The Round Table
departments
As one of the first students to attend the National Fire Academy: (1) How did the course you took there compare to other courses you have taken in your fire service career?, (2) Were you able to apply this knowledge to your own work?, (3) Did you impart this knowledge to members of your department or others?, and (4) How did you find the accommodations?
Terry V. Weckerly, Battalion Chief, Mesa, Ariz.: My experience at the National Fire Academy was very rewarding and a pleasant surprise.
Too many fire-service related college level courses are little more than on-campus fire department training and often fail to reach the degree of depth and scope for which they were intended. Not so at the NFA!
The curriculum there is broadly based, taught by excellent instructors and complimented with numerous, useful handouts. I have used much of this information since then and have shared it with other members of the depart ment .
The accommodations, with the possible exception of a lack of a cooling system in the rooms, are superb.
I would recommend the NFA to anyone— anyone that is, who is serious about learning and is willing to work.
John E. Sluth, Lieutenant, Lantana, Fla.: I feel the course taken was worth the time and effort but I felt it should have been a little more organized as far as going from Educational Methodology I to Educational Methodology II. The instructors got their point across, but work material needed to be updated. If the instructors hadn’t had supplementary material it wouldn’t have gone as well as it did in my opinion.
Being a training officer, the knowledge attained would definitely apply to my work. The knowledge that was received was not given to other members of my department presently. I am the only one in the training division at the present time. As we grow and I receive assistance, I will share with them what I learned from the academy.
The accommodations were very acceptable, especially looking at cost factors of today.
Huston W. Clark, Captain, Springdale, Ark.: The courses I took at the NFA were above average compared to other courses I have taken. I was able to apply what I learned directly to my own work, and have shared this knowledge with members of my department and others. The accommodations were good. The only problem was that the temperature was in the high 90’s and there was no way to circulate the air in the dorms.
The food was very good, and the personnel were friendly.
Janies A. Dixon, Jr., Lieutenant, Pensacola, Fla.: My educational experience at the National Fire Academy was one that was unique and very rewarding. I came to the academy with some hesitation as to how the classes would be conducted. I thought it would be like some seminars I had been to in the past. This was all very quickly dispelled by the time I attended the first hour of the first class. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the instructors; yet, they were really able to relate to current day problems in the fire service because they had been or are now in the fire service field.
I was impressed with the way the classes were put together and the materials used with them. This combination made it very easy to return to my fire department with the knowledge gained there and pass it on in an educational manner to my fellow fire fighters.
The accommodations were top rate. Beginning with the fact that they picked you up at the airport and delivered you to the academy to being greeted, and assigned a very nice private room, you were helped in every way possible to settle in. The food service was also of top caliber and there always was a wide selection to choose from.
All factors considered, I truly believe that the education along with being able to meet fire fighters from around the country was one of the most rewarding educational experiences I have had in my fire service career to date.
Lynn Parke, Public Education Officer, Great Falls, Mont.: The course I took was one of the most outstanding and interesting courses I’ve ever had. The public education course was very helpful. I’ve shared what I learned with over 500 people so far. The accommodations Were excellent, with one exception. Being from the dry west, I found the August humidity of Maryland very uncomfortable and would highly recommend that at least one dorm be air-conditioned.
I’m hoping I will have the opportunity to return to the National Fire Academy for further course work and/or teaching. I would highly recommend the NFA to any fire-related personnel.
Fred S. Chappell, Deputy, Tifton, Ga.: I took the course on hazardous materials spills and controls. I feel that the course was informative and it was presented in such a way that everyone there could get something out of it. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate it an 8.
As Deputy Civil Defense Director in our county, the director and I are responsible for planning for emergencies. We were in the process of drawing up a plan on hazardous materials, and this course was helpful.
I have used the information received in drawing up a plan for the people of Tift County.
The accomodations were not the newest but they were clean and comfortable. There were some problems with the hot water and other small things, but I am sure they will be worked out as soon as the management has time to get to them. Everyone connected with the academy was very courteous and willing to help in any way. I think that we as fire related personnel have something that we can be proud of.
