FDNY Exam 2000

[MerritMatters]

I think what rtech5's friend said is nothing that should come as a surpise to anyone. Firefighting is dangerous. It's dangerous in NYC, in Houston, in LA, and in the boonies. You are risking your life at fires or other serious emergencies. It will be chaotic or intense and you need to stay on the ball. With that comes the pressure to be squared away, to train, read or drill, and basically know your job because you and your coworkers lives depend on it. Like I said, this is not shocking news. As far as how much fire duty you see, it depends on what company you go to. Even if you go somewhere that has little fire duty, you still need to know your job. Some might say a slower place is more dangerous because your knowledge and skills get rusty. Experience is the best teacher. With that being said, DON'T FOCUS NOW ON WHERE YOU END UP, just getting on the job.

Most guys on this thread are obviously candidates and are newer than new and it is only natural to have expectations of life in the FDNY. My advice is that you won't know it till you try it, and even then it takes time to really know the job, maybe even a career. I can honestly say that it is an amazing job and I am extremely proud and lucky to be a firefighter in the FDNY. One day you will arrive at the same feeling, but it is your own journey and interpretation.

From the firefighters stand point, like rtech's friend, we want only the best of the best to get on the job. That's squared away, knowledgable but willing to learn, ready to step up to do the right thing and have a positive attitutude. This is the same type of person the academy will try and mold. On the other hand, the academy will try and discourage the lazy, selfish, unprepared, unmotivated, poor performing candidates.

I'm trying to give you guys some information without letting all of our laundry hang out to dry. This is still a brotherhood that simply has to be kept sacred, which is why I sometimes get a little frustrated with what kind of things are posted on here. The bottom line is as a candidate or proby you simply need to strive to be THE BEST and as a firefighter we want the best. Expectations are specific to the individual so expect the unexpected. Good luck to all of you.

I am referring to what pipeman said, that NYC doesn't go to a lot of fires. I read what rtech said and know that what he stated is completely expected of every candidate. I was under the impression that they go to more fires than most of the other big cities; he disagrees...

[Angelo_D]

Took the test yesterday in Brooklyn.

Very organized there. Plastic bag for valuables, place 'em under your desk till the end of the exam. I could have done without the 3 separate fire alarms going off, but otherwise no hitches. Very clean testing center as well.

I was able to start the exam before 12 because I was there early. I took the whole 4 hours, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Hopefully the rest of you are wise enough to do the same.

As for the residency credit, you don't need to bring anything for documentation. The computer will prompt you at the end of the exam if you wish to claim it, and during the background/investigation process they will ask you for the proof of residency.

[Rush2000]

What are you guys hearing about the exam? Although testing has just begun I havent heard one person say that they aced it or that it was easy. The few people that i know who have taken it say to be prepared. The talk of it being dumbed down has quieted.

[Bklyn]

Is base pay for the academy still around 39k? And do you know if you are allowed to use your GI bill for the academy?

Whats a "GI bill"?

[chadxmerch]

Whats a "GI bill"?

The plan you pay into while in the military that allows you to receive money for college and job training.

[Angelo_D]

What are you guys hearing about the exam? Although testing has just begun I havent heard one person say that they aced it or that it was easy. The few people that i know who have taken it say to be prepared. The talk of it being dumbed down has quieted.

I took mine Saturday, All I'll say is that it's a fair exam.

What's the likelihood of the first people who took the exam getting their scores before the rest of the people have taken it? The way I see it is that we're just getting the score, the list itself won't be established for some time I'm assuming.

Speaking of lists, how long did it take for the 6019 list to be established after the test was given?

[Rush2000]

I took mine Saturday, All I'll say is that it's a fair exam.

What's the likelihood of the first people who took the exam getting their scores before the rest of the people have taken it? The way I see it is that we're just getting the score, the list itself won't be established for some time I'm assuming.

Speaking of lists, how long did it take for the 6019 list to be established after the test was given?

How do you think you did Angelo? Also in the vulcan classes they said it was a good idea to bring a bottle of water and a granola bar. Was this allowed? Id probably skip on the water. I dont want to have to get up and go to the bathroom but a granola bar could come in handy 3hrs into the exam.

[HopefulFF]

I took mine Saturday, All I'll say is that it's a fair exam.

What's the likelihood of the first people who took the exam getting their scores before the rest of the people have taken it? The way I see it is that we're just getting the score, the list itself won't be established for some time I'm assuming.

Speaking of lists, how long did it take for the 6019 list to be established after the test was given?

6019 was given in Jan of 07, just under a month after the exam raw scores went out. Nov of 07 people got their official score and their list #.

Two things to keep in mind though: (1) the city had no need to rush getting scores back, and establishing a list after 6019 was given, they already had an active list. (2) we have no idea how this is going to work with the judge and the courts after April 20th. Will we get scores right away? Will the judge have to give his approval first?

It's really anyone's guess how the timetable will work after the exam period closes.

