind of in the same boat as you.
Speaker 2:There's so many, it's hard to name them right. But I'm kind of in the same boat as you. There's so many, it's hard to name them right, and I would almost feel guilty because I don't want to miss somebody that had a huge impact on me. But man, yep, dude, your family, your wife, yeah, like in all reality, you probably couldn't have been, you would not be where you are today without her. I almost guarantee that. Right, right, yeah, dude, fucking great. Third question so we're halfway through here. Favorite fire department tradition.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of them, but I would have to say one chow's always a good thing. Okay, noon and six cooking chow together.
Speaker 2:So you guys do lunch and dinner together typically. Yeah, okay, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:It's a big tradition in the department that I work for. You're cooking meals together, shopping together, eating together, and when everybody's sitting at the table together eating, chow, it's, you know, funny. You're catching up. You're hearing stories solving the world's problems, all those types of things. Oh yeah, world's departments.
Speaker 2:Everything right, political gander, you've figured it all out. Dude, the kitchen it's funny too, because the kitchen table is a very popular answer for that. But it's crazy Out of all the people that have said in some sort of kitchen table, right, or the mealtime, or whatever it can. Everyone has a different story to go with that, though, but they're all so important and it's just funny that one individual thing in our culture is so important. And then why? Because it's so multifaceted, right.
Speaker 2:Like you said, it could be just a place where we can just decompress, because the day's been disgusting, right, we're just getting our dicks kicked in all day, right, and it's just like a place to catch a breath, get some chow in and then talk some shit, right, or it could be a training opportunity, or it could be, I mean, even to the point where, like hey, nicky, dude, what are you doing tomorrow, man? Like on your day off or whatever, like you want to chill out. Or even like, hey, I'm doing something, can, can I get your help? Right? Or we're just trying to figure out what the hell you're doing the next day.
Speaker 1:For sure. The dynamics of the discussions at the chow table are unparalleled and, um, I would say with that it kind of leads right into what you're mentioning just now. You could even be sitting there eating chow and you're doing some tabletop training, things like that. So I don't have one particular tradition, but a couple of them.
Speaker 1:Training is a big thing for me. Okay, you know, I've always wanted to hunt and refine my craft, to be the best that I can at whatever I'm doing. That's just been my mentality, um, and I enjoy it. You know, I'm somebody that's coachable and I like to learn, and if it's something I don't like to hear that I've already learned, I want to get better at it. So, training, I enjoy training a lot. That's a tradition that we do within our department as well. We want to be the best at what we do, right. So there's only one way to do that is train, and I've always enjoyed also group workouts with the fire station, whether it's doing a circuit or skills course, things like that, getting together with the crew and just putting in the sweat equity and working out together and pushing each other.
Speaker 2:Those types of things I mean, those are the biggest. Let me go off on a tangent real quick and I will not interject my personal opinion on this right. But I'm curious on how you feel about this. What do you say to the guys, right, the naysayers, when it comes down to a nakey dude, I ain't working out today because we get a fucking job later. Bro, I won't be spent like, what do you say to those guys? Because I already know you're not that guy you just told me because you like those group events.
Speaker 1:So so tell the naysayers on why that's a horrible attitude to have and I'm not interjecting my opinion, but it's a horrible attitude to have yeah, and I want say I get it when somebody says those types of things, but I see what you're saying, but you should be physically capable to. I'm not saying go kill yourself on a workout to where you can't function after, right, yeah, but you should be physically capable to do a workout, have that brotherhood and camaraderie put in the work and still get a fire and be able to perform to the expectation. Yeah, because it's to me that's not really a negotiable thing. Like we, we should be expected to be able to do those things.
Speaker 2:Right, good, so I love, I love it. Like I said, I was just curious on, because obviously it doesn't matter what department you work for across the nation, right. Every single guy has the guy that I just mentioned, right, or multiple of those, depending on your size. Obviously, the bigger department you are, the more, the more noodle heads you have, right. You also have more good guys, right, but it's one of those things where I'm always curious on the guys that are into things like making sure we do group workouts.
Speaker 2:How did they, how did they negotiate or neglect those, those negative Nancy's?
Speaker 1:right, you know, and I and I get it happens and it's very fluid and dynamic. Somebody could have been just working. They just came off a 24, they're up all night working overtime. It's like, hey, man, I you know what, we got our asses kicked yesterday. I'm not gonna, I need to recover or whatever that's a different story, that's a different dynamic, right.
Speaker 1:But like to be honest with you. I don't have really any room for negative attitudes. Or, to be honest with you, I don't have really any room for negative attitudes. Or the job's too good to have a shitty attitude.
