DOD Certs on off base runs

[FFSThomas]

Have your depts worked out the problem of using your DOD certs on your runs off base? HAZ MAT for example, Can DOD HAZ MAT Tech do a level "A" entry off base?
Here in CA we are just getting both! (State cert. & DOD) Stupid huh.

------------------

[ArmyTruckCompany]

In the State of Md, I believe DOD certs exceed or are equal to those of local level. In fact, the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute is assisting DOD Fire Departments in obtaining reciprocity for current certicates.

------------------
"Loyalty above all else, except honor."

[PatDunn]

DOD certifications are acreditated by IFSAC therefore if your state is IFSAC you are Certified to operate to your certification level either on or off base

[gunnyv]

Good question. The ANG base near us gives and receives mutual aid all the time and I've never heard this come up. We are not an IFSAC or NPQ state, and that caused the base guys lots of grief a few years ago. I'm going to ask.

[Mr. Freeze]

You are running into a problem (if you are, and it sounds like you might be) because California is one of several non-IFSAC states. You can't get reciprocity for your certs in Calif. since they won't recognize them. The IFSAC website has a list of states that are IFSAC. I'm not sure how current it is.

[Brian Johnson]

FFSTHomas:

When your talking HazMat the only thing that really matters is; Are you OSHA certified? DoD certification in HazMat exceeds the requirements for OSHA.

I feel your pain though I am certified through CSTI through 7 weeks of Specialist training, a 1 week class for IC and another 1 week to be able to train others. All of this and DoD tells me I have to take their silly courses to be certified.

I just went through the DoD Awareness, Ops, and IC. Don't worry they are easy classes if you have already been CSTI certified.

Tell Steve Mulcare that Brian Johnson said Hi. he was my Captain at El Toro in bad ol days.



------------------
Brian Johnson
Assistant Chief
Okinawa, Japan

[376thCrash/FireSgt]

Can someone please tell me what the hell the State of Illinois has up the butt!!! I'm a firefighter in the Army Reserve, an Airport Firefighter, and a POC in my town. I go to the academy and get all the knowledge that they get anywhere else plus they kinda put you through the wringer a little bit. But Illinois doesn't recognize my DoD certificates but they do let me challenge the state test, meanwhile almost all the states around me accept it....someone please explain I think it's hurting my chances on becoming a paid firefighter somewhere...anywhere!!!!

[mrtank]

At Wright-Patt in Ohio (non-IFSAC) we have both. Most of our people are techs in Ohio but are Ops level in DoD land. When asked why we still pay Cleveland State Univ. to teach us non-IFSAC haz-mat, the A/C of training said it was simple. What is the penalty for not complying with a DoDI or AFI, a slap on the wrist and no promotion. The penalty for not complying with an OSHA directive is fines and prison. Which would you put your resourses toward?

We still send people to Train-the-Trainer but we have not utilized them to help the rest of the department. It is mostly done for the personal certs the guys get for going. I know that isn't the way the system was designed, but that is reality here .

[ 07-15-2001: Message edited by: Mrtank ]

[FFSThomas]

Mrtank-Sounds like you guys need to thank your TO-he's right! I was at Nellis AFB in LV and I could not convince any of the old timer-air force chiefs of that simple fact-not that we went off base that much anyway.Good for you guys!