Why do we put up with it?

[opie5461]

HOW MANY LIEUTENANT OR CAPTAIN PARAMEDICS DO YOU KNOW IN THE 0081 SERIES. HOW MANY OF THE THOSE GS-9's WHO ARE FIREFIGHTERS ARE GOING TO GET PROMOTED PROPERLY TO COMPANY OFFICER?

I saw it happen in my last dept. 2 A/C job openings, 6 GS-9 Capts, 2 GS-9 PMs. The 2 PM got promoted over the 6 Capts. It sucked but I know at least one of the PMs is a good A/C.

[brians1966]

MakeItStopFed:
You need to get a grip, you do not realize how good you have it.
Better pay and bennies on the out side- I don't think so- That grass is always greener on the other side till you get there.
After 35 years with DoD Fire I have to say I have been taken care of pretty good.
With the exception of the hours (which I knew of when I excepted the position) most everything was pretty competitive with the surrounding Fire Dept. And I did not spend my whole career in one location.
You remind me of the ones that came into the DoD system and after a few years would cry the blues- they make more, work less hours, fight more fires and on and on. Then they would leave for a city or especially a contractor gig overseas. Then there they are begging to come back when things didn't go their way.
If it bothers you that much on how the system works leave and make room for someone that will appreciate having the position especially in this day and age.
Oh by the way I was not a Chief Officer so don't hang that title on me- I was a blue shirt like most of the people replying to your post.

[FFTRivera24]

We work 16 hours more than almost everyone else per week, we make about a 3rd less than most (even though we work longer) and for retirement; they actually pay us in snickers bars and skittles. I requested the green ones, they are my favorite.

But seriously, something has to give. We are continuously screwed over while the Feds have enough money to bail out every bank that ever existed and give everyone healthcare! When it comes to us, they laugh themselves all the way to the bank with the money they save. It has been decades since most departments went to a 56. Why aren't we there yet? Do you think the cities and counties got a 56 handed to them? I think they have some smart folks who fought hard and won. When are we going to stand up and say enough?

Why is it whenever you call your buddy who works for a city, he is always off, and you're always calling from work? And ask yourself when the last time you held a hose and put out a fire was?

Federal Fire so far has pretty much been everything I'd come to expect from the Feds, without the fire. I'm gonna get into an interview class and get the hell out of here.

I really do hope things change for the better, but hoping for the "56", "3@50" and over $1,000 per overtime shift seems as distant as the colonization of the moon right now.

Why are you a Firefighter?!?! **** I lost my job at the Fort Riley Fire Department in Kansas after only working there 8 months, and I moved everything I had from Santa Barbara County California to the middle of Kansas, I even lost the one and only woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with to BE A FIREFIGHTER!!! I only have my California Fire Academy certificate of completion, my DOD/ IFSAC/ NPQS Fire I & II, HazMat Awareness & Ops, and my NREMT-B, and Im going to the Alabama Fire College next month to get my ARFF cert so I can try to get another DOD job, or any Firefighting job for that matter!! If I was hired by ANY Fire Department the could PAY ME MINIMUM WAGE, give me the crappiest jobs to do, make me stay awake the whole shift, or make me do whatever they want me to, thats how bad I want to be a firefighter, that is the only job that I ever want to do!!! **** they could pay me peanuts!!! I want to be a firefighter because that is the ONLY job I have ever wanted to do!! I want to give back to the community and serve them!! Pay, benefits, retirement all mean nothing to ME!! I would do anything to be a firefighter right now!!! Being a firefighter is more than pay, benefits, and retirement! Its giving back to your comminity, thats is where it is at!! Why do you complain about working 16 more hours than city or county departments!! Thats 16 more hours that you get to ride in an engine, truck, rescue, or ambulance!! If it is so damn bad then quit! I will take your spot gladly!!! Be greatful that you have the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!!

[fire49]

there are plenty of volunteer departments through out the nation!!!!!!!!!!

roughly 70%

[peterbound]

Guys, the exclamation mark is not the only form of punctuation available. Although your use of it is impressive.

[BackStepNBackWards]

After reading a lot of these posts, i realize that people are in this field for a LOT of different reasons. Not saying there bad, but i didnt become a fireman for the money. I knew that coming in. If i wanted money i would have gone and got a college degree and sat behind a desk. Being a fireman to me is all about the fire. Its just weird hearing people settle at departments where they might never run a fire their whole career because the moneys good. Is that why some people joined? For the title, and the cash?

