Marine Corps?

[arowett]

Hi. I was wondering if anybody could give me a little information about being a firefighter in the Marine Corps. Im trying to get hired as a firefighter departments in New Jersey and the FDNY and considering a few other cities across the country but if that does not work out I would want to join the Marine Corps as a firefighter. Thanks in advance.

[VinnieB]

If you are looking to be FDNY you are looking at 2-5 years of waiting and testing. I can gather its about the same wait for Jersey. As for The Corps, do not join to be a firefighter, make sure you join to be A MARINE. I myself, joined The Marines about 13 years ago and waited to get hired with the FDNY. I don't know much about USMC Firefighters other than we only have Airfield, Crash/Rescue,(ARFF) some places do cross train for structural I think. Don't think that ARFF will help you get on the job in NYC or Jersey, aside from the 5 points for vets credit on the test...thats it. I know that FDNY could care less what DOD or Federal certifications you have, I guess the same goes for Jersey.

Not trying to burst your bubble, but join if you want to be a Marine, get everything in writting from the recruiter.....and to get the full experiance of the Ole Rod and Gun Club.....go into the Infantry....it'll help you make your decision afterwards. Yutt, Yutt, Kill

PS.....Try doing a search....there are tons of topics on this.

[gunnyv]

As usual Vinnie, for all his small minded Grunt-ness, is giving you good scoop. Only join the Corps if you want to be a Marine. In the interests of helping you out, here are some prior responses of mine to this question:

"I'm a 7051 (ARFF firefighter) in the Marine Corps Reserve. If you want to be a Marine, join the Corps. If you want to be a fireman, don't even think about it. The Marine Corps restricts it's firefighters to the ARFF (airfield) mission, and it is extreeeemely boring and you get very few calls. They do train hard, but most of it is green-side (military) training. A lot of them do volunteer out in town though. Promotions have sped up since we started going to Goodfellow and getting the IFSAC certs, 'cause so few Marines reenlist as 7051s-they get out and get DoD fire jobs. Go Air Force, or even better Air Guard or Reserve-get the training, serve your country, and have time to test for a municipal fire job."

"Active duty recruits, depending on ASVAB scores, can be guaranteed a specific occupational field. The occ field for ARFF, 7051, also includes 7011 Expeditionary Airfield Technician (lighting and arresting gear operator/mech) and 7041 Airfield Operations Specialist (clerk/pogue). If your recruiter never served in a Wing unit, he probably won't understand the difference between 7041 Airfield Ops and 7051 Aircraft Rescue Firefighter anyway. If you enlist as a 7000, Basic Airfield Services, and don't have the ASVAB score for 7051, they will send you to 7011. Needs of the Marine Corps also apply, as does timing for the MOS schools."


"I am the Crash Chief for a Reserve Marine Wing Support Squadron in Michigan. The ANG base we are located on has a DoD civilian full time dept. There are also sections of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Firefighters assigned to the units here. The Army National Guard has two Firefighting units at Camp Grayling up north, equipped with the dreaded 1500Ls. So, I have first hand experience with the different services and types of units out there.

All military firefighters are trained to provide structural and aircraft fire protection. All of the services attend the same school at Goodfellow AFB in TX. It is about 3-4 months long. Excellent school. Includes FF I, FF II, Aircraft FF, Hazmat Awareness and Operations. The big difference is in the continuing education. The DoD (Air Force administered) certification program has a class for every advancement or special duty, and the Air Force WILL require you to take the class before you can be promoted to that position. The USMC pays lip service to the DoD program, but does nothing to encourage it. The Army seems to have a hard time following it too.

NFPA standards, especially 1500, are the Bible in the DoD. Unfortunately, the Air Force is the only service that treats it that way and funds it accordingly. My unit is much more concerned with rifle marksmanship and engineering than to spend it's money on firefighting. Same with the Army units up north. It's not that they don't want to, they just don't have the money.

I love the Marine Corps. But the Marine Corps is about killing people, not rescuing them. The Army/NG will also spend most of the available training time on field/soldiering tasks. In the Air Force, you are a FIREFIGHTER. They deploy with air conditionined tents for God's sake."

Good luck.

[VinnieB]

As usual Vinnie, for all his small minded Grunt-ness,....words, words, words

Whadda ay mean by dat?

I love the Marine Corps. But the Marine Corps is about killing people, not rescuing them. The Army/NG will also spend most of the available training time on field/soldiering tasks. In the Air Force, you are a FIREFIGHTER. They deploy with air conditionined tents for God's sake."

Good luck.

