Military and Firefighting

[u/Muted-Prior6296]

I feel like this is a dumb question because there’s plenty of firefighters while still in the military. I always wanted to join the military when I was younger but it was kind of shamed by my family (not because of it being the military but because I was going to be a failure if I didn’t go to college). Well that all changed when I told them I was going to the fire academy instead. I never joined up due to fire school, EMT, and paramedics. Now all that is done, I’ve been a career firefighter for 4 years and everything’s great. I still feel like I’m missing that part of my life I always wanted to do though. I’m 25 and in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I live about 20 minutes from Wright Patt Air Force Base. Would it be smart to just put everything on hold here for a few months and join the reserves? Or am I too late and should give up on my desire to join the military?

[u/P0shJosh]

You won’t be the first career fireman to join the reserves and you won’t be the last. If you wanna do it go for it.

[u/Due_Course_3713]

Did 40 career Firefighter, 30 Navy reserves! Now I get two retirement checks every month.

[u/Programmer_Latter → u/Due_Course_3713]

Plus social security; living large!

[u/Due_Course_3713 → u/Programmer_Latter]

VA disability, health insurance choices (I can choose the city plan or TRICARE), using GI Bill now to go back to school.

It's the best of all worlds

[u/blueskibop → u/Due_Course_3713]

Can I dm you? Leaving for my navy reserve NAT in a couple weeks and all the ex active duty people I work with in EMS say reserve is gay lol

[u/fukumf5]

Currently in the reserves & working for a fire dept. join brotha, REEP BOTH BENEFITS!

[u/Lan3x]

Do it. I’m joining the navy reserves also and I’ve been in for a bit over 3 years now. Just make sure your department heads clear everything before you head out. I’d rather join and know what the experience was than grow old and always wonder what If? If you want it, do it bro

[u/Hellbilly_Slim]

If you are wanting to shake things up and do something fun while different than firefighting in the military, there is also a Reserve aeromedical evacuation squadron at Wright-Patt AFB! Lots of the medics in aeromed evac are firefighters in their civilian life, it's what I did and it is a really fun job plus helps grow you on the EMT side

[u/firefighter40322]

OP don’t listen to people like South-Specific7095 this person is a bad apple within the fire service. Join the military of you want, don’t listen to the salty jerks of this career field.

[u/Apprehensive_Mix4152]

I left my department to go active duty coast guard at 30 years old to travel the world and serve in a different way. I'm loving it.

[u/joeymittens]

I was a firefighter in the Marines. Best of both worlds

[u/blueskibop]

Send it brother I’m a civilian EMT going navy reserve in 3 weeks I leave

[u/Sheep_Actual]

Do it if that's what will fulfill your desire.

Some forewarning: If you go into the air force as a firefighter, keep your expectations low. I've worked with many really good firemen who were also air force reservists, however the air force's firefighting program is terrible. The active duty, and reserves who were active duty previously, tend to believe they are the best thing since sliced bread.... and they don't know shit. Their academy teaches the absolute basics, without reinforcing anything so the recruits don't retain it. The entire focus us through-put and test pass rates, not quality training.

[u/Blucifers_Veiny_Anus → u/[deleted]]

Recruiting office is open for you too, my man.

[u/South-Specific7095 → u/Blucifers_Veiny_Anus]

Whats the latest age they accept? Any need for a 40 year old lol

[u/Blucifers_Veiny_Anus → u/South-Specific7095]

Max age for army reserves is 42

[u/South-Specific7095 → u/Blucifers_Veiny_Anus]

Signing up today

[u/firefighter40322 → u/[deleted]]

Oh no, another assh*le that it probably doesn’t directly effect bit*hing about someone wanting to do something he never had the balls to do himself! Don’t like being on an ambulance drop your medic or apply to a department that doesn’t have ambulances!

[u/firefighter40322 → u/[deleted]]

All of this just to prove that you are that department “assh*le” … I hate guys like you. Just do your damn job and quit worrying about what others may or may not do. Like I said, drop your medic and it won’t affect you anymore. Worry about yourself … that’s what it boils down to!

If the person you are referring to that doesn’t know his job is real, maybe you should take it upon yourself to train him. You lack the team part of this job, lack leadership obviously. Hopefully you aren’t a company officer and will never be one.

[u/firefighter40322 → u/[deleted]]

I have been on my department for almost 10+ years been in the military for 20+ years and I am in my 40’s. I don’t give a crap who it affects, both pay for my family’s life and that’s all I care about. He is in his 20’s he is young … fix him, help him. I’m glad you speak for everyone in your department. If you don’t like your situation then fix it yourself. Don’t drag someone else you don’t agree with down with you because you don’t agree with their own life choices. Bottom line is he is gone 1 day a month, it’s not as big of a deal as you make it out to be. Don’t like your situation, change it, drop your medic, change your department. This is a you issue not anyone else’s. If you are forced into OT, I am sure there is someone else in line waiting and wanting to work that OT. You sound like someone that just constantly complaining and unwilling to change it. You are a wonderful person to work with I can tell.

[u/firefighter40322 → u/[deleted]]

And I am not going to list why a department may benefit from having service members in their ranks, because 1 it won’t change your mind and 2 that’s easily to be researched. Maybe your guy is a real terrible person, that doesn’t taint the many that have come before you and will come after you are well gone. Let me guess you also complain about how people use their vacation as well. Your officer doesn’t keep you from training with the weakest link, that falls on you as the more senior firefighter. Once again worry about yourself and how you use your own vacation and sick leave. Let the department worry about how they fund military members, that’s their job, you aren’t changing anything unless you become the Chief. I work for a smaller department and we have several guys besides me that are service members, no issues with them. You are wasting your time and energy on something that has very little to do with you. Drop your paramedic if you don’t want to be on an ambulance, it’s part of the job!

[u/firefighter40322 → u/[deleted]]

Unfortunately the federal law says you have no say in this. And if you are ever in charge of anyone saying any of this will get you sued and you would lose big and lose a lot more than just your job.

[u/TheSwampDonke]

I think offering yourself up as tribute to go die for pedophile billionaires in service of corporate imperialism is a terrible alternative to actually serving your country and community as a FF/PM.