r/Firefighting • u/hollerboy3546 • 5d ago
Volunteer / Combination / Paid on Call Chief told me I had to resign
Hey y'all,
So I have been a volunteer firefighter for a few months. But recently I got told they were forcing me to resign, and I quote "fix your family life". I ain't too sure what that is even supposed to mean. He says it is because I couldn't complete the academy, But I told him I just can't drive yet and it ain't right for me to do it if I know I wont always be able to make the academy. I was told I would be able to be a exterior firefighter until next volunteer academy comes around, but lo and behold, I just got let go. I ain't trying to take it too personally but they have people who aren't certified that are going on calls and people in the academy going on calls, and I really just don't understand what I did wrong. I put a lot of time effort and money into this, and I really don't know what to do at this point. I don't even live in the town that the volunteer fire department is at, and was going there every weekend. I am really interested in fire and ems, and I put everything into my job. I just don't really know what to do is all, I want to be a fireman, but I also have my life. I am supposed to enlist in the army national guard in a few months, and I also am in high school and have 2 jobs. Anyways, I really feel like this is personal and I just ain't to happy with it. What should I even do?
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u/From_Fields 5d ago
Seems like you have enough going on in life to volunteer at the fire department in the next town over. Cheif did you a favor. Maybe in a few years when you're more settled try again.
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u/Kibaken IL Captain/Paramedic 5d ago
Get your family life in check sounds like you've had excuses for why expectations have been missed. 'You can't drive' are you talking an actual driver's license? That's a pretty important thing to have.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
i just dont got a license is all, and all i said about family life was i dont really got a ride
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
Look. I get it. It sucks.
But you have two jobs. Being a volunteer firefighter, let alone EMT, at any dept that takes it even somewhat seriously is a part time job, so there is a 3rd.
Plus school (I assume high school?) which is full time. College might be full or part time….12 credit hours isn’t a lot, time wise, until you start taking legit tough courses, and some majors just never do.
As to the guard, which is in the future. Ask around, irl or online, find some people who have been there, done that, and find out what your options really are. It isn’t the 90s. You’ll almost certainly get deployed over seas, and although no one is really talking about it, combat deployments are still happening. Not totally you out of it, or into it, but as someone with 20+ years in, you need to know that, trust me. And make sure you actually sign for a job you want to do.
You have a lot on your plate sir. You are obviously a driven person, and a hard worker, and an asset to any organization….but I think it speaks will of the chief that he considered everything you have going on, and honestly said it was to much. Because it is, and you just don’t realize it yet.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
alright, well i appreciate it, just maybe i took it a little too personally, and yes i am in high school. thing about the two jobs though, is my dads drywall business and then farm work. I understand about the combat deployment thing, I mean I am going in as a 11b, so I was expecting to deploy. I appreciate the advice
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u/Kibaken IL Captain/Paramedic 5d ago
So he said family life, I think he meant personal life. Having a drivers license is gonna be one of the most basic requirements. How do you plan on responding to the station as a volunteer without being able to drive? Why would they pay for training if you can't commit to being present?
You've gotta pick up your sticks a bit.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
well, other people there don't go no drivers license neither so i ain't even sure
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u/Professional-Win5670 5d ago
You’re about to ship out to basic, can’t drive to the station for calls, live out of district, work 2 jobs and go to school. It doesn’t sound like your chief is getting personal with it, just that you don’t have a lot of extra time to dedicate to the department.
Do you live in district of a different department? Might try with them before giving up hope. My department is hurting for people because of past toxic leadership and nepotism, we would happily take someone who can at least show up to hump hose around.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
well im 16 is why lol
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u/Professional-Win5670 5d ago
I’m not questioning your situation, just stating it doesn’t sound like you have a lot of extra time on your hands
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
oh ok, but still i feel bad is the main reason, i like to finish things i started and i just feel like i let people down by getting let go
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u/Professional-Win5670 5d ago
Don’t feel bad, focus on the tasks at hand. I have 8 years in the guard myself so I understand that struggle. There are a lot of opportunities to grow right there, and it sounds like you’re set up for success. Graduate school, come home from basic and AIT, then reevaluate your situation and decide if it’s worth it to put another obligation on your plate. If it’s feasible, try and join back with this department or find another one willing to let you in.
