Page 8 - Volume 19

Promotional
Putting Ups & Downs
into PERSPECTIVE
By Anonymous
Do you ever really get what you want the first time you try? We have all been there, expecting
to get that promotion we worked so hard for. We have the illusion we have completed everything necessary to
be the next promoted officer. Think about it. Did we really make ourselves promotable? Were all the I(s) dotted and T(s) crossed? Did we take all the needed courses? Did we get the right degrees? How will we know going into that interview? We may have crossed off all of the requirements, feeling we have met them all. But, things really do hap- pen for a reason. There is a right time and place. Here is my story.
My career started as a very naïve, 18-year-old, volunteer firefighter. That was all I could think of doing for years as I am a second-generation member
of a fire department. My father was a chief officer when I got my badge and turnout gear. From my first ride on the tailboard, all I ever wanted was to be a full-time firefighter, and someday rise through the ranks to chief officer. I had a very good mentor early on who lead me in the right direction. However, we did not have a succession plan in place in our department. It was truly up to you to make yourself promotable.
I started off by going to fire school, became an EMT, and fell increasingly more deeply in love with the fire service. I started taking entry tests all over the area, hoping to land that career position on a full-time fire department. It was
a humbling experience for many years. I would test and get decent scores but that full-time career position kept elud- ing me. I decided to take the route of
most of my peers and joined the private ambulance industry to try to get to the end goal. I certainly did not give up hope, but spent several years worrying that maybe it was just not in the cards for me.
Eventually, I tested high enough for
a full-time job at my department. Once I finished my probationary period, I immediately began preparation for that potential promotion. My mentor advised me to learn as much as I could and never turn down educational opportuni- ties offered through the department. Within my first couple of years, I completed some leadership classes at the Ohio Fire Academy. As a result, I became more focused on the direction
I wanted to take and was determined to follow it to the best of my ability.
At the five-year juncture in my career, I qualified and passed the promotional test for lieutenant. I was very honored when I learned the Chief was recom- mending me and another applicant as his choices for the position to the township administration. We were both promoted together. Not many people are pro- moted the very first time they apply and test for a position. I was very grateful I had accomplished this first step towards my ultimate goal and dream. I never thought I would move along so quickly after the difficulty I had in the initial hiring process.
At this point, my hopes and dreams were on target. The Chief then came
to me and advised me of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association prestigious executive officer program. He had been involved in the implementation of the program
8 InCommand JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017 • www.ohiofirechiefs.org