FireNet Community
FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Service Training OR Recruitment => Topic started by: rp on May 08, 2008, 11:41:32 AM
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Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share my excitement with people that would understand!!
I have been trying to get in the fire brigade for the past 2 years now and finally just been offered a job starting 9th June at West Midlands. This is like my dream job so you can imagine my excitement.
Is there anybody on here currently active at West Midlands with any tips for me for the training course??
I think im the happiest person in the World right now.
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Well done rp, great news!
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Well done rp, great news!
Yep, Well done.
Only 40 years to do. Mind you, in 30 years time you might have to do another 20.
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Is there anybody on here currently active at West Midlands with any tips for me for the training course??
A tip? Yep, keep your mouth shut your ears open and enjoy the ride.
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Well done :)
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Yeah...dont take over the mess....its a thankless task.
Well done
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Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share my excitement with people that would understand!!
I have been trying to get in the fire brigade for the past 2 years now and finally just been offered a job starting 9th June at West Midlands. This is like my dream job so you can imagine my excitement.
Is there anybody on here currently active at West Midlands with any tips for me for the training course??
I think im the happiest person in the World right now.
Well done rp hopefully i'll be celebrating getting in some time this year, west mids i think is a good/busy area for a FF so all the best. I promised myself 2008 would be the year I get in the brigade still got 7 months and a few campaigns to go so fingers crossed, and once again all the best.
One more thing are you from west mids or are you relocating from another area?
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good lad RP nice going its bloody hard these days
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Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share my excitement with people that would understand!!
I have been trying to get in the fire brigade for the past 2 years now and finally just been offered a job starting 9th June at West Midlands. This is like my dream job so you can imagine my excitement.
Is there anybody on here currently active at West Midlands with any tips for me for the training course??
I think im the happiest person in the World right now.
Well done rp hopefully i'll be celebrating getting in some time this year, west mids i think is a good/busy area for a FF so all the best. I promised myself 2008 would be the year I get in the brigade still got 7 months and a few campaigns to go so fingers crossed, and once again all the best.
One more thing are you from west mids or are you relocating from another area?
Im from the North East so Im relocating.
I did actually work down in the midlands about 5 years ago so know the area so its not too bad. I dont mind to be honest, im just chuffed to be doing the job I want to do and know I will enjoy doing.
I passed all the entrance tests last year for the tyne and wear fire brigade (including the medical) but unfortunately had a poor sick record at the time from having a hernia operation and tearing some ligaments in my ankle so they didnt want to employ me in the end. Hence I then went for West Midlands and they were more than happy to have me - so like I said Im very happy to be doing a job I will love.
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Hi rp, well done on starting in June at West Mids! Summer course - even better! I did 6 years in an East Mids brigade but am originally from up north, looking to get back into tyne n wear. I read your piece about them not taking you for sickness, at which stage did this happen? not that I have had any sickness but it just seemed a bit harsh. Its strange cos some services seem to bother with things that others dont. anyway all the best mate
Hey,
Yeah it was very harsh. It happened right at the end when they checked references (it was for Durham and Darlington Brigade).
Anyways thats all behind me - im itching to get started with West Midlands. I would have thought a summer course would have its down sides with it being red hot running around the yard in full fire kit.
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Hi RP
Well done - Congratulations !!!
As a fellow West Mids man I can tell you they're a very good organisation to work for
Advice? Just the usual really ... call every one "sir" or "ma'am", be humble, head down and listen in.
And if you are going to get drunk - do so on a friday night not a Saturday atleast then you will have plenty of time to recover for when Monday morning roles around!!!!
Remember the instructors will bawl and shout but it isnt personal so just enjoy it and work as hard as you can.
Best of luck mate
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Cheers Retty,
I have given up the drink for now and dont plan on drinking throughout the training course. I have worked hard to get my fitness excellent and I want to keep it that way.
Whereabouts in the West Mids do you work and whats the shift pattern?
Thanks
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Cheers Retty,
I have given up the drink for now and dont plan on drinking throughout the training course. I have worked hard to get my fitness excellent and I want to keep it that way.
Whereabouts in the West Mids do you work and whats the shift pattern?
Thanks
Im currently on the nine to five payroll as an Inspecting officer in one of the Brigade's 5 fire safety centres (I wont say which one because quite a few people would try and stalk me :P)
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Excellent news well done, keep your ears open, work hard.......
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well done mate.... im currently going through the training school at gmc so ill tell u now u will be in for a hard but enjoyable couple of months of your life. head down in the books and try your best thats all you can do. so far thats working for me. :)
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Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share my excitement with people that would understand!!
I have been trying to get in the fire brigade for the past 2 years now and finally just been offered a job starting 9th June at West Midlands. This is like my dream job so you can imagine my excitement.
Is there anybody on here currently active at West Midlands with any tips for me for the training course??
I think im the happiest person in the World right now.
I was the happiest person in the world in 1977 when I joined. The next time I was the happiest man in the world was 2 months ago when I retired.
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and you still cant get the fire service out of your system loitering around these message boards.
You love it really.
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and you still cant get the fire service out of your system loitering around these message boards.
You love it really.
No.
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ha ha - im only joking.
Im sure you have some happy memories throughout your service and dont regret it.
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well done rp............awaiting word from my interview in tyne and wear frs.........headwrecking time............good luck mate......
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Does anyone know how the current training programme is spread out??
i.e - is it spread over 13 weeks Monday to Friday or are there training modules covered on a weekend also?
Cheers
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I have recently completed a recruits training course, it was all Mon - Fri and the weekends were our own, sort of! There is a lot of work to do both physically and theortically!
