On Thursday, April 28, at FDIC International 2022 Opening Ceremony Day 2, featured speaker Captain Douglas J. Mitchell, Jr. from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) spoke about “Evolution You: Mission, Motivation, and Mindset”:
“For 28 years, my father was a member of the New York City Fire Department–through what we now call the ‘war years.’ He cut his teeth in 1968 on rooftops with axes in Brooklyn and the South Bronx, in some of the busiest and most fire-prone sections of the city. The guy has been on more roofs than Santa Claus. My brother and I didn’t listen much to his smoke-stained stories back then, but we can’t hear enough of them now. For we both followed his footsteps and are members of his beloved FDNY.
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“But Dad never wanted us to be firemen; he pushed us to do something else. He would say, ‘Be a doctor, a lawyer; you are so much smarter than me.’ Oh no, it wasn’t smarts. Dad had put himself through college, getting a bachelor’s and master’s degree while working for the FDNY and raising our family. He was smart but also pragmatic. He didn’t want us to have to see the pain, the destruction, hear the screams, the smells of death, and witness sheer terror caused by the ravages of fire that he did. I admired his repeated attempts to sway me. I did listen to some of the lessons within the stories–no, not tactics, tool assignments, or 10 codes, but about what this job is REALLY about.
“The job is about people–two subsets of people: The ones who make the push down the hallway with you, and the ones we swore an oath to protect. From the grit of the ghetto to the bright lights downtown, this job is about providing a service for others, in their time of need.
“We exist to serve. The satisfaction of a job well done–there is nothing like it. This is what makes us want to do it again and again and again. For we perform a mentally, physically, and tactically dynamic demanding job–a dirty, sometimes downright nasty, job. What we experience at fires and emergencies brings out the best and worst of all humanity, sometimes both at the same time.
“Speaking of time, we are in a profession where time is of the essence. Lives literally hang in the balance, in the passing of seconds. We know all that time stands still for no man. Sadly, we also know that time does not heal all wounds. But the passage of time is a humble motivator for change. As time marches on, we must prepare for, acknowledge, orient, adapt, and rise up to meet the challenges that face us.
“So, I stand here before all of you, whether you have 5,10, 20, or more years on the job…. Do you know what time it really is? IT IS YOUR TIME! YOUR TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Your time to make yourself, your company, your department better today than it was yesterday. It starts with YOU, yes, YOU … you wanting to make yourself the best version of you.
“OK, I am sorry to be the one who reports this to the group: NONE of us in this room were born with vast tactical knowledge of firematics. While none of us were born to be firefighters, none of us had a gun held to our heads, forcing us to choose this profession either!
“So, who inspired you to perform this noble calling, this occupation that stimulates us to the deeds of daring? What brought you here to FDIC? Maybe you have an odd thing for mustaches, diamond plate, tap beer, hard-backed chairs, or men wearing skirts? Chances are, it was a mentor, those in our business whom you admired, emulated, and looked up to; those who took you under their wing and imparted guidance, wisdom, and vision. The magnitude and influence of those who inspired you on this job cannot be measured in tangible parameters, for they are a part of us every time we make that push down a tough, nasty hallway.
“Sadly, as we progress through our careers, many of these impactful icons are no longer with us. So, who is left? Once again … it is YOU.
“YOU are the first one who can make the change in you, to improve, inspire, and influence. To be mission first, YOU must remain focused on YOUR fireground mindset and maintain YOUR motivated self, day in and day out. Many in our line of work say that it is not about YOU, that it is about THEM! Our job is all about THEM, indeed. THEY are indeed counting on us, but it is also absolutely undoubtedly about YOU. For without a competent, compassionate, and caring US, the collective ‘WE’ will fail THEM every time.
“We must never lose sight that all our actions ‘for them’ are performed by a collective group of individuals who must start with being personally prepared for action. Make the changes in YOU so that YOU, YOUR company, and YOUR department hold true to the mission to save lives and property.
“This is why WE are all here in Indianapolis. Do you know who is now setting the example, leading and working alongside that new generation? That’s right, it’s YOU. While each firefighter might not achieve the pinnacle of firefighting excellence, we must always strive to push them in that direction. For THEY are always watching what YOU are doing and what YOU are not doing. Be the leader and mentor to them, like those who guided you as a young firefighter. Share your passion and pass knowledge along. A big part of what makes this job so unique is our ability to pass along our rich history, pride, and traditions.
“One of the most critical aspects of today’s fire service is the understanding that our past gives us more than just history lessons. It gives us absolute examples of what we need to build upon as times change. All cultures have to understand their heritage and past. They value the characteristics that define them. And, most importantly, they see that their existence is directly proportional to their behaviors and willingness to change.
“How do we best address our mission while remaining motivated and maintaining a clear mindset for the future? One cannot look forward without also looking back. Look back at the sacrifices we have made with gratitude, remembrance, and honor. Look forward with new strength, new growth, and a never-wavering commitment to the future.
“A winning team works diligently to shave seconds–seconds when getting dressed, seconds knowing their response routes, seconds with tactical playbooks, and seconds flawlessly executing the operational basics. It starts with personal readiness, laying out your PPE, pairing frequently used tools and equipment, your apparatus built to serve a changing community AND win first prize at the parade. Having SOPs that reflect YOUR staffing for fires in YOUR buildings. It is up to YOU to create this winning mindset.
“As a fire service, WE MUST ALWAYS PLAY TO WIN. Unlike any professional sports team, we do not have the luxury of scheduling our fires. But every 60 seconds, for someone, it’s GAME TIME. When will yours come–tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month? Your next fire could be THE FIRE, the fire they will talk about around the kitchen table for the next 20 years, the fire that defines your career.
“Victory—whether on the battlefield or on the fire floor—depends on clear-cut insights, tactical thinking, and confident organization before any action is taken. Firefighters with a winning mindset are not careless or foolhardy. They have their roots firmly entrenched in the knowledge of their abilities. When they move, they do not run, they move with purpose and direction. They are not fearless, indestructible, or infallible. They are resilient and do not stand around slack-jawed when faced with adversity; they stop, take a breath, regroup, and reengage. When they make mistakes they don’t place blame, they own them, learn from them and pass them on. We must remain a student of our profession and look to refine our actions in our fight against fire.
“To combat today’s war against fire, we must have the wherewithal to know that ‘our war’ is conducted in the buildings located on the streets of our response areas. Take every run you receive as an opportunity to get out into your first due and look at and into your buildings to increase your knowledge base long before the fire.
“We must maintain a mission-first focus. Know yourself, know your people! Sharpen your tactical, mental, and physical edge daily. Every day is a training day! Create a winning mindset.
“Remember, our time here on this job is short. The next generation is already here. It is up to US to set THEM up for continued success. THE TIME IS NOW… AND IT BEGINS WITH YOU!
Today is the first day of the rest of your career.”
