Day 15 - Four days too long

The thought of a four day break sounded great on Wednesday, and it was. Spending time with the family, relaxing and catching up on shows (Thank you Tivo). I even managed to get my study guide done, and practice for a marathon of Worship music for church...all before the real weekend began. It was nice to get a taste of what is to come.

That leads up to today. We began our Monday like any other. The only difference was that I was the leader of Battalion A. I arrived a little before 7 and got started with our chores. Today, Windows and grounds. After that, test preparation. Around 8, one of the captains came in to administer the test. About 30 minutes later, we are all in the gym waiting for our next set of instructions.

Today we had instruction on our SCBAs. Captain brought in a few for us to look at and study. We took everything apart, re-installed the cylinder, and tested out the system. We also had a quiz...that's right...quiz and a test on the same day. No biggie...I did fine on both.

At 3:30 we headed to the Gym for PT. And thus the reason for the title.

Having four days away from extensive exercise is not the way to go. I have a feeling I will be paying for it in the morning. I did the directed amount of exercise over break, but that didn't make today any easier.

We started our day with a 1.5 mile run. We then headed back in the gym for our Three day a week calisthenics. This time Captain added push-ups. Exhausting. And he ended with his favorite....Leg lifts.

All of us busted our tail today, and it showed....We ended the day moping the sweat off of the floor. I guess that's one less chore in the morning.

Tomorrow, we get to put what we learned today into practice. That means full turnouts and air....It can't get any better.

Day 14: A Fun way to end the week...

Today was the best day so far.

We started with a quiz, and quickly jumped in to classroom work. After a few hours of PPE classroom work, we headed out to get our Turnout gear and returned to the gym. Our instructor explained every piece inside and out. After lunch, we headed back in the gym. We put all our gear on and headed out side to the fire grounds.

Half of us went to a trailer and crawled our way through an obstacle course. It consisted of window openings, ramps, rafter crawls, and going over and under walls.

After the exercise was complete. we headed over to the drill tower. At the drill tower, we were instructed to go through a window, a climb the tower using the indoor staircase. On the level below the top floor, we climbed a ladder up and out onto the roof the tower. From there we climbed back down using the outside staircase. Once all of us came down, we did the same exercise in reverse.

I had a great time. I felt like a little kid at Christmas. It was good to get back into the gear.

On Monday we start with our SCBAs. From here on out, all the exercised we do, will be with turnouts and air. Now, the real weight loss begins.

Day 13: It's actually Thursday...

Today went by very quickly and painless. We started the day by going over or tests. We then had Captain come in and talk about Building Construction and the importance of it in the fire service. It really was quite interesting. Partially because, I'm interested in it. In O'Fallon I built my basement.

We were shown pictures of local buildings and were asked to identify the Construction Type. I did fairly well at that, and identifying the buildings.

We ate a late lunch, and then took a field trip to see some bowline construction.

We had a light PT workout and then sent home.

Tomorrow we start PPE....that means turnouts, SCBA's, fun and excitement.

It also means the real work begins...

I'm looking forward to it...

Day 11 & 12: Lesson Learned

It was finally Friday of Week Two. The week had flown by, with relative ease. I should have figured something was going to happen.

We finished our communications training, boarded a bus and headed for City Hall. It was time to get our official city badges. After we waited for all 32 of us to get our badges, we sat on the front steps, waiting for the bus. As I looked at 11th street, I glanced down at The Times Free Press Building. It was hard to believe that less than a month ago, I was working in that building. As we sat there, I also glanced at the parking deck in front of us. That was the parking lot that (both times) I paid to park in before my written tests. It made me realize that I really have come a long way.

We boarded the bus and headed back to the training center. Just in time for PT.....

Since it was Friday, we got in our lines and did our exercises. After a brief introduction on how to breathe properly we headed out for our mile run. We formed our battalion lines and took off. Around the 1/2 mile mark, a group of 7 folks started pulling away from the rest of the group. Once this happened, my running teammate and I realized that we were all alone. The front group was setting a rapid pace, but the folks behind us were so far behind, that we would have had to stop for them to catch up. We opted to catch up with the front group....wrong choice.

