Fire Vets Brotherhood and Mentorship for Veterans in Fire Service

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The mindset and mentality and transition from military service
into the fire service has a lot of overlay that directly relates
and contributes things like brotherhood, camaraderie, prior
skills, learning how to operate in chaotic environments based
off of the knowledge of your training and resorting to it,

(00:20):
and critically think in those situations to help you overcome
any kind of adversity or challenge and accomplish goals.
In the veteran community, you see a lot of people with those
experiences prior that are directly able to relate them
into the prior service. I think they make a great
candidate because of it. Welcome everybody, Copper State
Fireman Podcast. It's podcasters for firemen

(00:43):
burning the ships of complacency, laziness and
excuses. We're promoting love and passion
for the job, encouraging eagerness and mastering the
craft of the fire service. Remember, the information,
opinion, values, recommendation and ideas are the host and the
individuals of this podcast and are not affiliated or endorsed

(01:06):
by the fire departments, organization or companies the
individuals work for. This podcast is for general
information use only, brought toyou by the Copper State Fools
and sponsored by Solid Foundation Team LLC Let's go.
All right, welcome back, everybody.

(01:27):
Thanks for joining us. Sitting down here with Nick
Tamalia. Nikki's been in the American
Fire Service now for eight years.
Prior to that he served eleven years in the Arizona Army
National Guard as the infantryman, worked his way all
the way up to Sergeant. So now he's currently a
firefighter. He holds a specialty of TRT and
hazmat, so he's all hazards fireman.
He's also a fire ground survivalinstructor.

(01:50):
He's taught high school fire science program.
He is a mentor for the fire vets, which we're going to do a
deep dive into today. It's been part of the hiring
process for the current department he works for.
He teaches engine company functions and hose line
management. But more important, that water
application within his department, big ticket things
that Nick's proud of. Here is his job.

(02:12):
So it's being a husband, father,firefighter.
Of course, he's proud to have been a soldier for the best
country in the world, United States of America, right?
And now he's currently in the American fire service.
So Nixon down here is solid, dude, right?
We're here to talk about the fire vets as a whole.
And I'm sure we'll kind of get off topic a little bit, but
dude, so for the people that don't know, and this is near and

(02:32):
dear to my heart, so we'll, we'll expand on this, but let's
just start off with the basics, brother.
So what? What is the fire?
Vets, right? So Valley Firefighter Veterans
Society, it's a nonprofit group.It has started back as I want to
say 2012 as Honor Vet and then 2014 became Valley Veteran
Firefighters Society Long term for Fire Vet.
The organization was created to help mentor and guide veterans

(02:56):
and military service members in the transition of leaving the
military and going into the fireservice.
As everybody knows, the fire service can be a very
competitive and tough thing to get into, and the organization
helps bridge that gap and teach people about culture,
expectations and mentor and guide them throughout the hiring

(03:17):
process to lead them to ultimately complete their goal
and be successful in it. Dude, I love it.
So again, this is coming from a veteran, right?
He has served our country, right?
So he sees the importance from this.
So from your opinion, Nick, right?
And I can't ask for anybody better.
Why focus on the veterans? You know, So there's so many
opportunities we could hit different demographics of people

(03:40):
and everything else. And before we get into the whole
recruitment idea, because that'ssomething that's brand new to
the fire service, why in your opinion and the fire vets,
right, why is it so important tofocus on these veterans?
So a couple of things. First and foremost, the unique
thing with Fire Vet as an affinity group is you don't have
to be a veteran to be a part of it and go through the mentorship
program. Oh see, I didn't even know that.

(04:01):
Which is very cool and some of the best candidates that we've
helped along the way over the years have no prior service
experience. However, the mindset and
mentality and transition from military service into the fire
service has a lot of overlay that directly relates and
contributes things like brotherhood, camaraderie, prior

(04:25):
skills, learning how to operate in chaotic environments based
off of the knowledge of your training and resorting to it,
and critically think in those situations to help you overcome
any kind of adversity or challenge and accomplish goals.
In the veteran community, you see a lot of people with those
experiences prior that are directly able to relate them
into the prior service. I think they make a great

(04:46):
candidate because of it. Absolutely.
And the the other thing too, like being a veteran myself
also. So it's, it's one of those
things where the guys that haven't been or haven't served
their country prior to they, they don't understand the amount
of responsibility that these veterans have at a very young
age. And it's, it's super similar to

(05:07):
the fire service. So across the nation right now.
And I know you guys are having the same issue in the department
you were compared to the department I work with because
it's, it's a nationwide issue right now when it comes down to
the quality of applicants and really the desire to be a
fireman anymore because we we all realize there's, there's way
easier ways to make a lot more money.
But with all that said, right, in the military, and you can

(05:28):
attest to this, at 232425 years old, you're a supervisor, you're
E4E5, maybe even E6, getting up to what we would consider the
chief rank in the fire service almost as a very young
individual now in charge of not four or five, six guys like

(05:49):
we're asking our company officers to do, right?
You're in charge of a platoon, maybe 100, maybe 50, maybe a
couple 100, right? So that's what like when it
comes down to the veteran side, their exposure at a very early
age is a good transition. You kind of feel the same way
about that. Yeah, I'd have to agree.
I think. You know, obviously in the
military there's a lot of immaturity, but of course a lot

(06:10):
of quick maturity that happens at a very young age and the
responsibilities that are taken upon yourself.
The thing that I see that's a lot different is in the fire
service. It's not uncommon to see
somebody do 30 years in the fireservice.
In the military, people do four years, be done with their time
in the service and, you know, never look back, right, So.