Speaker 2:In my opinion, I love it. I love it, dude, I like you more and more the more I talk to you, right, um, all right. Last question this is the exact opposite, right? This has nothing to do with traditions, right, but solely the fire service. So, in your personal opinion, right, and in your experience so far, if you could snap your fingers and through FM right, fucking magic, this negative or thing that adores you is gone forever, right, it costs no work, it's an immediate gratification. What would it be? But, more importantly, why would you get rid of whatever this is?
Speaker 1:So I would say for members to live their interview, uphold what was said, taking pride and being into the job. It's as simple as that.
Speaker 2:So you want them to increase that right, not get rid of it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's just there's. I wouldn't say anything to get rid of. But you see, a lot of people slip away from being excited about it, right, I would say the first few years somebody's super stoked, they're excited, they're training somebody super stoked, they're excited, they're training, they're all into it. And then down the road they just kind of start slipping away and they lose interest. They're not into the job, they don't give a shit about training, they're not living up to what they said Not that long ago. It's like hey, what the hell.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you said this was your dream job, right, like you would do anything to be here.
Speaker 1:and now we're asking you to do something and you're saying now yeah, and now and now you're just, you're not real into it, you don't really give a shit. It's like there's no time or room for that. And I would say and that's not a lot of people right no, but they are there, they exist and that's the thing it's like. Hey, take some pride into it, have some fun with it, man, and enjoy what you've got. I remember hearing a lot people would say you just won the lottery when you got the job.
Speaker 2:Hey, kid, you just won the lottery right.
Speaker 1:I had heard that a lot when I first got hired and I haven't really heard that as much now.
Speaker 1:Fuck, you kind of did right, it's such a good job. I mean that sincerely Different things, the brotherhood, the relationships, did right, like it's. Yeah, it's such a good job and I and I mean that sincerely like just different things, the brotherhood, the relationships that you build in it, the opportunities and experiences you get. And yeah, sure, there's a dark side to it and there's burnout and things like that that happen. But at the end of the day, like don't forget what it was like when you first got here, when you got your badge, when you got the call, when you were just done with the Academy, right, and the list goes on. I remember early on in the career people would say it just gets better and better. I've believed that for the last you know better part of just under a decade. It has just gotten better and better. There's things that I've, opportunities that I've gotten throughout with the, with being a firefighter, so no with being a firefighter.
Speaker 2:So, no, dude, I love it and that's going to. That's it right there, but it's, it's, it's a perfect segue, because that is exactly to close out this episode. That's exactly why, uh, the fools organization exists across the nation right now. You know, as an American fire service, across the country, 50% right Of every single fire department out there is five years and under. Right, which includes your department, includes my department. Literally every single department is having the same struggle that you and I are having. All I hear about that is a negative. We're losing experience, we're losing all this seniority, we're losing this. We're promoting guys that are young and don't necessarily have the calls or the experience under their belt.
Speaker 2:I like to look at it a little. Have, if we have a fire service of five years and younger, as a majority of our members, right, let's fucking harness that right, because all those guys are excited. Right, we can catch them pre-burnout. Right. And how do you approach those guys? Right, get involved in the fire vets. Right, give back, re-injuvenate, like man, these guys. They're willing to break their back to get the job that I fucking have right now.
Speaker 2:So get involved in those programs wherever you live. Find a fool's chapter. Close to you, right, like-minded individuals, you can learn something. Right, they will harness that enthusiasm and probably put you to work, you know, get you as a subject matter expert, teaching a class or doing something to reignite the fire and give back to that fire service. You know that we've talked about from day one. So, dude, nick, listen bro, I really appreciate you sitting down right Going through everything the fire vets, like I said, is, I know, obviously it's, it's super near and dear to your heart, but I honestly believe it's an amazing program, right? I'm glad to exist. It personally helped me. So, um, I have nothing but great things to say about you again one more time. Uh, it'll be in the show notes, but if they need to reach out, what's a website, what's the email address that they can reach out to you guys?
Speaker 1:so our social media page for instagram fire bets perfect, it's a good, good, uh thing to follow. Okay, there's a lot of information on there.
Speaker 2:Our website is firebatorg okay, so you can find them on Instagram, facebook and then, of course, and then their website email would be fire vet pfd at gmailcom.
Speaker 2:All right, so that's fire vet pfd at gmailcom. And again, everything will be in the the notes of the show so you guys can refer back to them. And please, if you have any questions at all about what they do, what they offer, or if you want to get involved or even just give back because you live around the area and you're on the job, please contact those guys. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear from you. You have anything else to add before we sign off?
Speaker 1:No, that's it. Thanks for having me. It's been a good time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're the man. Thank you so much, brother, and again we'll catch you See ya. Thanks for joining us. Always remember, the most important grab you'll make in your fire service career is saving a complacent firefighter from themselves. Catch you next episode.