Our training instructor was not pleased and told the 9 of us, that we would be paying for lack of teamwork on Monday.

Over the weekend my parents surprised me with a quick visit. It was nice to see them and to have them at Kolsten's Birthday Party.

As Monday rolled around, my main concern was the test. I wanted to make sure I was ready. And I was....I missed one question.

After the test, came our punishment for Friday's scandal. All 9 of us had to do jumping jacks, and we got a nice piece of jewelry to go along with it. I think we did around 250 or so....

We started the next chapter on building construction, washed the USR gear and trucks, and started pt. This time I remembered to hold form and stay with the group.

Lesson learned...Never leave your teammate behind...and I have a nozzle around my neck to help me remember....

Day 10: No that Bad

So today started out kind of hairy. My car would not start this morning. I had to be at the training center by 7:00...7:30 at the latest. My wonderful wife, got up and took me to the training center and I arrived at 7:10.

Today we finished out chapter on Fire Behavior. We had our third quiz (one everyday for the last three days) and then hit the books. The lessons were very interesting. Hopefully it will all transfer over for the test on Monday. We concluded our training by heading out to the drill ground. There, our instructor lit some wood on fire and showed us how different fuels react with water when lit. It was very cool to actually see what we've been talking about. Next week, we hit the drill ground with PPE...I hope.

PT was with our Tues. / Thurs. trainer. He grouped us into fours, and we did different tasks back and forth across the basketball court. I did well on most exercises. The body drag is still not one of my best ones, but at least I did better then before.

All in all, a great day. I can't believe I get paid to learn about fire suppression and get a daily work out. It really is a great place to be....

Day 9: Cold Baths and Indian Runs

There is a lot of "NEW" to this career of mine. I'm not just talking about fire suppression, 24 hour shifts, and a pension.

There's the military atmosphere, the PT exercises, Indian Runs, cold baths...

Yes, that's right Indian Runs...What's that you say...

All 32 of us, break out into two 16 group lines. We line up two by two 16 deep and simply run. Here's were it gets fun...

As you run, the training officer gets in his vehicle (equipped with radio) and yells go. At this point, the last two in line sprint to the front and become the new leaders. He yells again, and the next to go, and so on and so on. By the end of the mile run, we had done 6 or 7 complete cycles. Chief picked up the pace on the final stretch. I have to admit, while it doesn't sound that great, it's actually a great running tool.

That alone is enough to tire you out, but we had our usual dose of exercises and then full court knee bends, Hurdle bends, and Tennessee Bends. After my round of Hurdle Bends, my legs felt like jello. In fact I lost my balance several times. Fortunately, the Tennessee Bends stretched our muscles out. Those felt great.

But as we were running to the start of the mile run outside, my legs felt weighted down. But that didn't inhibit my sprints to the front. It's surprising how your mind makes you think that you are dead tired, but the next minute your sprinting down the road. Mind over matter....That is the only thing keeping me through the leg lifts.

I took the advice of the training staff and jumped in a Cold Bath tonight. Pure torture. I sat in a freezing cold bath up to my waist for 10 minutes. But I have to say, they know what they are talking about. A little cold water is going to be fine.

Tomorrow we see fire...I promise to not get burned....well, maybe not.

Day 8 - A Moral Victory

Today I felt like I was actually getting stronger....We once again found ourselves not focusing and ended up on the gym floor on our backs...

I was able to complete all the 6 inch leg lifts that they required. Sure it was a punishment, but a small moral victory for me.

The rest of the day flew by. Thursday we should start seeing fire. I can't wait.

PT was more of the same except this time we got to use Kettle Bells.

Well, time for sleep. The morning comes early..

Day 7 - Week 2 begins

Today we took our first test. Well actually we took two. We had a CPR exam and our weekly test.

I think we were all over prepared. The test was not difficult at all. We will get them back tomorrow. but I know I did good.

We then spent most of the classroom time learning about Regulations (OSHA, NFPA, etc.)

We did have a few push ups to get out of the way (event from last week). We then started PT around 3:30 and we finished a little after 5:30. PT was rough, but I know if I keep on it, I will become stronger.

