Tips for Fire Academy Success?

[Neil321]

Hey everyone,

I am about to start firefighter academy in Baton Rouge, LA at the Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute (LSU-FETI). I'm 22 years old, just graduated college with a B.S. in Neuroscience and attained my EMT-B with the Dallas Fire Department last summer. I have NO fire experience, though I've ran the CPAT course and passed with a minute or so to spare. I know the CPAT isn't very realistic in terms of on-the-job demand, but I want to give you guys an idea of my physical/conditioning status.

I'm working on upping my cardio by running 3 times a week along with weight training throughout (I have 2 months before the academy starts).

What I wanted to ask was...to anyone who's been through LSU-FETI or any fire academy for that matter---what is some essential advice I should keep with me to be successful and not look like a complete idiot out there?!

The videos I've seen on YouTube of fire academy PT make it seem like it's pretty brutal.
Any input will be appreciated greatly.

Thanks guys.

**Also...this academy gets you certs in FF1/FF2, Haz Aware, Haz Ops, and Pumper/Driver. Do you think this, combined with my degree and EMT-B cert will give me an advantage in career FD hiring processes?**

[beachfire]

Don't be on time, BE EARLY! Be the first to clean up and the last to finish. Do everything with a sense of urgency. Show ownership and pride in everything you do. Treat your instructors and classmates with respect. If you don't understand something, ask for help. Surround yourself with the serious, mature students, not the class clowns. Don't go out drinking and act like an idiot. Keep your mouth shut and ears open. Give 110% whether you are doing a fire evolution or cleaning the toilets. Best of luck to you! Oh, the more education that you have the better. Anything that can put you above the rest of the candidates is paramount. It is a very competitive hiring process. Also, please don't get any traffic violations, parking tickets, DUIs, etc. It will kill your chances.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

I didn't go to LSU-FETI, but you don't get ahead in the fire service by being as dumb as a box of rocks... although there are those who manage to eke through...

Keep your ears open and your mouth shut.

If you have any previous experience... forget it. They will teach you by their numbers, their way.

Volunteer to do demonstrations of any kind of evolution. The instructors will point out if you made errors, and you will learn quicker.

Make note of the errors of others and don't do what they did.

Keep your nose in the books.

If tying knots is part of the program, then keep practicing.

Help you fellow students if they have a problem... your strengths might be their weaknesses, you weaknesses might be their strengths. In the real world, you will be depending on them as much as they are depending on you.

Don't judge the book by the cover. I have seen recruits at the Massachusetts Fire Academy (where I work per diem for) be looked down upon because of their size and gender... and seen them outperform their critics six ways to Sunday when the time comes to perform.


Work smarter, not harder when appropriate.
Work harder at working smarter.

Remember that not all of the instructors you will have have bars or bugles on their collars... some of them are happy to be grunts on their FD and share the knowledge they have learned over the years.

Check your PPE and SCBA daily.. as they are your "suit of armor" and "life support system".

Did I mention keep your ears open and mouth shut?

Good luck, enjoy your time at the academy and keep learning... every day brings a new challenge.

[fire49]

So how did you get your emt through Dallas , did you go through thier hiring process and academy????

Find someone in the class that is good with computers and from day one start a study guide for a study group, have the group put together questions from the class presented

[NFD-Firefighter]

Don't be on time, BE EARLY! Be the first to clean up and the last to finish. Do everything with a sense of urgency. Show ownership and pride in everything you do. Treat your instructors and classmates with respect. If you don't understand something, ask for help. Surround yourself with the serious, mature students, not the class clowns. Don't go out drinking and act like an idiot. Keep your mouth shut and ears open. Give 110% whether you are doing a fire evolution or cleaning the toilets. Best of luck to you! Oh, the more education that you have the better. Anything that can put you above the rest of the candidates is paramount. It is a very competitive hiring process. Also, please don't get any traffic violations, parking tickets, DUIs, etc. It will kill your chances.

Take everything he said religiously!

[Neil321]

So how did you get your emt through Dallas , did you go through thier hiring process and academy????