As always....top's on target....you will be tested on Infantry skills no matter what your job in the Marine Corps is.......the way I see it....if my tools are a wrench, nozzle, pen, whatever....and I will be tested on the dimensions of a fighting hole, most of the required PME (for promotions) is Infantry based....why bother....Go Grunt...If you cant handle that...then join the Air Force....they are the only ones who send thier officers to fight . Unless you want to challenge your body, mind, and soul....

[SmokeEater316]

Whadda ay mean by dat?




As always....top's on target....you will be tested on Infantry skills no matter what your job in the Marine Corps is.......the way I see it....if my tools are a wrench, nozzle, pen, whatever....and I will be tested on the dimensions of a fighting hole, most of the required PME (for promotions) is Infantry based....why bother....Go Grunt...If you cant handle that...then join the Air Force....they are the only ones who send thier officers to fight . Unless you want to challenge your body, mind, and soul....

LOL.....anyway....

If you want to be a civilian firefighter, the Air Force is LEAPS and BOUNDS above the other branches in getting you ready for it.

[DennisTheMenace]

LOL.....anyway....

If you want to be a civilian firefighter, the Air Force is LEAPS and BOUNDS above the other branches in getting you ready for it.

I think this one needs to be qualified. To rack up the certs to go out and get on a small department or hired on to the Federal Fire Department's than I agree. But as far as building the man that will go out and be the man that a large department wants to hire and train in their image to be a future leader in the department, the Marine Corps is the way to go. That goes for many if not all career fields.

[SmokeEater316]

I think this one needs to be qualified. To rack up the certs to go out and get on a small department or hired on to the Federal Fire Department's than I agree. But as far as building the man that will go out and be the man that a large department wants to hire and train in their image to be a future leader in the department, the Marine Corps is the way to go. That goes for many if not all career fields.

Yes, and that's coming from a cocky *** Marine (i'm guessing?)
I'd take my heavy rescue crew full of alpha male AF firemen over a USMC ARFF crash crew any day of the week. We aren't civilians here, we don't buy the bull**** they show in the commercials.

If you want a leg up on becoming a civilian firefighter, choosing any other route besides Air Force fire is a mistake.

And it's clarify, not qualify.

[gunnyv]

Yes, and that's coming from a cocky *** Marine (i'm guessing?) Cocky? Sounds like you're the cocky one. Oh, and by the way, it is "I'm."

I'd take my heavy rescue crew full of alpha male AF firemen over a USMC ARFF crash crew any day of the week. Alpha males in the Air Force? If they were alpha males, they wouldn't have chosen the Air Farce in the first place! You won't even deploy without air conditioned tents!

We aren't civilians here, we don't buy the bull**** they show in the commercials. Which bull@@@@ would that be-the Air Force presenting itself as a military service?

If you want a leg up on becoming a civilian firefighter, choosing any other route besides Air Force fire is a mistake. All of us have said, if you are enlisting for fire training, go USAF. However, there are plenty of Marines out there in the fire service. It would seem that FDs throughout the country value the training and attitudes of Marines.

And it's clarify, not qualify. Before you play English professor, know the language-qualify is used appropriately in the sentence. I guess the Community College of the Air Force doesn't teach "alpha males" how to write.

..............

[SmokeEater316]

Gunny, ever met an AF pararescuemen or a an ETAC attached to SOFD-A or the 75th? I'm all for a little ribbing between the branches, but I don't think you give the blue suiters in the boots on the ground downrange ANY credit.

I have no doubt that there are plenty of Marines in the civilian sector. Hell, I know and work with some...the point that i'm trying to get across is that there are PLENTY of Airmen with that same attitude.

The word qualify may have been a slip up on my part, but I still think that clarify fits better in this situation....and I don't go through the CCAF. I go through UC Berkeley.

[VinnieB]

Gunny, ever met an AF pararescuemen or a an ETAC attached to SOFD-A or the 75th? I'm all for a little ribbing between the branches, but I don't think you give the blue suiters in the boots on the ground downrange ANY credit.

Yes I have and I have been on real world operations witht them, they are good to go especially the air combat coordies, they also represent less than .01% of the USAF. Just a little insight into the JSOC world.....USAF ParaRescuemen are great at thier job, but any operator out there will tell you that the route is the easy one into the JSOC world.....and they are not considsered equals to the Air Combat Controllers.

Marines are ALL bread the same.....USAF Paras and ACCs are 10 steps above the rank and file Airmen.

As Dennis stated, any of the branches FDs many help you get a career with a small or Federal dept...but as for ANY large city FD.....they could care less. On my job being in the USAF FD for 4, 8, 12 or 20 years won't make you any better of a Fireman then the guy with ZERO experiance....chances are the guy with zero experiance will probably turn out better in the long run because he hasn't been tainted with any prior "experiance".