Until next time.

B

Day 6: The End of the 1st Week

I woke up on Friday not hurting as much as the previous days, but as the day went on the soreness came back.

Instruction was great. It was our orientation day, so they walked us around the grounds to get us familiar with the campus. It is rather large. The Training center sits on the grounds of several other key buildings. We were introduced to a few key individuals that are part of this great Firefighting family.

We also did an interview with one of our classmates. Well, actually I was put in a group of three. We had to go up in front of the class and tell a little about that person. It was neat to hear about everyone, and as the Captain pointed out, we really do have more in common with each other than we might have thought.

After lunch more instruction and then PT.

PT was exhausting. I don't know if it was because it was Friday...who knows. We had to do Calisthenics in unison (jumping jacks, mtn. climbers, toe touches, and my favorite leg extensions...I'm still feeling thoose). We also ran a mile, in formation.

Monday is our first test. We can only fail two, so it is important that we all pass this test. We set up a study session for Sunday at 2. I don't know if I will be able to make it, but I will make my notes today.

Next week it really kicks up a notch. Even though my body aches, my mind is still awake. I'm ready to be a firefighter, no matter how much abuse my body takes.

I'm ready for week 2.

Day 4 & 5: Tired, but still moving...

Surprisingly things are going well. I did have one mess up yesterday. Seems I can't count to 24. To be fair, it was my first military style aerobics workout. And believe me, I wasn't the only one to make mistakes. We ended the day with a run, with a cadence and all.

Today started with a pop quiz, and surprisingly I did well. We also got our gear bags, so now everything has a home. We then did more push-ups, learned about early firefighting, and spent the afternoon understanding were we all came from (Chattanooga Fire History). We ended the day with a workout and a few of us ran a mile to close out our day....

Everything is going great. I need my body strength to pick up, but I need to realize that this will not happen overnight. Do my best, work hard, and I'll be fine....strength included.

Day 3: Hard Work Will Pay Off

This morning we had to report at 7:00am for chore duty. Clean the floors, dust the offices, clean windows, clean and mop the gym...So from today on, we meet at 7:00 for chores and we start class right at 8:00. Today I left around 6:30 am. Tomorrow I will shoot for the same. I think having to report at 7:00 is fine. When we get out in the stations, 7:00 is start time anyhow...

The rest of the day we spent on CPR, organizing our Turnout Cage, and getting our shirts, shorts and other parts of our uniforms. We also had PT. Today, was a good PT day. I don't look at it as what I can't do, I look at it as this is going to really give me what I need to become the firefighter I need to be. With time, some extra work from me and more days like today, I know my strength will increase.

It's nice to have a uniform. I never got a firefighter shirt in O'Fallon. I was supposed to, but somehow it fell through the cracks. Today I put my shirt on and smiled. I finally feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself. And I'm honored to have this opportunity.

Time for bed and another adventure tomorrow...

Day 2

I apologize for not getting this in last night, but...here it is short and sweet...

This is and is going to be a ton harder than I thought it was going to be...and I thought it was going to be hard. You can't imagine until you are actually in the situation. Fortunately, it is NOT impossible....

Day 1: Does a group of 32 know the alphabet?

My day started stressed....

I tried my best to have everything ready last night. Clothes out and ready to go, folder in the car....I should have known something was going to go wrong.

I woke up, took my shower and went to put on my shirt. Well, my shirt had a hole in the elbow. The only other shirt I had was wrinkled. Katrina quickly ironed it, I threw clothes on kids and headed out the door. But, mother nature decided to slow me down by putting frost all over the car. I ran back into the house, grabbed a scrapper and went to work on the car. I cleared a few holes all the way around the car, jumped in and headed to get some gas. $7.00 later, I'm flying down Hixson Pike. I finally pull onto Amnicola Highway at 7:30. I had 15 minutes to go 1/2 mile. It almost took that. While I wasn't the last one to arrive , it was close and I still had 8 minutes....

We all gathered in the hall to await instructions. We then were told to go into the classroom and take a seat. As I went to sit down, it was decided that we should all sit alphabetically. After some discussion we all found our correct seats.