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u/paints_name_pretty 5d ago
Don’t take offense to this but you’re 16 years old. You’re not even reliable. Volunteering or not this job requires reliable people. Get your life in order and approach this career again when you do. You have things setup already for your life so don’t dwell on this. You’re way ahead of the game for the usual person your age that doesn’t even know what they want in life. You’re trying to speed run things and Chief had to stop you.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
alright, but there is alot of people who are 16-17 who are on there. Like I said on another comment I just feel bad cause I feel like I let people down or something, and may I ask, how am I speedrunning
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u/paints_name_pretty 5d ago
If these same 16-17 year olds are able to drive themselves or have a mode of transportation always then they are more reliable than you. I don’t know your personal life or what the department knows about you but based on the things you’ve said already here it already tells me this is just a stepping stone for you temporarily since you’re leaving soon. They don’t need you. I say speed running because you’re 16 in high school and already got a lot of things going on. You’re joining the Army soon and have two jobs at the moment and can’t even drive. Work on yourself and let life proceed. Again don’t dwell on this you just are not reliable currently due to your age and not having a license.
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u/SurPickleRick 4d ago
Yo Why are you going national Gaurd?
Just fyi I did 8 years active duty.
If you never been in the Gaurd I do recommend other options. Currently Gaurd is not the way I recommend The funding is cut and benefits sucks. I’d go actual Air Force reserves
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u/hollerboy3546 4d ago
i want to do infantry stuff and have a career and land outside of the army
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u/SurPickleRick 4d ago
Bro infantry is the worst lol You get no real skills and treated like crap
Yea they will tell you get all these skills and cool schools it don’t mean crap. I did 8 years in the Marines and now have been in the fire service full time 5 years.
The reserves do not care about you full time life your priority is to them. So let’s your in the fire academy and they say hey your to be deployed to the border Well guess what You will be dropped out of the academy and deployed. It’s dumb
Go full time active duty Air Force is the only id recommend Lots of places overseas you can go 4 years and then come back with a stacked resume and get a fire job. Hell you can be full time firefighter in the Air Force. Btw funding for Gaurd is state based Actual reserves is federal so that means better funded
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u/SurPickleRick 4d ago
Btw all the wear and tear on your body ain’t cool. Infantry sounds cool but take it from someone who did 8 years. It doesn’t matter on the other side when you’re going for fire service . Just serve honorably and get your education.
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u/PanickingDisco75 4d ago
At 16 with 2 jobs and still in high school you've got more on your plate than most. They're just politely nudging you off to go deal with that stuff since they're going to require more of a commitment.
There's no shame in it- be proud of yourself for what you're already doing. Thank them for the opportunity and when you grow up a little and realize they were right make sure to reach out and let them know.
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u/StratPlayer20 5d ago edited 5d ago
A volunteers department telling guys they're done? Fuck 'em volly companies are a dime a dozen.
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
Yes. But he has too much going on, and I think the chief is right.
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u/StratPlayer20 5d ago
Telling him to fix his family life isn't any of his business. If you think the guy is over extended himself, tell him to come back when his time frees up. You don't say fix your family life.
When I was a volunteer our department always told guys your family comes first. We never told anyone to fix their family life.
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 4d ago
Word choice may have been less than ideal, I’ll agree.
But it is important that we look out for those newer then us on our profession, especially when they are much younger with less life experience.
I started at his age, and got benched, a lot by the EMS Chief. Generally on stuff which would accurate described as gruesome. At the time, it would piss me off.
Decades later, I know it was the right call, and might be the only reason I’m still doing this. Sometimes you end up in deep water, and you have to sink or swim, but it isn’t right for us to just let people go into deep water when we don’t have to.
