You Are What You Do
DEPARTMENTS
EDITOR’S OPINION
It seems that every once in awhile (more infrequently lately) personalities purporting to be fire service expert instructors pop-up in our formal training world. They are readily recognizable in their ability to say relatively little in a great deal of space.
The second characteristic of these experts is their ability to demean the mentality level of the firefighter. At first, it bothered me to read this type of innuendo, but, on reflection, I realize that it should be, by now, expected.
In a college classroom, many years ago, the question “What is personality?” was asked of the head of the Psychology Department. His carefully thought-out, yet simple answer has stuck with me to this day.
“You are what you do,” the professor quietly muttered.
No statement could be more on target to describe the public (and sometimes private) image of the personality of a firefighter. What he does, both on and off duty, is scrutinized, bantered about by the media and adopted by our public as their image of us. We recognized this many years ago and have been addressing it with public relation and education campaign efforts for quite some time.
It has, generally, been an uphill struggle but worth the fight. We knew then, as now, that honesty, truth, hard work and dedication that are the characteristics of the firefighter were valuable. When we coupled this with the expertise, bravery, and professionalism that truly is the fire service personality, we knew we had a message that would be well received by the public we strive so unselfishly to protect. And it was!
As formal education, scientific research and data analysis have made a stronghold in our fire service world, we adapted. Colleges and universities across the country have opened their doors to this new demand for educational excellence by our fire service members. Those of us who have attended have found our professional educators competing for classes of firefighters to instruct. “So receptive, so intelligent. The more I teach, the more they want,” are just some of the universal comments heard in faculty meetings around the country. Master degree programs are now available in fire science, and doctorates are sure to follow.
The skyrocketing demand for education and training in the fire service from its own members has caused a momentary vacuum in the instructional talent necessary. Efforts to provide this needed expertise have been exemplary in most instances. In some, monumental! The National Fire Academy, its programs and its staffing is a shining example of the talent within our ranks. Most of our professional societies have provided seminars and workshops at cost to regional members.
Unfortunately, this vacuum also spells big business to a minority within our training world. In this area, it has sucked in some “empty suits” whose philosophy is that “in the world of the blind, the one-eyed man can be a king.” They haven’t even taken the time necessary to identify with the personality of those they endeavor to portray themselves as “experts” to. Some, if one takes the time to question and investigate their expertise and experience, would not even qualify to hold the plaster-encrusted turnout coat that symbolizes our much valued and “buffed” place in society.
We have never been nor should we now be accused of being blind. There are experts out there, both within our line functions and in our brothers and sisters in the staff or consultant phase. Your knowledge, through study, experience, and involvement is vital.
Get off your duff and give this fire education business some of your time. Maybe we can push out those minorities who think they can prosper in a world that they define as ignorant and blind. It is only our apathy that allows such a fire educational oligarchy to arise and thrive.
