I think the fire service’s issues of finding good people with the right attitude come more lately from the materialistic ethos of today’s society and lack of maturity of many young adults. Past generations were forced to grow up faster because they HAD to go get jobs, or to fight wars, etc. Today’s young to middle aged adults had the luxury of not having to serve in a compulsory military, were born to parents a little better off financially, and were able to avoid going to work right away to go off to four years of college. I know this is a generalization (I didn’t have those luxuries) but many people I know who are my age were able to go to college without having to also hold down a full-time job, have parents who were certainly able to afford to buy them a car, or support them for a while, or have been through several careers, and I think many of them lack commitment.

We need people who understand commitment and sacrifice. We need people who are willing to serve, not to be served. If you are joining our business for the power trip, you’ve chosen the wrong career.

Thanks for the comment!

As a guy who started out on B shift, worked most of my career so far on C shift, and now find myself on A shift I can say that I understand what you are saying about B Shift!

Great words. I hope everyone is reading and absorbing!