Posts Tagged: Service
“Iron Sharpens Iron”: Company Officers in today’s Fire Service
Hey Brother,....The Good Book says in Proverbs, that "iron sharpens iron.." meaning that iron in one form can be sharpened by iron in another form (like a file). It goes on to say that in a similar way, good friends build each other up. Sometimes by …
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Brotherhood, Where Art Thou..
[caption id="attachment_817" align="alignleft" width="212" caption="Sno.7's L72 hanging with my father at a Woodinville event in 2006. Photo by author."][/caption]
Well, Brother. Glad you could join me for a cup. ..I know, it's a little strong.…
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Remembering 9 / 11, Ten Years Later
I had intended to post my speech here today. But the editing is all messed up and I don't have time to fix it. I will repost after I return home. It has been an incredible honor to be asked to speak today. Needless to say I am humbled and a littl…
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Swimming in the Current, Standing Like a Rock.
The following diatribe is written poorly at a late hour. My sincere apologies. But I would like to take the time to dedicate this declaration to the five highly dedicated firemen that have helped me this far acting out the foriegn roles of drill ins…
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Why Am I Here? Someone Please Remind Me…
"The first day, the look on the DC's face was priceless, he looked like he was gonna have a coronary. I asked him, "You want me to back off?" He said, "No, I am out of my element, ...but I have never seen so much accomplished in so short a time. Keep it up, I'll go protect your job!" The trials and tribulations of training recruits how to be a part of the fire service and convincing the establishment that it still has merit in the modern world we serve in.
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When One of Us Falls Down
Did you know who the procession was for last Friday? Did you hear the drums beat, the pipes calling, take note or shroud your badge? No? Not the usual coverage, I agree. A slightly more subdued affair. Still I would have liked to have known.
T…
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Our Ambition: Exposed in the Light of Integrity
Well, fill the cup....its been a while. I've been on a leave of absence, learning more about life. Its that time for me I think. I've been all grown up for a bit now, but still feel young at heart and life has its way of dragging you into reality.
I ret…
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The Finer Things; Leading the Next Generation
They're a good crew. But they won't always be yours. At their next assignment or department, will your department's reputation be known for creating steadfast micro-managers or for making future leaders? Where are you in developing the next generation? Time will tell.
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Colonels’ On Point
Often when I think about my attitudes about a given subject and the core beliefs I have, I go back to my young life in the Marines. It was there that the foundation was laid that makes me the fireman that I am today. Here's a few thoughts about the finest officer I ever knew.
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Leadership Begins With Following
Its not easy to lead firemen on the scene or in the firehouse. It is also not easy to be good at followership when you are confronted with poor leadership. You can make a difference in this age old struggle by putting your own self interest aside for another time. Remember, the love of the job.
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Chicago Fire: Disaster at the Sing Way
Several years ago, I didn't know anyone in the Chicago Fire Department. Now, I would call at least one a good friend. The world has been changed and along with it, so has the American Fire Service. If a brother wants to be a part of the nation of firemen, he or she can be so easily..
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The Whip Tips the Hat to the Man
Giving your people the authority to make decisions and to act in the moment when action must rule the day takes a lot of trust and confidence. Sometimes you are going out on a limb, but if you don't give them that opportunity, if you don't believe in your people, how will they ever master their profession?
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Remembering The Parting Glass
I gathered the shift together to tell them we would soon hear a single tone out over the house radio to mark his passing. I didn't even get finished telling them before it began to sound a long, long, mournful tone. He was gone.
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9/11 – Remembering the 343 And A Promise Made
" The fireman I was before 9/11 is not the fireman that I am now. That changed in an instant. Before both towers had gone to ground, I had become a different fireman. For myself and thousands of other firemen, we had not only a career changing moment, but a life-changing moment. All things that had been before were somehow less intense, our current time, began when the towers went down."
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“..to be a fireman”
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Tonight I received a forwarded post from another brother. Headline read, "..firefighters sacked for response to fatal fire". The headlin…
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“The Academy” and the Culture
Reality Show helps to remind us why we do this job!
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