How many bugles does it take?

[beachfiremanFL]

There is a fire chief here in FL who lost a vote of no confidence, but the City manager decided to keep him anyway. Shortly after that fiasco the chief decided to increase his number of bugles on his badge from 5 to 6.

I have never heard of 6 bugles on a badge. How can he justify this? There are 16 fire departments in his County. Every chief has 5 bugles. He has 6- and his is not the largest department.

[hwoods]

Firefighting was invented in this area, and I've NEVER heard of 6 Bugles in my 50 years of service........ What a freakin' maroon. Reminds me of the few that put General's Stars on their Collars instead of Bugles. 5 Bugles, that is......

[Command6]

Any fire officer who has to flaunt their rank has underlying issues with insecurity.

[dmleblanc]

Shortly after that fiasco the chief decided to increase his number of bugles on his badge from 5 to 6.

I read this story and there's only one thought that came to my mind....Where can I get a badge like that?

Only kidding, of course...I've never heard of 6 bugles. Hell, I don't think a lot of people around here know what 5 bugles stands for. We're just simple rural volunteer chiefs around here, we don't go around town with our white shirts and brass. I break out my badge and uniform only 2 or 3 times a year. Most guys use them even less than that. Does this guy really think anybody gives a flip whether he's got 6 bugles? It doesn't stand for anything, other than someone with an overinflated ego.

[HeavyRescueTech]

why just stop at 6, why not increase it to 7 or 8?

also, aside from your department, who cares?

moreover, so he wants an additional bugle to feel better about himself. who cares, does it change your situation at all?

your department probably has bigger issues to worry about that how many bugles the chief has. in fact, most departments do.

[dmleblanc]

I read this story and there's only one thought that came to my mind....Where can I get a badge like that?

I got to thinking about it....seriously, where do you even get a badge like that? I've never seen one, they simply don't make 'em. Did he have to have this thing custom made or something? Seriously, I'm intrigued.....that probably cost a pretty penny to have a custom one-off badge made like that? Is he really that vain? (I've also considered the possibility that the story is not entirely accurate.... )

[THEFIRENUT]

(I've also considered the possibility that the story is not entirely accurate.... )

And I thought that everything that I read in here was true

[FIREMECH1]

Forgive me guys, I'm a mechanic, not a firefighter.

What the heck is a "bugle", and what does it represent????

Otherwise from the previous posts, the guy has a problem with inflating his ego, only to impress himself.

FM1

[dmleblanc]

Forgive me guys, I'm a mechanic, not a firefighter.

What the heck is a "bugle", and what does it represent????

Otherwise from the previous posts, the guy has a problem with inflating his ego, only to impress himself.

FM1

In most fire departments (in the U.S., anyway) bugles are a rank insignia, usually worn on the collar and often represented on the officer's badge. Kind of like military collar brass. They are usually as follows:

1 bugle Lieutenant
2 bugles Captain
3 or 4 bugles Battalion Chief or assistant chief or district chief or whatever mid-level ranks are utilized in that department....I don't know, we only have assistant chiefs.
5 bugles Chief

I'm sure there are numerous variations, but that's the general idea.

Why a bugle? It actually represents a kind of megaphone that was used in the early days of organized firefighting by officers to make themselves heard when they gave out orders on a noisy fireground. It's still a traditional icon of the fire service.

[dmleblanc]

Looked kinda like this......

[Steamer]

Any fire officer who has to flaunt their rank has underlying issues with insecurity.

He's not flaunting his rank...he's flaunting the equipment that he's qualified to use.

[beachfiremanFL]

Steamer, I thought you were being serious, but that's pretty funny. Then again, sad; I don't think he's qualfied to use ANY of it!.

Fact: The collar brass he now wears cost the tax payers a $1500 set up fee, and any futher orders are a new fee.

All this for 6 bugles on a guy that barely stands 5' 6". Napoleon anyone?

All the other chiefs in the County laugh at him. Go to your City manager and say I demand 6 bugles. Where do you think you will end up? He ended up with 6 bugles. But then again, the city manager hates the IAFF. Go figure!

[THEFIRENUT]

He's not flaunting his rank...he's flaunting the equipment that he's qualified to use.

Are you trying to say that he is a big blow-hard???

[onebugle]

Some Chief's believe that it is an honor for a "No Vote of Confidence" from the rank and file. They take it as a badge of honor; hence the 6th bugle is their reward.

[PYRO1MFD]

Sounds to me like he needs to take number six and set on it!

[Command6]

All this for 6 bugles on a guy that barely stands 5' 6". Napoleon anyone?

All the other chiefs in the County laugh at him!

Ah yes the Napoleon complex -

a colloquial term describing an alleged type of inferiority complex which is said to affect some people who are physically short. The term is also used more generally to describe people who are driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects of their lives.

Why don't you give the chief some encouragement by telling him that he is 4 inches taller than le petit caporal

[CanadianFyrTrks]

I would be more concerned about who it is keeping this man in office. Damn be to those bugles, or to the gold they are pressed into. Clearly this man requires a psych evaluation.

[amraam840]

...
1 bugle Lieutenant
2 bugles Captain
3 or 4 bugles Battalion Chief or assistant chief or district chief or whatever mid-level ranks are utilized in that department....I don't know, we only have assistant chiefs.
5 bugles Chief

...

Reviving an old one here... I was looking for stock pics of bugles to put on business cards and I found this thread. Thought I'd add my $0.02. In my region, there are 6 bugles. Sounds silly, I know, but it's for good reason. There is only one person that can possibly pull rank on one of the chief in our county...


6 bugles - Chief's Wife

[TRUCK61]

I have a suggestion for were he can stick that 6th bugle

[HooKn Bull]

can anyone tell me if there is a certain criteria that has to be met to have a vote of "no confidence"?

can we as a Union also include our internal affairs investigators?