[gunnyv]

Gunny, ever met an AF pararescuemen or a an ETAC attached to SOFD-A or the 75th? I'm all for a little ribbing between the branches, but I don't think you give the blue suiters in the boots on the ground downrange ANY credit.

I have no doubt that there are plenty of Marines in the civilian sector. Hell, I know and work with some...the point that i'm trying to get across is that there are PLENTY of Airmen with that same attitude.

The word qualify may have been a slip up on my part, but I still think that clarify fits better in this situation....and I don't go through the CCAF. I go through UC Berkeley.

Your post was written in a way that gave NO credit to the Marines downrange either. Hence the less than considerate response.

However, if you were to glance at many of my previous posts on this subject, you will find that, inter-service ribbing aside, I have been more than complimentary of Goodfellow and Air Force firefighting services in general. You will also find that, when it comes to opportunities for firefighting training, I have consistently pointed aspiring firefighters toward the USAF. I also have the highest respect for those that go forward and serve their country, no matter what service.

We should all have pride in our jobs and our service, but that doesn't mean we cannot cooperate. I have worked with plenty of military firefighters, from the USAF, AFR, ANG, ARNG, USMC, and DoD, and have found we can work together to everyone's mutual benefit. However, we each have unique tactics, procedures, and attitudes when it comes to fire protection. Many of these derive from the culture and missions of our respective organizations. The problems occur when the Marines want to pretend they are in the Air Force, and when Airmen start believing that they can act like Marines.

As I tell every kid who asks, the Corps is not a job training program. Every Marine is a warrior. Being a Marine is a vocation, it is who we are. Marines do many things beside our MOS, and it would be a huge mistake for anyone to join the Corps just because they want to be a firefighter. They will get the same entry level training and certs, but they WILL go to the field regularly, they WILL learn martial arts, they WILL fire weapons, and they MAY end up in some far off foreign land as a provisional rifleman. If that doesn't dovetail with their expectations, then the Corps isn't for them.

[SmokeEater316]

Points well taken guys. If I came across like I was trying to put down our U.S. Marines, I apologize. I'd never put down any of my brothers from the Corps.

[VinnieB]

As I tell every kid who asks, the Corps is not a job training program. Every Marine is a warrior. Being a Marine is a vocation, it is who we are. Marines do many things beside our MOS, and it would be a huge mistake for anyone to join the Corps just because they want to be a firefighter. They will get the same entry level training and certs, but they WILL go to the field regularly, they WILL learn martial arts, they WILL fire weapons, and they MAY end up in some far off foreign land as a provisional rifleman. If that doesn't dovetail with their expectations, then the Corps isn't for them.

Oh I forgot to add that, Aside from my MOS I have had many collatoral duties, Embark, Haz-Mat, Pubs, Armorer, Plt Sgt, Radio Operator...etc etc etc.

[chaca2121]

Mine if I pick your brain a bit Gunny?
I'm getting out of the bgi green machine next week but thinking about going 7051 as a reservist. You wrote about getting FF1 in MOS school but do those certs transfer over to civilian side? And would my reservist status limit my hiring potential?

[gunnyv]

Mine if I pick your brain a bit Gunny?
I'm getting out of the bgi green machine next week but thinking about going 7051 as a reservist. You wrote about getting FF1 in MOS school but do those certs transfer over to civilian side? And would my reservist status limit my hiring potential?

The school does certify FF I&II, Airport FF, and Hazmat Ops.
There are only 3 places that rate 7051s in the SMCR.
-Willowgrove, PA
-Minneapolis, MN
-Miramar, CA

CA will not accept the IFSAC / DoD fire certs, so any training you get there will not help you get a job. Many states accept them, but many larger departments will send you to the academy anyway. Go to IFSAC.org and hit "accredited entities and levels" on the left side for a list of where the certs are accepted.

As far as the Reserves limiting your hiring potential-in my opinion, DEFINITELY, at least until the war is over or the mobilizations end. As First Sgt of my SMCR det, I'll tell you we deal with plenty of employers who are giving their employees a hard time.

My advice is get out, use your GI Bill to get your paramedic license, and start testing. Much depends on where you want to live/work.

[dave johnson]

Gunny...you're the only jarhead here making any sense.

[DennisTheMenace]

My advice is get out, use your GI Bill to get your paramedic license, and start testing. Much depends on where you want to live/work.

Let me push the GI Bill a little more. Since the GI Bill can be used for vocational education as well as formal academic education, many departments have teamed up with the VA and you can supplement your tiny little academy salary with full GI Bill pay, the money can really help out, and the $1200 investment is well worth it.