[ShredddinCali]

After reading a lot of these posts, i realize that people are in this field for a LOT of different reasons. Not saying there bad, but i didnt become a fireman for the money. I knew that coming in. If i wanted money i would have gone and got a college degree and sat behind a desk. Being a fireman to me is all about the fire. Its just weird hearing people settle at departments where they might never run a fire their whole career because the moneys good. Is that why some people joined? For the title, and the cash?

ill be honest, i love the pay that i get! that doesn't mean i don't love my job also.

[peterbound]

After reading a lot of these posts, i realize that people are in this field for a LOT of different reasons. Not saying there bad, but i didnt become a fireman for the money. I knew that coming in. If i wanted money i would have gone and got a college degree and sat behind a desk. Being a fireman to me is all about the fire. Its just weird hearing people settle at departments where they might never run a fire their whole career because the moneys good. Is that why some people joined? For the title, and the cash?

Yep, and to boss people like you around.

[fire49]

Like I said if you are truly committed there ae plenty of volunteer fire departments that fight a lot of fire and would be glad to have you



Would be glad to find some in your area or you can move to one

[BackStepNBackWards]

around here, you need a little credibility to "boss" people around. Im sure you have it though...

[auxman]

Don't see a purpose in even trying to compare pay/benefits between city and federal governments. It is just too much of an apples/oranges comparison.

[peterbound]

around here, you need a little credibility to "boss" people around. Im sure you have it though...

Actually.. in this little part of the FF world (dod) all you really need is the Certs.

[fire49]

just wad up the certs and throw it at the fire and I am sure it will go out, just like a fit.

[ShredddinCali]

just wad up the certs and throw it at the fire and I am sure it will go out, just like a fit.

what fire?

[peterbound]

I think he's talking about the imaginary fire that all the young guys/airman talk about to the girls downtown.

[ShredddinCali]

I think he's talking about the imaginary fire that all the young guys/airman talk about to the girls downtown.

ahhh, the proverbial 'fire in the pants'

[cfi268]

why are you a firefighter?!?! **** i lost my job at the fort riley fire department in kansas after only working there 8 months, and i moved everything i had from santa barbara county california to the middle of kansas, i even lost the one and only woman i wanted to spend the rest of my life with to be a firefighter!!! I only have my california fire academy certificate of completion, my dod/ ifsac/ npqs fire i & ii, hazmat awareness & ops, and my nremt-b, and im going to the alabama fire college next month to get my arff cert so i can try to get another dod job, or any firefighting job for that matter!! If i was hired by any fire department the could pay me minimum wage, give me the crappiest jobs to do, make me stay awake the whole shift, or make me do whatever they want me to, thats how bad i want to be a firefighter, that is the only job that i ever want to do!!! **** they could pay me peanuts!!! I want to be a firefighter because that is the only job i have ever wanted to do!! I want to give back to the community and serve them!! Pay, benefits, retirement all mean nothing to me!! I would do anything to be a firefighter right now!!! Being a firefighter is more than pay, benefits, and retirement! Its giving back to your comminity, thats is where it is at!! Why do you complain about working 16 more hours than city or county departments!! Thats 16 more hours that you get to ride in an engine, truck, rescue, or ambulance!! If it is so damn bad then quit! I will take your spot gladly!!! Be greatful that you have the best job in the world!!

hand**** is that you??????????????????????????? ???????????????

[VincentEng2]

After reading a lot of these posts, i realize that people are in this field for a LOT of different reasons. Not saying there bad, but i didnt become a fireman for the money. I knew that coming in. If i wanted money i would have gone and got a college degree and sat behind a desk. Being a fireman to me is all about the fire. Its just weird hearing people settle at departments where they might never run a fire their whole career because the moneys good. Is that why some people joined? For the title, and the cash?

Your in the job for the wrong reason bud. I take it you have never had your house burn down. Not a fun experiance take it from me. Its a sickning fealing to hear your adress come after the tones with the words working structure fire.

If I spend the next 14 years of my service moping floors and scrubing *****ters then I say I had a good term of service. I don't ever wish for any to have to live with loseing everything in a fire. I just know that im there to help if it does.