My son, Vince, is a firefighter/paramedic. Full time now for about 22 years. A couple years part time when he was starting out.
He was in his third year in college back in 1999 I guess it was, general business curriculum. When it was time to take him back to school (in Iowa) after Christmas break was over in January, he pops up and says, I don't think I want to go back. We...Really?!?! Okay, what do you want to do? He replies, I think I want to be a firefighter, I want to help others. We said, well, that's great, but you have to go after it, tough job to get, but you can do it. So he pursued various openings and rigorous written, physical and psychological testing at a number of departments. At the time, if there were like 3 openings on a department, there would be like 125 applicants vying for the jobs. Vince did take on a full time job at an employee benefits firm while he was trying to secure the FF job.
Finally, he was able to hire on at a smaller nearby department that had all part-time FF's. After about 6 months there, he took a leave of absence and enrolled at one of the nearby teaching hospitals for 2 semesters, about 39 credit hours, of paramedic school/training. Paramedic status is required here to be hired on to a department.
Soon after that he was hired on to another nearby department, there for about 10 years and then moved to a different department. There, over the next 6 years, he progressed from a blue shirt to a lieutenant to a captain. And then returned to his prior department, having to move back down to a blue shirt. But that was/is his home. See below.
I make it a point to stop by the firehouse several times a year when I know he is there. His shift, like true with all firefighters, is his second family. With my stopping by every so often (with goodies of course, ranging from just doughnuts and coffee cake to slabs of ribs), I have kind of become like 'adopted family' with the guys and ladies of his shift (2 female FF/PP on his shift). They make me stay for several hours always. Great people!!! And it is stunning to watch them all 'in action', when a call comes in. We're all sitting there, talking, watching TV, having coffee or whatever, and the alarm sounds. Vince will yell to me, so long, dad, gotta go, see ya, lock up. Honestly, regardless what is going on at the moment, they are pulling out of the fire house in less than 30 seconds. I'm standing there with my mouth open, amazed every time. I'm alone there in an instant. I hit the lights and leave, hoping, praying for safety.
We are very proud of our FF/PM Vince.
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At an open house, about 15 years ago.
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Cold water/ice rescue training. Training for everything is non-ending
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Taking his daughter, our granddaughter, Delaney, to the station for time with daddy, maybe a future FF/PM
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Actually, maybe Vince had some early inclinations of his future career of helping others. About age 2 or 3.
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Okay, that's it. I get carried away at times, haha
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