The day started and we had several introduction speeches and basic orientation stuff. A key rule that was established early was to make sure we sign our names legibly, no autograph signatures. This was hard for me, since I scribble my name. But, I conformed and did a pretty good job with the name. After more orientation from our Chief, we went to lunch.

Subway was great...I finally go to try their new buffalo chicken sandwich. Very good.

After lunch, we came back to the classrooms, and found name tags on our desks. Of course they were in a different spot. So after we moved our notebook and such over to our new spots, we broke into three groups. My group headed over to the supply building to get our turnout gear. After that we were fitted for our Uniforms. The final stop was over to the turnout table. There they had a professional fitter, who got sizes for bunker coats, pants, boots and gloves.

We then headed back to the room were we watched a short film. After that, we were told to head to the gym. In alphabetic order we went into the gym, stacked the chairs, lined up in lines, and did push ups. We were all still in our coats and ties (well not the ladies). The crime? Messy Handwriting.

I've never been through a boot camp, had military training, or anything quite like this, but I tell you what. I'm excited and I can't wait for more on Monday.

Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 13).....

July 9, 2008 - My second attempt at the written test. New protocol told me that I would have to re-take the test. So in the months prior to the test, I again read, typed notes, studied in the car in the Life Care Parking Lot...and finally the day arrived. I felt prepared, just like last time, however this time I was much more relaxed....and it showed. A few weeks later, I got my results, and I scored an 83. Much higher than last. Seemed this relaxation technique might be working.

March 9,2009 - My second attempt at the physical agility test. This was a little tricky. I had to leave work, take the test, and then come back. Again, I went in relaxed. I headed to the Training site, joined up with 70+ other hopefuls, and ran my test. All the same obstacles...same amount of time.

August 17, 2009 - The polygraph Test. 5 months had passed. I pretty much forgot about the fire department. In that time, I was preparing for a new career. I was going to become a teacher. I had passed a Praxis II test in Middle School AND Elementary School. I had gone on 4 interviews at 4 different elementary schools. But as the summer ended and the school year started, I found that there was no place for a wanna be teacher trying to teach on an alt certification. Then out of the clear blue sky, a message requesting me to take a polygraph. And on September 9th, I did just that. Hard to be relaxed for a polygraph test. I mean after all, your hooked up to a machine measuring everything from your pulse to your breathing. Passed with no problems. I was starting to think, maybe this firefighter career could actually happen.

August 25, 2009 - I immediately started exercising. Running and walking a combined 3 miles most everyday. I also had to submitted background check information, including references and previous employers. And yes, the sent my current employer a letter. And yes, I had to explain to my boss my situation. He was supportive.

Beginning of October, 2009 - I was called and told that I was one of 52 selected candidates. Show up at the training center for another physical test. Push-ups, Sit-ups, and a 440 Run. While I didn't do the most, I did enough. I passed all parts.

Mid October, 2009 - I get a call. I've been selected as one of 32 candidates for the next academy.

Late October, 2009 - As from my previous posts, I had physicals, tests, and more tests.

November 5th, 2009 - All 32 of us gathered at City Hall at 9:00 to fill out paperwork. We finally get a look at the folks we will be spending time with for the next 6 months. I also had to say good by to the TFP and the friends I've made over the last year.

They helped me say goodbye by getting me this cake:



So now that leads us to right now. I lay here in bed, thinking of my past journey. Thinking of all those who have helped me along the way:

To Kathy, Leah, Dan, Dana, Terrell, Annie & Bridget from BAP in StL
To Aaron, Terrance, Bob, and all the volunteers from the O'Fallon FPT
To Chris, Pat, Mark, Mark, Matt, Jimmy, Josh, and all the folks at WDEF
To Ryan, Malcolm, MJ, Keith, Jarred, and all my NET Brothers and Sisters
To ED, Chris, Brad, Ken, Laura, Megan, Celina, and the folks at the TFP
To Mom, Dad, Susan, Michael, Jason, Madison, Juta, Heidi, Brad, Ava and all my Family

and finally....