Find someone in the class that is good with computers and from day one start a study guide for a study group, have the group put together questions from the class presented

DFD opens up approx 3-5 civilian spots during their EMT training for people wanting to do a 3.5 month course on par with their department. This worked out well for me because it was during the summer between the junior and senior year of my undergraduate career.

[Neil321]

@beachfire
@deputyChiefGonzo

Thank you for this invaluable info. The characteristics you pointed out parallel my personality pretty well, for the most part, so I'm glad to hear my mindset is on the right track to begin with.
I will definitely heed your advice and let you guys know how the academy goes for me!

[GaiusPaul]

Chief Gonzo has some great advice. I'll try to help with my quarter cent.

Is this for a college or a fire department?

I'll comment a little on my current academy, but it's for a fire department. It wil be different I'm guessing for a college (I went to one, also), because their expectations for physical fitness will likely be a LOT lower. The physical fitness required for mine is INTENSE. I'd say when you get to around 7-7:30 on the CPAT you're close. Then work with full gear for 5 more hours.

I wouldn't worry about running TOO much, but more on the metcon workouts to build endurance. Lift stuff, push stuff, move stuff. Lots of core work, too. You'll need workouts that use stregth with your cardio. You'll never be without a tool or gear on, so wear a backpack with weight and climb stairs. Do a workout 4-5 times a week, 2 a day if you aren't pushing too hard. But don't get injured. Look up some workouts from Crossfit or P90X, that may help.

Good luck!

[Neil321]

Chief Gonzo has some great advice. I'll try to help with my quarter cent.

Is this for a college or a fire department?

I'll comment a little on my current academy, but it's for a fire department. It wil be different I'm guessing for a college (I went to one, also), because their expectations for physical fitness will likely be a LOT lower. The physical fitness required for mine is INTENSE. I'd say when you get to around 7-7:30 on the CPAT you're close. Then work with full gear for 5 more hours.

I wouldn't worry about running TOO much, but more on the metcon workouts to build endurance. Lift stuff, push stuff, move stuff. Lots of core work, too. You'll need workouts that use stregth with your cardio. You'll never be without a tool or gear on, so wear a backpack with weight and climb stairs. Do a workout 4-5 times a week, 2 a day if you aren't pushing too hard. But don't get injured. Look up some workouts from Crossfit or P90X, that may help.

Good luck!

This is through a college, though many of our fire depts in the state send their recruits through this academy as well. I don't want to underestimate the running because I hear it's a BIG part of the program. I have a 40 lb weight vest that I wear under my turnout gear to climb stairs at the local hospital. As far as workouts, I always hear the big three are back, legs, and lungs. Any recommended routines that helped you survive?

[CaptOldTimer]

If someone comes in to instruct saying they are from bossier parish, get up and run.

[GaiusPaul]

This is through a college, though many of our fire depts in the state send their recruits through this academy as well. I don't want to underestimate the running because I hear it's a BIG part of the program. I have a 40 lb weight vest that I wear under my turnout gear to climb stairs at the local hospital. As far as workouts, I always hear the big three are back, legs, and lungs. Any recommended routines that helped you survive?

A couple of my favorites:

"Card" workout
Each suit of a deck of cards are a different exercise. For example:
Burpees, situps, pushups, squats or pullups, mountain climbers, burpees, situps, etc. GO through the whole deck.

"The Chief"
Max rounds in 3 minutes of:
135 pound Power cleans, 3 reps
6 Push-ups
9 Squats
Rest 1 minute. Repeat for a total of 5 cycles.

"Cindy"
Complete as many rounds in 20 minutes as you can of:
5 Pull-ups
10 Push-ups
15 Squats

"Angie"
For time:
100 Pull-ups
100 Push-ups
100 Sit-ups
100 Squats

Be careful on Angie if you haven't done many pullups. It'll kill weak shoulders.

[Neil321]

@gaiusPaul

The Chief and the Cindy look like awesome routines to try out. I'll definitey give en a shot along with the Card workout thrown in. Angie on the other hand looks like one mean b**** !

Thanks for the help

[tajm611]

It's not bad, Chief has scaled back the PT and though it's everyday it's not even close to as grueling as it use to be. Sadly, you've missed the academy in its heyday. Many cutbacks will dampen your experience.


Any other questions, let me know.