There has been a lot written, taught, debated and lectured on in regards to fire apparatus that fall under the definition of a quint.  If you look it up, there are several definitions of what a quint is and should be to be considered so, but it boils down to a very simple description.  The […]

  In this episode we take fall in line with the season of Thanksgiving and discuss being thankful for not only the things that are good and enjoyable in our lives, but also the things that are challenges or perceived failures. We can learn and grow so much more from the hard things than the […]

5 Week ODP 11-2015   I have been running this class now for over a year and the demand has grown. I am happy to say that this class will be the first for us to use a Learning Management System, Blackboard, to deliver our next offering in November. This will allow the student easier […]

I talk a great deal about the role of the company officers and how they influence the members of your department.  When teaching officer development we hit hard on setting and establishing expectations and ensuring that there is follow-through with those expectations.  I was recently asked about expectations for my company officers.  They aren’t too […]

A common question that is posed from current and prospective officers along with engaged firefighters is “how do you deal with superior officers or an organization that doesn’t want to move forward?” First, it’s not always the organization or the superior officers that are the sole problem. I’ve seen good, engaged, enthusiastic  firefighters circumvent the […]

Round three for the Company Officer Boot Camp! Here is the registration and information for the course. Thanks for all of the interest and support! For specific questions, please email thenewfireofficer@gmail.com. If you would like to enroll multiple officers from your department, let me know so we can work out an exclusive class or provide […]

Check the upcoming radio show tomorrow night on "Taking it to the Streets" with Chris Naum.  It is sure to be a great show and a good time.  Here is some more information:   Please call in with your questions and get involved in the online discussions that always are part of the shows. Stay […]

For as many uses as we can name, and I by no means named them all, there are multiple ways that they are deployed. My preference is for the officer to come off of the truck or engine with the TIC. Everyone has their own method of operation, but to me the officer makes the most sense.

In my mind it boils down to this; if an officer is not willing to or does not continaually improve himself as an individual and leader and firefighter, he will never be able to improve his crew. He just wont have the respect and credibility to facilitate that improvement. If it isn’t important to him, it wont be important to the crew.