What do you consider to be a jr. firefighter?

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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on November 7, 2009 at 2:56pm

An explorer is basically someone involved through the Learning for Life program. It is basically a program to allow teens to see what the job of FF entails and give them a taste to help that person decide if this would be a job they may be interested in in the future. The program's biggest asset is that each member is covered by insurance through the program and the program also clearly spells out what an explorer can and can't do.
A junior or cadet is basically the same thing, but the department itself runs the program. The issues there are that the dept is on the hook for insurance and since they make their own rules, can be held liable for such decisions. What makes one a jr or explorer is basically the magic age of 18. (although explorers can go to 21)

A probie is a newly hired FF.

The issues seen, like the two latest thread regarding juniors etc, is that junior programs are not held to the same rules that govern explorers, although they probably should be. Generally speaking you see more career depts that have an explorer program and more volly depts with a junior program. Argument being a volly dept can prep the kids through a jr program and when they turn 18, they can become full members. Whereas an explorer program is just geared to show what the job is like to help a kid make a decision if FF is a job they may want to pursue.

On our dept you would be an explorer and subject to the rules of Learning for Life.
If you were to get hired, you are a probie for a year.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 7, 2009 at 9:14pm

hm thank you. (: in my dept anyone under 16 is an explorer/jr and otherwise is a probie when newly hired.
i actually think all departments should really force upon newbies an "explorer" year, because I joined the fire community not knowing ANYTHING about it. legit i didn't know the difference between a rescue truck and tanker. i just knew they were both red ahaha. but i think it'd be good to give and beginning firefighter a year of exploring so you dont commit to something you don't want to do.

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on November 7, 2009 at 9:20pm

Being a "probie" is just that, a probationary FF that is LEARNING the trade and probies should be legal adults.

Juniors/cadets/explorers are NOT firefighters. Sorry, they are still children. Don't get mad at me, get older.

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Caleb French on November 7, 2009 at 10:27pm

110% agree.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 9, 2009 at 11:39am

im not mad at you! haha. im a probie, and regarded as such in my department. though im not a legal adult, im not an explorer, jr, or cadet.

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Permalink Reply by TJ Stone DVFD Unit 713 on November 9, 2009 at 12:35pm

Not always red lol ours are yellow/green....lol....In my dept you would be an Explorer

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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on November 7, 2009 at 10:23pm

Don't let being a junior member discourage you, there's plenty you can do outside. FDNY has an entire role for the "Outside Vent Man" or OVM. Someone needs to start pitching laddars, assisting with water supply, set up fans, do the "gopher" work. The IC will want a person that can run around and check things so he can stay at the command post. We have a ton of blokes here that can't use BA, but we sure mange to work 'em on the fireground!

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Permalink Reply by DUST on November 7, 2009 at 10:36pm

Wait a minute I thought BA stood for bad ass? No wonder the captain was looking at my like I was an idiot the other day at the fireground! I get it now, He wanted an SCBA!

--Whacker Dust

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Caleb French on November 7, 2009 at 10:37pm

Lol.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 9, 2009 at 11:43am

thanks (: it doesn't discourage me, but i'm not regarded as a jr in my dept. im a probie which to my understanding is not a jr. though my age range falls within the opposite of an adult..a junior? ahah
still unsure with all the labels! i take it it varies from dept. to dept. at least in mine i was sworn in as a member and im on the plaque of names with everyone else as an exterior firefighter. thank you though! im looking forward to being the gopher and actually gettin stuff done on the fireground. i'm not so sure i'll ever want to go interior as i dont know i could fulfill the right requirements. but thanks for the sweet answer.

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Caleb French on November 7, 2009 at 10:28pm

Simple question = Simple answer.

A junior firefighter is anyone NOT of age to hold a Firefighter certificate. It's just that plain and simple.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on November 9, 2009 at 11:46am

phew. thank you for breaking it down like this in the simplest way possible. (:

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