To Katrina, Kolsten, Kaleena, Jamie, Misty, Mason, and Emerson

Thank you for believing in me, praying for me, and giving me the strength when I needed it the most. You have all formed me into who I am today and who the City of Chattanooga has hired. You are all in my prayers.

Tomorrow I start my training to become a firefighter for the City of Chattanooga. Over the last few weeks I have written down the past. But my past is just that...the past. And while I've learned a ton from my past...It's time to start the present.

Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 12).....

My first quest to become a Chattanooga firefighter started the end of April 2007. I remember the test was in the middle of the week. I left midday and drove the 8 hours to Chattanooga. I had to take the written test.

The Ratchfords let me stay at their home. I arrived in Chattanooga late on Tuesday evening, and I left early Thursday (I had to return to work by noon, Thurs.) Wednesday was the test. And I was prepared. I had study guides, printed chapter notes, I even had three practice tests. I was ready. The test was a simple scantron test. I don't remember the number of questions, but I do know that it was one of the toughest test I had taken. I left the test room that day with high hopes. A few weeks later, I got the results.

I had passed. A 78. Not the best score, but still a pass. All that was left, was to wait for the next step.

In the meantime, Katrina and I packed the house and moved not once, but two times. Once to an apartment in Hixson, and then to our current home just down the street. It wouldn't be until July of 2007 that we had the next step in the process. The Physical Agility Test.

The agility test consisted of 10 obstacles that had to be completed in ten minutes. The first obstacle was a hose pull down to a cone. The second obstacle was picking up an elevator pack trotting it back down the hose pull lane, climbing up a set of stairs, and setting it down. The Third Stage involved pulling a hose up to a predetermined height. Because the hose was on a pulley system, the hose came up in three or four tugs. Back down the steps to the ladder raise. After that, up a ladder and then back down. We then had to carry a dumbbell up and down a flight of stairs. We then headed over to the chopping station. Hit a tire with a sledge hammer from one end of the table to the other. From there we ran a short distance down and around a tower. At the end of the run we had to climb over a short wall. Next came the tunnel crawl. The test ended with a dummy drag. I completed the test in 3 minutes. Not bad for my first time.

I then waited for the next step. I still had no idea when or what would come next. I was working Mornings at WDEF. This gave me the afternoons to mow grass with Jamie. We made big plans that Summer...both of us thinking that I would be a firefighter really soon. Everyday I checked the mailbox, and everyday I would leave disappointed. Finally,in early August, I got a piece of mail scheduling my interview. I remember sprinting over to Jamie's house (really far because he lived next door) to show him the letter. My interview was scheduled in September.

The day of the interview arrived. I had prepared myself by finding and answering interview questions online. I printed off some resumes, and headed to the interview. Jamie had me thinking that there would be a panel of folks in the interview room. I was lucky. On that day, there were two folks, and both new Jamie very well. The very last question they asked, was a the very last question I found online. I nailed the answer and left the interview confident as ever. There was no doubt, that I would be in the next academy.

September 2007 was my interview date. The next contact I had from the fire department was April 2008. I did nothing but sit by the mailbox and wait. I was also very lucky. My part time job at WDEF turned into a full time position in the evenings. I had even picked up extra work as an Audio Editor at Life Care Centers of America in Cleveland. Then in April (2008) I received bad news. I had not been chosen for the next firefighter academy. I was crushed, but determined. I told myself that I was going to get in the next one. I would work harder, run faster, and be prepared. In some ways, not getting in was actually a good thing. At the end of that month (April), I picked up my new favorite instrument...the bass guitar. I even got to play at Riverbend (a music festival located along the river in downtown Chattanooga).



Failing the first time was not going to stop me from trying again. And sure enough, a few weeks later, I received another letter. I had to retake the written test. My second attempt at this journey was about to begin.

Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 11).....

2007 started out great. The basement was finished, the Bears had made it to the Super Bowl (and lost), Katrina was finally in a job she really enjoyed, and the kids were healthy and happy.

Firefighter wise, I was also in a good place. I was really sinking my teeth into volunteer work, and was making a good name for myself. And then I got a phone call....