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u/BanditGolden TN Career FF/EMT-B 5d ago
Focus on school and family. This job will always be here. Sounds like you’re pretty young so there is plenty of time to prepare for this line of work. This career requires alot of sacrifice of your personal life that sounds like you arent able to make yet - and thats ok. Once you finish your commitments with school and your other jobs, you can definitely open that door again. I understand where your chief is coming from. They want to invest their time in people who are able to commit a significant portion of their personal lives to work. There are attendance commitments in this line of work and that will never change ESPECIALLY in an academy. You should never miss a single day of the academy unless a significant event happens in your personal life or you are truly sick. Figure out if this is really what you want to do enough to make those sacrifices.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
well what you said is the main reason i didn't think it'd be right to complete the academy
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u/KMDiver 5d ago
Just get in the military and go for any specialty related to fire. ARFF, Medic etc. The Airguard or Air Force is the best branch btw. Alot of my guys on my pro dept started out as Air Force firefighters.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
im going into the guard as a 11b
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
Don’t.
Trust me. 11C, or 68w, or 68v.
Or some other job that gives you a technical skill.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
Well, I was planning on a career in welding, so I figured I should just join as something I would want to do and is cool, I actually was looking at 68w but I ain't trying to get stuck at a hospital or aide station.
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u/BanditGolden TN Career FF/EMT-B 5d ago
68w 100%. Being “stuck” at a hospital will prepare you more for the career of a firefighter than an 11b ever will. You’ll get the Federal Paramedic cert and you’ll be able to get national registry and state license after that which will help you tremendously when looking for a fire job qfter you discharge. Paramedic certification is the golden ticket in this field if you ever want to go career
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
In the guard you are “paragraphed” and “lined”.
When you sign up, it says in your contract where you drill. So you can specify an infantry unit, where as a jr medic you’ll almost certainly be sent to the line.
Hospital units are exceedingly rare in the guard. Support jobs like that are generally in the reserve, or active component. The guard is about fighting our countries wars, and is heavily combat job focused….not the logistics to support that fight.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
oh shit really? Main reason I didn't plan on going for 68w is cause I didn't want to be in a support unit
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u/Mediocre_Daikon6935 5d ago
Yes.
I did 19 years before I went to a support unit. And that was only because I chose to, after a force restructuring divested my unit (I could have just gotten out).
I could have went to a combat arms unit, but I’ve spent enough nights sleeping in trucks, and being muddy.
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u/SanityNotFound Volunteer Firefighter 1, EMT 5d ago
Why 11b if you're interested in fire/ems?
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
I want to do infantry type stuff cause it just seems like I would already have some experience in it and I want to actually get the army experience in the guard if that makes sense
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u/nutbagger18 Hick on the Stick 5d ago
Being a town away and not being able to drive is a big part of why he has to let you go. Having interest is one thing, but investing time into someone that can't make calls is a non starter for a volly station. At least in ours, we have proximity restrictions for that reason.
Like others said, Chief is doing you a kindness by not letting you take on more. Plus, since you're clearly heavily engaged in other things, he would already be guaranteed a severely restricted availability for a slot in the roster. We, like many others, already struggle finding enough volunteers within responding distance that show up, but we wouldn't accept someone with a full plate like that, most certainly not until after 18.
Focus on school and basic training. Even if you can't find an MOS with transferrable skills to firefighting, learn as much as you can. Tons of opportunities if you want it.
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u/hollerboy3546 5d ago
well, im supposed to go in as a 11b, and alright thank you.
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u/nutbagger18 Hick on the Stick 5d ago
Grunts can still get other duties and assignments. As a fresh boot you likely get some goofy assignments anyway. Those skills transfer. You'll do a lot of carrying heavy things and basic life saving techniques in AT that'll be relevant. Good luck!
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u/StillPuBStompin 4d ago
"I want to be a fireman and have a life." Welcome to public service, my guy. Your community comes first. You'll miss birthdays, weddings, parties, family events, etc. And then their training, training, and when you think you're done and tired? More training. This isn't for everyone. Sounds like you got a lot of stuff going on and your chief did you a favor.
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u/Few_Werewolf_8780 5d ago
The fire department should not know about your family life. Good luck at the national gaurd. Stay away from drama. Help yourself.
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u/BPnon-duck 5d ago
Chief is right. You're doing too much at too young an age. You priority should be completing school and then focus on your future (Army), in that order. You can't see it now but Chief just did you a solid. Be grateful and move on with the rest of your life and you can revisit this (VFD) later.