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Permalink Reply by Ray Smith on November 27, 2007 at 12:09pm

It's not the same in all companies. Most of our senior members love the idea of juniors. I know how hard it is to stay somewhere when your not wanted. But there is always that one person that just rains or your parade.

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Permalink Reply by Erikka on November 27, 2007 at 3:29pm

I know what you are going through. I have been a part of our explorer program for a little over a year and a half now. We get the same issues. The first time you work with a certain crew or person, there can be some tension. I have learned that the more I am down at our station, the more they except you. All of our guys know who I am and I know all of them. It just takes time. Respect the older guys and never argue with them. I also learned that it helps when you offer help to a new firefighter since they do have a higher rank than you yet you have seniority over them. Plus if there are any other girls out there, these are just a few problems and many more for us. Hang in there.And we will all get through it. We ARE the future.

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Permalink Reply by jonathan on December 2, 2007 at 10:03pm

hey bro. here the firefighters love us!! y? cause there is an age gap. im in a county vfd service with 13 stations. at one of those the youngest member is 71!!!! and are just regular firefighters not officers. there are about 20 firefighters who r btw 20-50. and myself and a couple of other jrs are turning 18(our age where youre not a jr anymore) here in the next year so this will allow some but not all of the older guys take officer positions or retire.

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Permalink Reply by Cody Scott on December 2, 2007 at 10:55pm

Fellow firefighter,
Don't be discouraged by the older men of your company. My department worked for two years to get a explore program but the majority of its older members did not like the idea there for kept voting against it. So we moved to the process of lowering the age to apply from 21 to 18. This did not happen either. we had to spend another 7 months going through all this by-laws bull s**t to get myself on the department.
It's not really a matter of they hate the explorer or Jr. firefighter personally, they just hated the idea of change. In a vol. department we haven't seen a lot of change in the way things have been done since our department was founded in the 1920. Just tell future wanna be explorers to show there dedication to your station and how much they appreciate you guys and hopefully things will change for the good.
Best of luck to you.

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Permalink Reply by hammerhead on December 5, 2007 at 2:56pm

Hey Brother, Iam a Jr. with woodsdale. But We dont have that problem. We have get to do the dirty work basiclly all the time. But everyone in our department likes the Jrs. Now, Iam not bragging or anything but i dont know if my dad being the capt. has anything to do with it or not.

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Permalink Reply by David Watts on December 5, 2007 at 4:04pm

I guess I would be one of the older guys. I will say this. If they only knew half of what you know, They would be a better person towards other people. Anyway, Just like the person above me wrote, Have them join and find out, Even if they only learn CPR, They learned how to save someone possibly.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis on December 5, 2007 at 4:32pm

HEY EXPLORER PROGRAM IS GREAT IF YOU STICK IT OUT ALL 3 OF MY DAUGHTERS ARE AND WERE IN IT OLDEST HAS NOW GRADUATED INTO PROBIE OTHER 2 LOVE IT TOO

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Permalink Reply by Joe Bynum on December 5, 2007 at 4:38pm

I know many of us here would agree. I have recently as of last April crossed over to be a full pledge firefighter. Being a cadet/junior the senior guys were hard on us but they do it for a reason. THey only treat you that way because trust me when I say this it will make you a better firefighter. You will learn faster and will know what you are doing. Being a cadet/junior is the perfect time to built up your common sense and BELIEVE ME it comes in handy. stay safe

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Permalink Reply by Tony Leonard,Jr. on December 5, 2007 at 6:44pm

I agree with Joe on this.I received the same treatment as a Explorer.An in my 8th year after reading this they are hard on you guys for a reason.DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY.When they call you a "Wannabe" tell them, "Thats why I'm Here."Be Respectful however.They are helping you,and They Accept you.Train,Learn,Watch,LISTEN,& STAY SAFE.Fallow those 5 things and keep your grades up,and you'll be ok.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Crotty on December 5, 2007 at 6:49pm

Eddie,
Back in 1988, there were very few Explorer Posts or Junior Firefighter Programs around. I was a charter member of our Explorer Post back then. At the same time, the fire service was going through some cultural changes as well whereby we were starting to see more and more women joining the fire ranks.
Between the 'kids' and the women coming around, some of the 'good fellas' were starting to feel uncomofortable. I joined, and got some grief similar to what you are experiencing. Until we proved our worth, we got hassled. And now looking around, what percentage of organizations are made up of women and former explorers. I know minie is better then 20%. Where would we be without the two groups.
We had our own training night, drills, command structre and accounts.
We were allowed to answer alarms. That came to an end a short time ago due to New York State General Municipal Laws that prohibit youth programs from being in environments which are hazarous. Probably a good move. Youth should not be substitutes for adults when we are subjected to some of the sights we are exposed to at calls.
Best I can say is, hang in there- prove your worth.
I started as an Explorer, worked my way up through the ranks, and now am finishing up my last month as Chief.
Unfortunately recently we have had to disolve our Explorer Program. I hope we are able to get it some legs again.
Good luck in your fire service career!

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Permalink Reply by Junior Whacker on December 5, 2007 at 8:43pm

We had a girl collapse today during class and she picked on me all the time well I betcha she won't pick on me now!She was unconscious and I called 911 and stayed on the phone with them while I got her vitals and stuff...I'm not the firefarter or the fire fagget anymore to them.

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Permalink Reply by Dwayne Womble on December 5, 2007 at 8:46pm

okay bud it must just be at your station or mabey its just you, this really matters. I know where Im at we encourage young people to get involved in the fire service. I am over the Fire Explorer program in our county Post 560. You might want to check yourselfs rethink about how you act around the older guys and what you say around them, and if you still feel it is them trying to hold you back then go to your cheif officers and express how you feel and if nothing comes out of it then go to a department that is willing to teach and train you and bring you and all the younger generation firefighters up into the ranks. One thing is for sure you are the future of the Fire service, but it does work both ways make sure you are willing to listen and learn and put your hands on and do some work. You have to earn respect in the Fire Dept to get the respect that you are looking for. I know I see alot of the young guys around our county doing what ever it takes not to rack hose or break hose down or pick up equipment and put it back on the trucks, and when I see this I get on their ass and let them know that this is part of it YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE the harder you work the more respect you gain. Nothing in life is free and to be a respected FireFighter takes years of hard ass work.

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