Even though we lived in Missouri, we still had strong Chattanooga ties. We had been visiting the Ratchfords every year since our departure in 2004. Our girls were born three months apart and Katrina and Misty talked daily...sometimes it seemed like hourly. So it was no surprise to get a call from Jamie.

He let me know that he had heard of talk of an fire academy. He wasn't sure of the time frame, but he knew the city had started taking applications. Now I had a decision to make....

It was February 15, 2007. It was around 3:00 in the morning and my mind was going a mile a minute. There was no use in trying to go back to sleep, so I stumbled out of bed and headed downstairs to the basement. I flipped on the Television, and the movie Cool Runnings was on. I wish I could make some great connection between a Jamaican Bobsled team and me becoming a firefighter, but no...the movie was nothing but mindless background noise. I did decide, at that moment however, that I was going to apply for the academy. I waited until a "normal persons" wake up time to inform Katrina of my decision. She was supportive, and an application was filled out, that day.

Because I lived in Missouri, Jamie was my eyes, ears, and feet in Chattanooga. I mailed off my application, resume, and references to him. He hand delivered it to the recruiting supervisor. He then mailed me all the test preparation material. Once I had that booklet, I did nothing but type out notes, memorize facts, and study study study. Katrina on the other hand, prepared our house for potential buyers. We were moving, and the house needed to go.

We made one more trip to Chattanooga in March to visit the Ratchfords. On that visit, Jamie took me over to the fire hall in Hixson. He introduced me to his captain. His captain wanted to meet with me for a couple of minutes (I'm guessing he didn't want to give out a reference to a complete stranger...don't blame him).

As the months went on, confirmation letters arrived with my written test date. My first round on this firefighter journey started late April 2007. The test preparation material covered a ton of information and I thought I was ready....

Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 10).....

I had many exciting times with the O'Fallon Fire Protection District. Three events really stick out in my mind, and are ones I will never forget.

The first one was on a weekend and took place at a Wal-Mart Parking Lot. We had a Fire Appreciation Day for the community. All the fire trucks showed up. We had the smoke house going for the kids. There was a moc traffic drill. And they even had the emergency "Life Flight" Helicopter land in the parking lot. And while I had a very small part, I still felt like a firefighter. Katrina and the Kids showed up (Kolsten in his firefighter outfit) and I felt proud to have my family there. I ended the day on a ride along with 9110. We drove out to Station 2 and then headed to Applebee's for dinner. There I had my first firefighter"perk" as the manger cut our bill in half to show his appreciation. That day showed me that an important part of a firefighter's job is to server the community. Treat them well, and they will treat you the same.

The second event was an overnight "manning" of Station 2 (our volunteer station). We all met at Station 1. We prepared 9110 for its trip over to Station 2. Because there were more folks going then seats on the truck, we had to take department vehicles. We packed our gear and away we went. Because I had an EMT-B license, I was put in a station vehicle. The theory was, should we get a call, the EMT vehicle could get ahead of the firetruck, and be first on the scene (to aid in medical help). We spent most of the night eating, playing cards, and watching really old firefighter movies (they happened to be on TV). I also spent a ton of time getting to know the folks I had been working with. In the morning we packed up, cleaned all three trucks, and headed back to Station 1. While we didn't have any calls that evening, that 14 hour shift showed me that firefighting is not an individual challenge, it's a team effort. And getting to know your team is vital if you want to succeed.

