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Seasons Greetings From The Hills

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Some words of wisdom and tradition from one of the crew…

As I enter my 20th year on this job of all jobs (THE best one in the world that is…), I am once again faced with working around the holidays. I have worked many, many Christmas days, Christmas Eves, New Years, etc…. You get the point. I always reflect on what is must have been like for our past Brothers working around this time of year. We now enjoy the many traditions they have passed down to us, just as the many holiday traditions we enjoy with our families on our off days.

FDT ON FACEBOOK

I now have the honor of teaching these traditions and passing them on to numerous “new” guys. I can’t help but be filled with pride as I explain the “how to’s” to the wide eyed rookies gazing in my general direction.

As the years pass, I notice that some of these deep traditions have fallen by the “we don’t do that anymore” wayside. This affects my inner well being. What a disrespect it is to the past Brothers to trivialize traditions they once held in high regard. Although I do understand change and its effects on things, I believe we must never forget where we came from. This time of year really brings those beliefs to the top of the glass.

I enjoy every minute of this season with my sons and wife; however, never far from my mind are those who have lost a Firefighter and no longer can enjoy the time of the season with them. Especially, those children that no longer have Dad there to administer the annual Christmas noogies, hand out the overpriced imported plastic toys, sing an off-key carol, or just put their arm around them and make them feel damn important.

I also think of those empty seats around the Firehouse table, once occupied by a fallen Brother with their special holiday wisdom and charm. There are many new Firefighters in our business that will only be exposed to the wisdom and traditions of our past Brothers through us.

This is my challenge to you… Honor the past, challenge the future.

Create tradition. If you’re working on a holiday that takes you away from your family and the traditions they enjoy without you…..do something. Often times holidays around the Firehouse can be challenging to some. Take advantage of those around you and create traditions that will long out live your legacy. Don’t have to be complicated, just effective.

We will be partaking in the first ever shift olympics this Christmas Eve. The events are created by each shift member, and probably will be unlike those allowed by the olympic committee. We’ll have some fun, laughs, tender feelings, and I’m sure we’ll learn a little in the process. Somehow no matter what we are doing, as long as we do it together…we get better. We learn.. Not only important stuff, but about ourselves and each other.

** Remember that some of these pups don’t learn the same as older dogs….so THINK. Use your brain and get them to use theirs without the aid of those damn phones.

Our profession is deep in tradition. If it is not nurtured…it will not grow.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Hillbilly…out.

Pass it on!

 

Posted by on December 23, 2012 • Filed under: All, Leadership, Training • Tagged: , , , , ,

Light Box Instructions – Where’s The Training?

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By: Paul Hasenmeier

Last night I was sent the picture below.  Let me first say that this particular light is not on a fire apparatus.  We had a little bit of discussion about the labeling on Facebook and figured the topic was worth sharing.  Here’s what the label says if you can’t read it in the picture:  #1 Push black release on bottom  #2 Pull upward on flashlight.  Check out the picture and think for a moment about training.  Then scroll down for a few more thoughts.

FIRST DUE TACKLE ON FACEBOOK

On first glance I’m sure most of you are saying WTF or how does someone not know how to take this light box off the charger.  Let’s stop and think for a minute…Did you know how to take it off before you walked into the firehouse the first time?  Someone probably showed you or you took a few minutes to figure it out.

The discouraging part of the labeling on this particular light is that it tells the user how to remove the light.  At first glance, I would say that training is lacking if we have to provide directions on how to remove it.  Was the label added because it has been ripped off the wall more than once.  If so, where is the training?

Robert Reid gave an example about teaching recruit school.  He was asked to show a spanner wrench and was actually taken back for a second because he thought “you want to fight fire and you don’t know what a spanner wrench is?”  He quickly remembered that he always didn’t know what a spanner wrench was.  Similar thoughts for most of us I’m sure.

Frank Villarreal actually used this example last night after seeing the post on FB and asked some of the new recruits on his department to go get one of the light boxes of the rig.  Five minutes later they came back and said they didn’t know how to unhook it.  They then had a impromptu light box training for the new recruits.  Well done Frank.

This just happens to be a prime example of what we need to do as trainers in the fire service.  We have to step back from time to time and remember to show the basic operations of some of what we now think are the simplest of tasks.  It’s our job to show them the way.  We have to be great at the little things, so the big things are more manageable and then we have no hesitation getting in, getting out, and going home.

Read more about Training Your Replacements and follow of Twitter @TYReplacements

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Posted by on November 27, 2012 • Filed under: All, Command & Leadership, Company Drills, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Leadership, Training, Training & Development • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Training – Are You Doing Enough?

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Phil Burden with JD Vasbinder. Two great trainers!

The following post contains some thoughts on training from Firefighter Phil Burden (retired Westerville (OH)).  My conversations, training opportunities, and email correspondence with Phil are motivating to say the least.  Firefighters must gain the insight and knowledge of seasoned veterans, adapt to current day environments, and pass on the traditions and love for the fire service. 

We often have slogans in the fire service that make us sound better than the other departments or houses.  Like Phil’s, Second to None, or the houses up the road; Look Busy Till We Get There, First In Last To Leave – Pride of the Southside, Well Done at Ones, and the list goes on… (more…)

Posted by on December 16, 2011 • Filed under: All, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Leadership • Tagged: , ,

Leadership Style Assessment

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I am currently undertaking the most challenging collegiate educational journey of my life in Capella Universities MPA program.  Typically, my post’s are on rescue, extrication, and training, but I plan to throw in fire service relevant leadership and motivation posts from the knowledge I gain.  This post will help you evaluate your personal leadership style, which in turn will help you lead to greater heights in the firehouse and on the fireground. (more…)

Posted by on December 1, 2011 • Filed under: All, Leadership • Tagged:
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