As for the structure of the course I think this is probably different for each brigade, the basic content is probably the same but when you do things may be different and you may do stuff that others don't do to fall in line with your operational requirements.
You'll enjoy it though, just keep your head down and work hard and you'll be fine!!
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Cheers Andy Cole,
Yeah I have had confirmation that my training is Monday to Friday. Im guessing my weekends will be spent with my head in the books.
I just cant wait to get stuck in to be honest.
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Gawsh! I don't remember what it's like to be soo excited about starting in the service. Perhaps if I did I wouldnt be the cynical old git that I am!
Anyhoo, here goes. When you are at the school, PAY ATTENTION! Instructors only want to say things once - I know, I was one. Only answer direct questions - never chip in as you may be thought of as a smart-alec. Maintain your appearance - this goes a long way towrds demonstrating your self-discipline and motivation. Always give 100% on practical exercises. From personal experience, even if you are a clumsy so and so, the very fact that you don't give up and always give your best effort, the instructional staff will always be there to assist. If they aren't, they shouldn't hold the position.
I and my colleagues at the training school all agreed, the best recruits were the anonymous ones. They never got into bother but just got stuck in and did what was asked of them.
If you pick up an injury (sprains, strains, blisters, etc) - tell your squad instructor. Apart from the requirement to record/investigate/treat injuries, if you try to carry it without telling anyone, your performance will be affected and the instructors will notice. If they dont know you are injured, they will conclude you are just being lazy or not helping the team.
I wish you the very best of luck in your recruit course. Enjoy it. You should be able to look back on it as a happy time and with pride in a job well done.
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And for gods sake shave. Every day. Then do it again for good measure. Even if you don't need it. Or they WILL notice and you'll be doing more laps of the drill yard than you knew were possible.
When you are asked to go somewhere on a drill yard, you need to be going there at double time, and all together. We were made to run in a perfect line side by side, in step to each other. If we messed up, we do it again. And again. And again. Until we got it right.
Mind you, I think they decided they didn't like me, after collapsing on the first afternoon from dehydration, thanks to lots of hose running. Top Tip: Drink lots of water. LOTS.
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Gawsh! I don't remember what it's like to be soo excited about starting in the service. Perhaps if I did I wouldnt be the cynical old git that I am!
Anyhoo, here goes. When you are at the school, PAY ATTENTION! Instructors only want to say things once - I know, I was one. Only answer direct questions - never chip in as you may be thought of as a smart-alec. Maintain your appearance - this goes a long way towrds demonstrating your self-discipline and motivation. Always give 100% on practical exercises. From personal experience, even if you are a clumsy so and so, the very fact that you don't give up and always give your best effort, the instructional staff will always be there to assist. If they aren't, they shouldn't hold the position.
I and my colleagues at the training school all agreed, the best recruits were the anonymous ones. They never got into bother but just got stuck in and did what was asked of them.
If you pick up an injury (sprains, strains, blisters, etc) - tell your squad instructor. Apart from the requirement to record/investigate/treat injuries, if you try to carry it without telling anyone, your performance will be affected and the instructors will notice. If they dont know you are injured, they will conclude you are just being lazy or not helping the team.
I wish you the very best of luck in your recruit course. Enjoy it. You should be able to look back on it as a happy time and with pride in a job well done.
Cheers for all the advice - really helpful.
As an instructor yourself - I have been asked on my first day to arrive wearing smart but casual clothing. Would you find jeans as acceptable clothing for smart/casual.
Thanks again
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Speaking personaly, it didn't matter what the trainees wore for their arrival as, just as soon as they could, they put on their new uniforms (or whatever passes for such these days). If you have been told 'smart/casual', then I would guess jeans may not quite fit the bill. But then again, I am a bit old-fashioned.
Good luck.
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For all the courses I've been on within Brigade, smart casual basically means no shorts, sandals, sleeveless t-shirts etc. Jeans, normal t-shirts, trainers are usually fine.
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Well done RP. Be postive and try and ignore some of the old timers out there. It's still a good job and career. Get plently of courses under your belt will always come in useful espically when you come into fire safety??
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Trying to recruit him already BB, give the poor lad a chance to get his foot in the door first!
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For all the courses I've been on within Brigade, smart casual basically means no shorts, sandals, sleeveless t-shirts etc. Jeans, normal t-shirts, trainers are usually fine.
If in doubt cross dressing should ensure that you get on fine. Nobody will dare criticise you.
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If in doubt cross dressing should ensure that you get on fine. Nobody will dare criticise you.
Very true, I wouldn't like to be the first to try it though!
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Well done RP. Be postive and try and ignore some of the old timers out there. It's still a good job and career. Get plently of courses under your belt will always come in useful espically when you come into fire safety??
OMG! Don't condemn the poor guy just yet, he's worked too long and hard to get this far without that Sword of Damocles hanging over him!
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Just read through all the posts again as an academic exercise. There appears to be a wide range of individuals responding with correspondingly broad levels of fire service experience and, without exception, me included, all have assumed that RP, who placed the initial post, is a man. I took the trouble to check RP's profile and it gives no indication of gender.
Can anyone shed any light on why, after all the equality and diversity, and positive discrimination in the fire service over the past few years, that this should be the case? I can't, other than to say that I'm retired and when I was operational there were very few females in the service in operational roles - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. What's yours?
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Ha ha - well luckily for you all Im male.
Althought I see your point pugh - there is actually 4 females on my initital firefighter recruitment course so yes its wrong to assume all new recruits are male.