The third and final event was the most memorable moment of my days with the O'Fallon Fire Protection district. An old farm house was donated to all the fire protection districts of St. Charles County. As part of continuing education, the house was being used to practice certain firefighter drills (venting, rope rescue from the second floor, roof venting, etc.) Because of the size of our group, and that most of us from O'Fallon were probationary members, our captains thought it would be a good idea for us to practice first response, and let the older volunteers tackle the more advanced techniques. I remember it was raining, and had been raining for some time. We all got in our turnouts as soon as we got out of the vehicles. As we got close to the house, all you could hear was the sound of chain saws and people yelling out orders. It was a little overwhelming. Our captain had us break into groups of four. As we were waiting for our instructions, we were told to take pike poles and break out windows. After 15 minutes or so, it was my groups turn to go. We were given instructions. Each one of us would have a position. We would have a captain, a nozzle man, and two firefighters to bring up the rear. We would then have a black out placed over our mask (taking away our sight). We then would enter the house and start our search and rescue. Our captain selected our ranks, and selected me as the "captain". By this point we were in full turnouts (coats, pants, gloves, etc.) and we had our SCBAs on (but with no air), and air tanks on our backs. My captain grabbed me by the arm and started leading me around the house. He pointed out locations that I would check as I circled the house. He also pointed out areas in the yard and had me shine my light on every window checking for smoke and/or people. After the near sprint around the house I rejoined my "squad" and waited for our turn to enter the house. By this point, I was struggling to catch my breath. In fact, I was in near panic. I tried to relax, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted out of that mask. Right as I reached to pull it off, Aaron came over and started asking me if I was ready to enter the house. I said yes, and he proceeded to place the blackout over my mask. As it went dark and my vision went away, I found myself not thinking of my breathing, but the task at hand. It was like someone hit the reset button on my brain. I needed to find and rescue the baby trapped in side the burning house. We were told to proceed. I gave the order to get on air, and we all clicked our regulators in place. The rush of that cold compressed air on your lungs was amazing. We entered the house on our hands and knees and stayed to the right. With the nozzle man in the lead, all four of us stayed within touching distance. I leaned on the objects to my right, while feeling with my hands to the left. I reached and finally grabbed what we were looking for...our baby (actually an ax). I gave the order to head back out. We reversed our direction and followed the hose out. Once on the outside, our captain gave us our critique and showed us our route through the house. We then waited as the other groups did their training.

That evening showed me that I can do this job. I can be a firefighter. I overcame my anxiety and completed the task at hand. I saved the ax. And while it seemed such a small task, it was a much bigger deal to me. I knew that I was ready. I just needed a chance.

That chance would come soon enough....

Let's Get You Up to Speed (part 9).....

Application turned in...Check
Interview...Check
Physical Agility Test...Check
Acceptance letter...???

Having completed the physical agility test in May, I figured I would be volunteering by June. Not the case.

Because of problems with our background checks (paper work being lost is what we were told), we were contacted to take a medical physical in August. That was the last step before orientation on August 19th. At that meeting we were assigned turnout gear, a station to serve at, and a scanner / pager. It was an exciting time. I was assigned to Station 5...which was great, because it was right down the street.

As a volunteer, I was required to complete certain items. There was a mandatory business meeting once a month, duty check out, and a minimum amount of ride time with the paid and/or volunteer crews. Station 5 had their duty check out on Thursday evenings and the business meetings were on Wednesday evenings. One problem, I worked every weekday evening until 9:00. With some research, I found out that Station 1 had their duty check out on Sundays. I contacted the Volunteer in charge at station one, and he accepted my request to join his squad. However, I still had to answer pages to Station 5. I was also able to watch a video of the Business Meetings on the Sunday after the Wednesday Meeting. I was very grateful for the workarounds the department made for me, and tried to help out as much as possible.

Duty checkout Sundays were some of my favorite days in O'Fallon. In the beginning I would get up early, go pick up my turnout gear at Station 5, and then head over to Station 1 (across town). Eventually, I just kept my gear at home (I was having to take it back and forth to many different locations, and because I didn't have a key to Station 5, I was in fear that I wouldn't have access to my gear). When I arrived at the station, I would wait for the rest of the squad. We would then Check out the Volunteer truck assigned to Station 1 (9110 - the code for the trucks was very cool, and very important when listening to the scanners...just ask my wife...she hated the scanner...9 was the county (St. Charles County) 1 was the city (O'Fallon) 1 was the station (Station 1) and 0 was the type of truck (0 was a pumper). We had to check everything on the truck, SCBAs, the generators, medical bags, air cylinders, tools, etc. We would then wash the truck. After that, we would work on probationary firefighter check lists and wait for calls. A few times, I stayed with the paid crews and rode on their truck. The only calls I ever went on were medical calls, but I still continued to volunteer my time with the department.

It would be a few months, but it took one event to change the course of my life. An event that may not seem important on the outside, but to me, it made all the difference...

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