Tonight we welcomed the new FD recruits.

Being the Training Officer I'm responsible for getting those innocent newbies shaped into basic firefighters in ten weeks of twice a week training. I don't do it alone, far from it, there is a vast coaching staff that do an exemplary job. I co-ordinate the training and keep things on track while evaluating the progress and making sure shit happens in a timely fashion. The next ten weeks will be hectic as all getout and i'll be a basket case by the end, but it will be well worth it. The recruit program is easily my favourite part of the training job.

On the introductory night we explain just what is expected of them, what the program entails, our job, their job, and sundry other items. By far, my favourite part is when we get them to stand up and introduce themselves. I always ask them to stand up and tell everyone who they are and why the joined the FD. The responses are really interesting. Many are square-jawed, Dudley Do-right types who spout the same old plattitudes about "serving the community" or "Giving something back" or some such thing. There is nothing wrong with this, and many of them genuinely mean it. The ones that interest me though, are the ones who look stricken, and have no answer. These are the guys I watch closely because they are the ones who will excel. They never thought of the "why" before, joining the FD was simply the natural order of things. The other guys will do alright too, but i like to take note of these ones and watch their careers. They don't realize it at the time but their answer should be "God told me to"  at least it would make sense to me.

Firecalls havew been pathetically low of late, so nothing really to tell you on that front.

See you Ladder

~Smoky