My Thoughts on Training

So I’ve been sitting here trying to think of what to write for my next blog. I tried writing one on respect but I couldn’t get my thoughts on that subject out, so I’ll leave that topic for another time. So today I’m going to talk about training. Given the option of training and goofing off, I’ll pick training every time hands down. Why do you ask, well cause I love to train, I like to know what my job is and how to do it and how to do it well. I’ve met and seen a lot of people who don’t like to train. They’d rather sit around and tell stories or watch as others train. These people aren’t just found in one station or department they are everywhere. I encountered them on my first day on the job, where instead of training they wanted to play a video game. Lucky for me there was another guy who thought like me who’d been on the department for awhile and asked me if I’d like to go out and learn something, and of course I was happy to go.

Now we can’t change how everyone approaches training, but for those of us who enjoy training and want to get as much out of it as we can we need to not lose that mindset, and when a new guy or girl comes to the hall and you see they want to learn we have the duty to teach them what we know. Pass along what we’ve learned to others that want to learn. The people at your hall who slack off during training will eventually fall in with you or they will quit. There are two kinds of fire fighters those that just want to look cool in a department shirt, and those that actually want to do the job. Both are pretty easy to spot. Look around your hall I’m sure you’ll see who is who pretty quick. And training doesn’t just quit at the fire hall or on training nights. Go in on your free time learn your trucks, practice what you’ve learned in your own time, study your notes or your textbook. I’m not saying give your whole life over to it, many of us are volunteers, but instead of watching television brush up on your first aid or CPR, anything is better than nothing. And you never know when or where we will need a certain skill. Many departments can only  devote one night a year to a certain subject, do you think you’ll remember that information two months from now when you need to use it in real life? You might, but if you’re like me and don’t do something that often you may forget it. It’s your live on the line, and our brothers and sisters in the fire service if we can’t do our job properly and the best to our ability. So I guess what I’m saying is next time you’re at the hall pay as much attention to your training as possible, and leave the stories till after the night is over. Or if you’re sitting at home and playing video games or watching TV grab your textbook and read a chapter or two. You never know when you’ll need that information. I’m not saying I’m perfect at this myself, I don’t study every night, but I try to do it at least once or twice a week. Anyway stay safe brothers and sisters and never stop training.