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?
Richard A. Marinucci, Fire Fighter, Farmington Hills, Mich.: I have attended two courses at the National Fire Academy and have found both classes to be as good or better than the classes in the fire science program at a local college. The classes also compare favorably with numerous seminars and classes that I have attended. In addition, the experience at the academy offers more to the student than these other classes in that there was interaction of fire service personnel from around the country. The exchange of ideas was invaluable to me and I consider this one of the most important functions of the academy.
I was able to apply this knowledge for my own personal benefit, but due to limited funds and political difficulties, the department has yet to receive the full benefit of my experience at the academy.
I have imparted this knowledge to anyone who would be willing to listen and have recommended the academy to courses to everyone I have talked to. The accomodations were quite adequate and comfortable.
Should the opportunity arise, I would definitely attend the academy again. I found the instructors knowledgeable and informative and feel that their enthusiasm towards the academy is quite favorable and contagious.
James B. Alexander, Captain, Greensboro, N.C.: I found the courses excellent—the Fire/Arson Investigation course was designed to meet the needs of the more advanced investigator. I found only one course similar to another course already taken at the North Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, but a certain amount of repetition is to be expected from time to time when attending various schools. An evaluation was conducted at the end of each week’s session. The academy urged each student to give his criticism in improving the academy, programs, instructors and ideas for future courses.
As an active arson investigator, the knowledge gained at the academy has already been put to excellent use, both in fire investigations and teaching in the classroom.
Upon returning, an in-department training session was conducted, providing handout literature, explaining new equipment methods and techniques to other investigators within my department.
Accomodations were excellent—only problem encountered was that the sleeping quarters were not air conditioned, but I understand this is to be corrected. The food was excellent. Everyone I talked to felt the administrative staff, instructors, security and cafeteria personnel all tried their utmost to make one’s visit pleasant and comfortable. I found everyone and everything to be conducted on a professional level at the academy.
Robert L. Holston, Fire Inspector, Salina, Kan.: I was enrolled in the three week fire/arson investigation course. I have, in my 12 years in the fire service, taken quite a few short courses on this subject, but there is no comparison to the knowledge I obtained at the National Fire Academy. The academy course was full of information with hands-on practice in a field that is hard to teach. The academy did a superb job setting up the fire/arson investigation course. We have to do our own investigations in Salina, Kan., and follow through all the way to the courtroom if necessary. The course taught me more in three weeks than I had learned in twelve years in the fire service.
The knowledge gained at the academy, plus the information shared with other personnel from all over the United States made the learning experience unbeatable. The National Fire Academy is by all standards the best training and learning facility that the fire service can offer. I had the misfortune of going in August, the hottest time of the year, and the rooms were not air conditioned. However, the rest of the campus made up for the uncomfortable sleeping conditions. The classrooms are comparable to any other college campus. The cafeteria and food service were unbeatable. I truly enjoyed myself and gained knowledge that I would not have been able to obtain anywhere else.
Mary A. Eames, Firefighter/Asst. Training Officer, E. Thompson, Conn.: The course I took at the National Fire Academy, Educational Methodology 1, was specifically geared toward preparing me to instruct in the fire service. The content of the course was excellent, as well as the instructors who presented it. Other courses taken in my fire service career have ranged from good to excellent, but were geared to fire suppression, pump hydraulics, tactics, etc.
My employment is not in the fire service, but rather in the insurance industry. I do not teach on the job. As a volunteer fire fighter, however, it is applicable in preparing for instructing other volunteers in our department and for preparation of public service programs within our community
Knowledge gained at the academy, either through this specific course or through exposure to other fire fighters, has indeed been imparted to members of our department. The department has learned much from my experiences at the academy.
The accomodations were excellent. The only difficulties encountered were due to extreme heat and humidity in July (no air conditioning) and lugging my baggage to the third floor in a dormitory that did not have an elevator, and these were no great discomforts.
I hope to reapply to the academy for the Arson Investigation course this summer and look forward to another learning experience.
