How old were you when you joined your department?

[Bimmernate]

Title ^ pretty much asks the question

[BryanLoader]

2 months before my 24th birthday. April 1973

[rm1524]

21. Sept, 1992

[snowball]

What do you mean join? You mean go to a few meetings, show them how many beers you can pound down, gain their trust that you won't tell all about the hookers, show them your t-shirt collection, compliment each one on the height of their whip antennas, then get voted in as a member?

Or test, test, test, pass the agility, go in for an oral interview, psyche eval, detailed physical examination, echocardiogram, have your past investigated, have all your financial records examined, go in for a chiefs interview, start an 18 week drill school, then one year of probation where your every move is scrutinized and you can be fired without the protection of the union for something as minor as having your hair too long?

I just need to know how to answer this.

[BryanLoader]

As far as me Snowball, I referred to my career dept. I will admit there were not quite that barrage of tests back then. Full medical exam, physical fitness testing, written exam, interview with 3 dept officers. That was about it. Back then there were not near the line ups for hiring there are now. I got out of the service, spent a year knocking about, walked into Fire Hall 1, applied, got a letter about 2 weeks later and started the process. I was 1 of 18 in my rookie class.

[Bimmernate]

Career Department.

[Paraphoe]

22


filler

[backsteprescue123]

What do you mean join? You mean go to a few meetings, show them how many beers you can pound down, gain their trust that you won't tell all about the hookers, show them your t-shirt collection, compliment each one on the height of their whip antennas, then get voted in as a member?

Or test, test, test, pass the agility, go in for an oral interview, psyche eval, detailed physical examination, echocardiogram, have your past investigated, have all your financial records examined, go in for a chiefs interview, start an 18 week drill school, then one year of probation where your every move is scrutinized and you can be fired without the protection of the union for something as minor as having your hair too long?

I just need to know how to answer this.

Thats a pretty unfair generalization.

For my volunteer department we have to go through every single thing you mentioned for the full time dept except if you have you fire/ems certs, they dont sent you through school.

[231Engine]

This place is ridiculous.

[snowball]

Thats a pretty unfair generalization.

I didn't put you on the "won't get the joking" list.
My bad, I should have used smilies.

[hwoods]

OK, Back on Track.............

Volunteer: 16

Career - Forest Service: 18

Career - Municipal FD: 20

[FWDbuff]

OK, Back on Track.............

Volunteer: 16

Career - Forest Service: 18

Career - Municipal FD: 20

Oh the possibilities are endless....................

[S8ER95Z]

24... I think I started to late though IMHO... It is what it is.

[PaladinKnight]

March 1972, before dirt was invented.

[fieldseng2]

Volunteer FD: 16

1st Career dept: 22

2nd Career dept: 34

[neiowa]

Or test, test, test, pass the agility, go in for an oral interview, psyche eval, detailed physical examination, echocardiogram, have your past investigated, have all your financial records examined, go in for a chiefs interview, start an 18 week drill school, then one year of probation where your every move is scrutinized and you can be fired without the protection of the union for something as minor as having your hair too long?

I just need to know how to answer this.

Was all of your information evaluated by an individual with your vast intellect Dr Dingleberry?

[GTRider245]

Volunteer Dept.- 15, Explorer

1st Career Dept.- 18

2nd Career Dept.- 19

[FyredUp]

18 volly

31 civilian firefighter for the WiANG

38 municipal FD

[nmfire]

17. And no, we don't accept new members based on BAC.

OK, Back on Track.............

Volunteer: 16

Career - Forest Service: 18

Career - Municipal FD: 20

Did they let you steer the horses when you were 16? :cool

[doughesson]

I joined at 38,aka "Old enough to know better and still too young to care".
Though all I had to do was show up at meetings to be a member,I still had to attend an in house training before they'd let me carry a pager and be issued turnout gear.It wasn't until 3 months later when I attended and passed a state certified Basic Firefighting Course that I got a door key.Maybe the two were related.
It's not show up,meet a few guys and go push hose that night deal at my old department.