Greetings everyone, I hope this email finds you well.   On Monday nearly a third of the Fire Department exhaled.  Congratulations to everyone who took the test and regardless of the score, your life can now get back on track with your family and friends.  Not too much to go over this week, so let’s get started.

 

Let’s see some of the runs we’ve gone on this week:

 

 

What’s the value of an Engineer?

Two months of stress, anxiety, isolation, and determination culminated this week with the Suppression Lt’s exam.  Although each one of you walked out with different scores, the range of emotions is limited: guarded optimism, uncertainty, depression, or bewilderment.  I know because I’ve been there too.  My first chiefs test, I’ve never studied so hard only to score so bad on a promotional test.  I was so scarred from that event, for the next chiefs test, I didn’t even sign up for it,  I basically closed the door of opportunity on myself.  But where one door closes, another will surely open.  FDNY’s Memorial Wall says "For fallen soldiers, in a war that never ends".  This job can feel a lot like war at times.  We come under attack and we attack back.  Some have died for others and some have died for each other.  And like the end of an enemy’s sniper round, firefighters have died for simply being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.  The reason we serve, few will ever know.  We pride ourselves on paramilitary structures, with rank, insignia, and names like "Combat", attack lines, and fire-fights.  Although I have never served in the military, many of you have.  What I do know, is when the war is over, it seems the only names that surface are generals and admirals  but who wins the wars are the troops on the ground and in the trenches.  The glue that holds the company together is the sergeant.  Any new lieutenants, captains, and majors, would do well to heed the advice of the Chief Petty Officer,  First Sergeant, or Master Sergeant.  Their 20 years of experience might save your butt or your life one day.  In the fire service, that position is the engineer.

A good engineer is worth their weight in gold and  many an officer will tell you so.  They know where they are going and how to get there.  They say, get dressed Lieu…I’ve got this or I’ve got the next patient.   They bring a calming assurance to new officers and those riding on OT from different stations.  They handle the apparatus and many times they handle the cooking.  I can guarantee you, the best cooks on this job were never officers!  In short, a score on a test will not define you nor is it the end of your career.  The fact you were sitting there shows you have what it takes to promote.  I know no email will take the sting out of not promoting nor will it help pay bills for your family.  But if you make it home safe at the end of a long shift, you can thank an engineer, and that my friends, is invaluable.

Well that’s it for this WIR. Please continue to keep our members and their families in your thoughts and prayers as some are truly having a hard time.  Keep looking out for each other as our fire season hasn’t slowed down any… except maybe for the Westside…lol.  All kidding aside, I hope the weather holds out this weekend and I hope California Chrome can pulled off the Triple Crown.  Can you sell a 3 bedroom house with only 1 bath? 

As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for always showing why you are truly the Best Fire Rescue Department in the Country!

Very Respectfully,

Kurtis R. Wilson

Chief of Operations

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department