[Angelo_D]

6019 was given in Jan of 07, just under a month after the exam raw scores went out. Nov of 07 people got their official score and their list #.

Two things to keep in mind though: (1) the city had no need to rush getting scores back, and establishing a list after 6019 was given, they already had an active list. (2) we have no idea how this is going to work with the judge and the courts after April 20th. Will we get scores right away? Will the judge have to give his approval first?



It's really anyone's guess how the timetable will work after the exam period closes.

Ah ok great thanks, but I was under the impression that there couldn't be 2 active lists. I thought they had to establish a new list the day the previous list expired.

[SkylinePCG]

You just summed up the FDNY of the 1970s. haha Those things CAN happen but usually don't. I work in a large city myself in another urban fire department and like most large cities, it's not the same as it used to be. You don't go to fire that often. You may go a full year without seeing anything, even in NYC, depending on the company you're assigned to. You should definitely be willing to give your life but I just want to clear things up that things are different.

NEGATIVE!!

Those things absolutely do happen, and regularly. Obviously not with the frequency of war years; that time period was an anomaly. The FDNY responded to over 25k fires last year. Theres not a company on the job that goes a year without catching a job, and even the ones that go to fewer fires than others are still taking part in mitigating more emergencies of other types than ever.

Let me "clear some things up" for those thinking about coming on this job: you WILL go to fires. You WILL experience a true IDLH environment. You WILL see dead people. You WILL see horrific injuries. You WILL cross paths with people having the unquestionably worst day of their life.

But you WONT have to do it alone. Thats when youll understand that all the bulls h i t on the tshirts is just that, and that the value of the support network within the brotherhood is what makes working here not just tolerable, but the only game in town.

[HopefulFF]

Ah ok great thanks, but I was under the impression that there couldn't be 2 active lists. I thought they had to establish a new list the day the previous list expired.

you're partly right. They had 6019's list put together while 2043 was active. When you got your 6019 list number, the list wasn't officially "established" yet, but you knew where you stood for hiring. 6019's list wasn't officially established until June of 08, about a month after 2043 officially died.

[Angelo_D]

How do you think you did Angelo? Also in the vulcan classes they said it was a good idea to bring a bottle of water and a granola bar. Was this allowed? Id probably skip on the water. I dont want to have to get up and go to the bathroom but a granola bar could come in handy 3hrs into the exam.

I think I did well.

You cannot bring ANYTHING into the testing area. They'll tell you to throw it out. You can't go to the bathroom during the exam either, so eat something right before you go in.

[Angelo_D]

you're partly right. They had 6019's list put together while 2043 was active. When you got your 6019 list number, the list wasn't officially "established" yet, but you knew where you stood for hiring. 6019's list wasn't officially established until June of 08, about a month after 2043 officially died.

I see I see...OK so the 6019 list is set to expire in June correct? So, considering that there are no issues with this exam and everything moves along at a normal pace, the 2000 list would have to be established in June then correct? FDNY is short alot of people so I think they would want to expedite the hiring process, that is of course no issues arise from this exam.

[roadrunner09]

But just to reiterate, you can bring your cellphone to the site with you right? They'll give you a ziplock?

[HopefulFF]

I see I see...OK so the 6019 list is set to expire in June correct? So, considering that there are no issues with this exam and everything moves along at a normal pace, the 2000 list would have to be established in June then correct? FDNY is short alot of people so I think they would want to expedite the hiring process, that is of course no issues arise from this exam.

Just my .02 but I don't think 6019's list will effect when they start using 2000. When a list is est. it's not done for 4 years, it's done for 1 year and the city can extend the list 3x at a year each. So it ends up being for 4 years, but the city doesn't have to commit to all 4 years at once. It would prob be tough to even confirm 6019 was extended and is considered active. Maybe one of the guys who are on 6019 would be able to answer that Q.

But to answer your Q, if 6019 is active, and not extended by the city, it's set to expire in June of 2012.

[Angelo_D]

But just to reiterate, you can bring your cellphone to the site with you right? They'll give you a ziplock?

Yeah they give you a bag to put all your possessions in. You put it under your desk till the exam is over.

[Angelo_D]

Just my .02 but I don't think 6019's list will effect when they start using 2000. When a list is est. it's not done for 4 years, it's done for 1 year and the city can extend the list 3x at a year each. So it ends up being for 4 years, but the city doesn't have to commit to all 4 years at once. It would prob be tough to even confirm 6019 was extended and is considered active. Maybe one of the guys who are on 6019 would be able to answer that Q.

But to answer your Q, if 6019 is active, and not extended by the city, it's set to expire in June of 2012.

Great, thanks much.

[roadrunner09]

Thanks....

[Angelo_D]

Thanks....

You turn it off though when you enter the building.

[roadrunner09]

Oh absolutely, of course. I'm just asking because 6019 was ridiculous when it came to this. I left my phone at home because they instructed you to (as they do for this one). When I got there, probably 70% of the people had their phones with nobody batting an eye. I was pretty annoyed by that actually...