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Hell Twist, the vast majority of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers!
Evidence >>>>> Clicky here!
I did it for 26 years and never got nor wanted a dime for doing it. I found that the career (paid) folks had less of a "professional" attitude than the "vollies"! The career firefighters (mostly) were there for the paycheck and retirement bennies and the vollies were there because they WANTED to be.
Many times I was asked why I did it for no compensation and there are plenty of stock replies I could have given, as is the case with most vollies:
SOMEbody has to do it.
I feel a need to serve the community.
I want to give back.
I know i want someone there when there is a need so I take it upon myself to help.
All these are very noble reasons and for the most part true for damn near every volunteer. BUT.......the reason most volunteer firefighters are sheepish at least and ashamed at worst to admit (which I chose to honestly admit) is: I'M AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE AND I GET OFF ON IT!
The point is ....... whatever your reason to do it is, there is NO reason you shouldn't go for it!
Your neck of the woods has a good number of volunteer fire companies. Go to your local station and start asking what you have to do to get involved. In most cases you'll have to take some basic training classes (yeah it WILL take up some of your free time) and put in some time as a newb/probie. You damn sure will be asked/expected to put time into helping with fundraisers and maybe digging into your own pocket to help put things "over the top" so needed things can be obtained.
You'd be surprised at how damned great you feel even though you bitch about the demands.
You also get to be part of the WORLDWIDE brotherhood of firefighters. Believe me when I say that this is a fantastic group of people to be a part of! I have been in plenty of places far from home yet found instant kinship with folks I met only minutes before due to this common connection.
DO IT DUDE.....JUST DO EET!
Evidence >>>>> Clicky here!
I did it for 26 years and never got nor wanted a dime for doing it. I found that the career (paid) folks had less of a "professional" attitude than the "vollies"! The career firefighters (mostly) were there for the paycheck and retirement bennies and the vollies were there because they WANTED to be.
Many times I was asked why I did it for no compensation and there are plenty of stock replies I could have given, as is the case with most vollies:
SOMEbody has to do it.
I feel a need to serve the community.
I want to give back.
I know i want someone there when there is a need so I take it upon myself to help.
All these are very noble reasons and for the most part true for damn near every volunteer. BUT.......the reason most volunteer firefighters are sheepish at least and ashamed at worst to admit (which I chose to honestly admit) is: I'M AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE AND I GET OFF ON IT!
The point is ....... whatever your reason to do it is, there is NO reason you shouldn't go for it!
Your neck of the woods has a good number of volunteer fire companies. Go to your local station and start asking what you have to do to get involved. In most cases you'll have to take some basic training classes (yeah it WILL take up some of your free time) and put in some time as a newb/probie. You damn sure will be asked/expected to put time into helping with fundraisers and maybe digging into your own pocket to help put things "over the top" so needed things can be obtained.
You'd be surprised at how damned great you feel even though you bitch about the demands.
You also get to be part of the WORLDWIDE brotherhood of firefighters. Believe me when I say that this is a fantastic group of people to be a part of! I have been in plenty of places far from home yet found instant kinship with folks I met only minutes before due to this common connection.
DO IT DUDE.....JUST DO EET!
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