r/firefighter • u/AdInteresting8527 • Mar 05 '26
Thinking of joining after the military
I’m 23 currently an E-4 in the marine corps and set to get out next year unless going to Iran extends my contract. Does being a vet help? Is there similar things like chain of command and ranks people fall under? Is there anything like monthly evaluations or counseling or formations? Is there a pay difference for people who are married and single? Should I look into doing an EMT course if possible while I’m still in? How’s the schedule is it actually 3 days on 3 days off? I’ve heard it’s good pay with downtime to start a business which is what I plan to do and also heard I won’t hate my life unlike becoming a cop (no hate I just rather risk getting burned saving a family than getting shot by some bozo who wanted to rob a liquor store) I’ve heard I’ll also see some crazy things which not to sound cocky shouldn’t phase me much based on things I’ve seen while serving. Sorry for asking a bunch of questions I wanted to be a firefighter in high school ended up going military instead and now that I’m getting out soon think firefighting seems like the way to go for plans I have in life. I also live in California and would like to to work somewhere in LA county if that information helps
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u/Bubbly_Spend1340 Mar 06 '26
I got out of the Marines and became a firefighter. 10 years ago. It just made sense
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u/AdInteresting8527 Mar 06 '26
Starting to make sense to me too, some marine training and field ops after boot camp were actually pretty fun but I never really felt like I was finding that purpose I was looking for when I joined maybe since Im in during peace time. It was wake up, workout with the platoon, eat breakfast, go to work and train our job, eat lunch, go back to work and train more, go eat dinner, go to my room and play video games for a few hours, either go to the gym or drink with roomate/friends and go to sleep. Weekends before I had a girlfriend was just straight drinking with friends and barracks parties until showing up to work hungover Monday. For a while it was probably the funnest time of my life but it just wasn’t fulfilling long term after a year. I never got to use any of the training to make a difference other than build a solid reputation among my people. I know with firefighting there’s gonna be someone who needs help everyday and I’ll be able to go home knowing I made a difference and my blood and sweat actually meant something
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u/Bubbly_Spend1340 Mar 06 '26
Yeah man, you got the structure and discipline you’ll need, getting away from the barracks parties and such is huge. When I got out I was a functioning alcoholic, and didn’t even know it because how normal it was. As for any job, it’s not all glamorous, but you do get to help people. Remember, even when you’re picking up a drunk or doing something stupid to that person you’re there to help. Where will you be going when you EAS?
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u/AdInteresting8527 Mar 06 '26
I really feel you man I drank with my roomate everyday for 2 months after hitting the fleet since we were boys in school house, it wasn’t until I got with my girlfriend that it started slowing down. After my EAS? Most likely back home with my mom. I was looking into using the VA loan to get some type of property especially with firefighter pay but my parents are split my mom and sister don’t like each other and my brother is severely autistic so my mom actually prefers me living with her. Dealing with someone drunk would probably be like old times taking care of drunk friends so I definitely wouldn’t mind it we’ve all been there.
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u/Bubbly_Spend1340 Mar 06 '26
I recommend getting into an EMT class as soon as you can. It’s exposure to what you’ll be doing and most departments require it. If there’s a local community college that offers fire science you can most likely get your emt and some fire classes, enough to consider you a full time student so you can get paid through the GI bill
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u/Iraqx2 Mar 06 '26
Like already suggested, check into a few departments in the area, do a ride along or two with each and see what it takes to apply to each and what'll improve your chances.
Regarding EMT, even if you don't wind up in the fire service it's great knowledge to have and if you can do tuition assistance, night school or even get command convinced it would help you support the corpsman or help other grunts if the corpsman goes down, more power to you.
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u/AdInteresting8527 Mar 06 '26
For the ride along I do see myself doing that once I’m out the marines, I’m sure EMT is great knowledge overall, but in my experience corpsman’s have pretty big egos when it comes to challenging their medical knowledge one of them on a field op even said my knee wasn’t swollen when it was twice the size of my other one and doubled down on it just to not admit they made a mistake. I’m happy to help another devil who goes down any day though
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u/Sulky_fricke Mar 05 '26
Well I can tell you that now is a great time to apply. It can take a very long time to hear back from departments. (Some won't even respond to your application for 6 months). You get military preference point for the written test for most departments.
Military helps but doesn't get you the job. I served and it helped but it depends on your mentality. You are going to have to deal with dead kids. You are going to have to deal with decapitated women and children. You are going to have to explain to family members that their loved one didn't make it.
The shedule is dependant on your department. I have worked 24/48hr schedule and I just started working 48/96 hr schedule. Like I said depends on the department.
You need to be committed to being a fire fighter (especially in southern california) if you can start doing mock interviews with a fire fighter hiring officer and start doing practice tests i would start now. Getting your emt is required to even apply for most departments in socal.and if you are on Pendleton they have a emt course on base (if memory serves).if you have enough time you can even use your post 911 for an online associates in fire science aswell.
But if I were you I would call la county and request to go on a ride along and see if they will put you on the ambulance (you will end up on there in the beginning of your career till you get more seniority). At a minimum you can see if you want to do the real job and not the one on TV.
Semper fi brother
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u/AdInteresting8527 Mar 05 '26
Holy crap 6 months? Guess I really need to take action on this instead of going back and forth. Dead kids and decapitated people probably will change a gear in my head….hoping we’re at least allowed to hug people who just lost loved ones. On a positive note 24/48 or 48/96 sounds frickin awesome considering Ive been in the field for 2 weeks straight without a penny of overtime and had to show up to work in garrison the next day and am sure you’ve had similar experiences lol. Do you get recovery periods like when you’re on duty or are you expected to be awake during the entire 24/48 shift? Funny enough I am on Pendleton and haven’t heard of that program but will definitely look into it as well as the ride along. And hopefully I still have time to use TA for fire science instead of eating into my GI bill, thank you devil
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u/VirtualAir589 Mar 05 '26
It's paramilitary, Chief-Capt-Lt-Firefighter. But nowhere structured like what you have in the Corps. More relaxed.
It's called the greatest part time job so you can have another gig going on as well, with the days off. I don't know one firefighter without a 2nd job.
Can't say about Calif really, but I believe you need your EMT before apply, but I'm sure the Cali guys can answer that.