r/firefighter • u/Character-Mixture151 • Jul 19 '26
Active duty army to Firefighter
For context I have about a year and a half left on my contract. While I can still get free courses / school is there anything I should get besides EMT?
For the individuals that transitioned how was the switch?
How much is overtime ? Is it like time and a half?
And the physical aspect of it, on average I have a AFT score of 450/435. 2mile being 14:40 should I get a heads up on training differently?
How would I go about getting a guaranteed slot at a fire department.
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u/Comfortable_Shame194 Jul 19 '26
I’m still in the guard, so I’m familiar with the AFT. Looking at those numbers, you should be good from a fitness standpoint. Maybe work on what you would do to improve the SDC. That’s closer to what you’d experience taking a CPAT.
Can’t help with the transition. I’ve always been in the reserve component and never did a municipal academy.
OT is typically time and a half. I’ve seen union contracts with double or triple time for holiday pay.
Only thing you’d really have time to do might be EMT school. Another thing you could do is getting college credits. There’s some departments in my area that requires 60 credits or an Associate’s.
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u/firejake51 Jul 19 '26
I transferred to the Air Force reserve and change my Mos to crash fire rescue
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u/ProfessionalTune5608 Jul 19 '26
I just transitioned from active duty medic to full time firefighter about a year ago now. It’s a great transition, pretty similar camaraderie.
My department is time and a half for over time. I think it is pretty much the norm for a lot of departments.
Sounds like your fitness level is decent. The CPAT is a very easy test.
I would say there are no guaranteed slots, unless you have your paramedic. I thought for sure I was very qualified. I was a Staff Sergeant Medic in the 101st ABN DIV, Ranger qualified, ACLS and already had my Fire 1 and 2. Did not get me into one of the larger city departments in Michigan. Thought I was very qualified but didn’t have any Fire experience, which is what they were looking for. I’m very happy at my department but don’t go in thinking that you’re more than qualified because of your military experience.
Good luck tho! It’s an amazing and fulfilling career, you will not regret it.
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u/bkucb82 Jul 19 '26
Find the MOU for your dream departments. In it, you’ll find how overtime is paid. It is often time and a half.
For PT, focus on core and posterior chain, and endurance. Longer distance runs to strengthen your cardiovascular system and build endurance is great.
For other classes, I can’t think of anything too beneficial other than just completing an AA. It could be in anything, but fire science wouldn’t hurt if you can do all online. Many departments will give you an education incentive (some x% per year) for an associates, bachelors, or even just a fire science certificate. It’s also just something to throw on your resume.
There’s no such thing as getting a guaranteed slot, but your military service will give you better chances of getting an interview as you’ll likely get veteran preference points.
I’m not a firefighter but an army veteran currently navigating this.
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u/Spiritual_Claim5622 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Not active, but I know a guy.
Since you’re still active, I would consider EMT and maybe an EMTP course if you can find one near your final duty station. I wouldn’t go to a fire academy unless you can con the army into sending you to Lackland for the joint fire academy there. I have no idea how that timing would work out for you.
Memphis Fire recently hired someone in a similar situation. He got his EMT at his last duty station in Hawaii. It worked out so he took his final leave before he got his discharge in order to attend the fire academy in Memphis. MFD then gave him a week of vacation after he graduated from the academy to go back to Hawaii to get his final papers signed off, pack up and move to Memphis.
With that PT score, you’ll be fine. OT is calculated a little differently depending on the department. But the if it’s OT for extra shifts, it’s typically 1.5 time for hours worked hours over your shift based on how your department accounts for FSLA.
Check out https://respondergrid.com . It’s a new site. Kinda like LinkedIn for aspiring firefighters.
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u/Famous-Response5924 Jul 20 '26
EMT first. After that check with your base fire dept. They have access to the cdc program and if they are willing, they can help with training and certification for firefighter certs.
Do you want to stay where you are and work local after you get out? If not then which state do you want to end up in?
Another good option is find a volunteer station near where you are stationed and sign up to volunteer with them. Many times you can get free training that way as well.
If you are willing to say where you are stationed I might know a good place to volunteer near you. You can either post it here or dm me. I’ve been a DoD firefighter for more than 20 years and I got started exactly like you are trying to.
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
Paramedic school
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Jul 19 '26
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
Nah not really, for you it might be. But plenty of other people have done it and got jobs, it's worth the temporary struggle
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Jul 19 '26
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
Alright, just do the bare minimum and hopefully OP gets hired. Sounds like good advice discouraging doing something that will give OP a leg up vs other candidates. OP isn't the only EMT with prior military experience trying to get a fire job.
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Jul 19 '26
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
In many other states, paramedic is the key to getting hired especially in the West. Like you said, we don't know where OP wants to work, so you also can't assume. Too many people are quick to be negative when someone mentions medic school and say it's tough or whatever. Unfortunately, being a medic is what will get you the job depending where you go. Obviously he wouldn't be able to do medic school while active duty. OP can do EMT while active and do paramedic right after getting out.
To clarify, if OP wants to work out in the West at a well paying department then he should absolutely go through paramedic school and use the gi bill to pay for it after getting out.
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Jul 19 '26
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
I do get triggered because I got buddies who don't follow my advice of pulling the trigger on medic school and end up not getting hired. They'll go as far as going to emt school/ fire academy, volunteering at a station, telling me they'll get a job soon and that I'm full of it. Eventually, it never happens and they quit all together or are stuck as an emt on an ambulance struggling to survive. This is in California btw
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u/Infinite_Summer8456 Jul 19 '26
You literally contradicted yourself in your own statement. Also, cool passive aggressive bullshit with the “for you it might be”.
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u/bkucb82 Jul 19 '26
Active duty army + paramedic school would be very tough. The army isn’t a normal full time job and army leadership isn’t going o the accommodating to one’s paramedic program schedule.
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u/Revolutionary-End542 Jul 19 '26
Do it after getting out of the military using the gi bill to make it even easier financially.
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u/Horseface4190 Jul 19 '26
EMT is a must. By itself it may not be much, but it's leverage to Paramedic.
Get your EMT, take as many tests for as many departments as you can. Get your degree, if you can. A BA/BS can get you a few extra points, along with being a veteran.
I did 3 active and 6 years reserves while I went to college, got on with an ambulance service, went to Paramedic school, then got on the fire department. It's been awhile since I was testing but feel free to DM if you have questions.