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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