(06:32):
It's almost a stepping stone to usually public safety of some
sort, but another career path. Yes, often times I, you know, in
interactions, I see a lot of people going to public safety
right from the military. So it's very unique to see that
happen. Yeah, absolutely.
So when it comes down to the actual fire vets itself, so now

(06:53):
we now we know, you know why youguys exist, right, And what
you're actually doing. So tell me more about the fire
vets and what you guys have to offer.
Like what say if say as me as a veteran, OK, and I want to get
hired on the fire service and I I reach out to you, right?
I find you guys online. You have a website.
We do fire vet.org. OK, so I go to firevet.org,

(07:14):
right? We'll plug that again at the end
of the show. But so I go there and I get in
contact with you. You're right.
I'm fresh out of the military. I'm getting ready to get
discharged, whatever the case might be.
What is a fire vet going to do for me?
Like what do you guys do for these veterans and even non
veterans to help them get hired?What's that process look like?
So over the years, there's been some transition and how we do

(07:34):
mentorship. I'd say as of right now,
somebody reaches out, I get their contact information, share
mine with them as well, and I'llinvite them to come down to our
next mentorship meeting that we do at the training Academy.
How often are those meetings usually?
Monthly, first Monday of every month.
So all of them come down to do amentorship meeting.

(07:58):
Sometimes depending on situations and circumstances for
both myself or the candidate coming through, I'll meet with
them or have them come meet withme even before then at the
station, if they have any kind of questions, things like that,
where I can talk, chat with them, see what their goals and
ambitions are and how I can helpthem accomplish those.
From there, we do a variety of different things.

(08:20):
We'll have opportunities on certain shifts to be able to do
workouts with firefighters, other fire, but mentors to help
guide and mentor them in the appropriate functions in order
to be physically ready for a fire training Academy.
So we give that opportunity for them as well.
We have a. So you're basically saying that

(08:41):
you you put them through like a fireman workout?
Is that what you're doing? Yeah, doing skills courses.
Is that what do you have turnoutgear for the guys or how does
that work? Yeah, right now it's kind of hot
out here, so we have guys working on PTS, OK, And some
guys, you know, we'll get turnout gear for some guys going
through the process. And I say guys, but it could be
females too, just using that term as a general.

(09:02):
Yeah, and, and, and people, people know too.
And we'll just we'll stress it again.
We've talked about in previous episodes, right?
When we say boys, guys, right, firemen, it's all in relation to
the brother and the sisterhood. So excuse our lack of PC, but
it's it's just how we talk. So yeah, the boys, right?
Yep. So we have the guys coming
through doing workouts using hand tools, Dragon tires, things

(09:23):
that are going to be functional fitness on the fire ground and
ensure that they're able to apply the skills necessary in
the training Academy without their physical capability being
any kind of hindrance. So we'll do that.
And just like anything with withFirebat, I tell candidates all
the time, it's you get out of itwhat you put into it right from

(09:43):
there. The process is different for
everybody, right? So you have some people that are
working on getting their EMT in order to be able to apply.
You have some people that have never tested before, some that
have tested before, some that have interviews in the pipeline,
they're coming up. So depending on where the
candidate is in the stage of their hiring process, the

(10:04):
mentorship is directed for that,right?
So if they're in test taking time, whether it's whatever city
that they're testing with, the focus now becomes the test,
right? Because if you can't pass the
test, you can't get an interview.
If they're in the process of having a first round interview
somewhere, the gear shifts now into focusing on interview

(10:24):
preparation. With that being said, physical
fitness is a constant in it. So that's going to be
continually happening as firefighters or candidates
become successful in the processand become firefighter recruits
or getting ready to go into the group position.
Then our focus shifts with thoseparticular candidates to help
gear them up with skills and things that they're going to be

(10:46):
doing in the Academy. So when they get there, it's not
the first time that they've touched a hose line.
It's not the first time they've taken a plug.
Those types of things that make them familiar with it, familiar
with their SCBA, their air packs, going through fireground
survival techniques, those things that will help set them
up for success in the Academy. So you're basically doing all
this with these candidates rightprior to them even getting a job
offer. Is that correct?

(11:06):
OK, so and and I heard you say multiple cities, right.
So you guys as a program, you'rebasically, are you okay with
anyone coming down saying, hey man, I want to test for city AB
and C and you guys don't care? Is that the case?
Absolutely. You know, absolutely there to

(11:27):
one, support the American Fire service, right.
Moreover, in the metropolitan area where we work right now, we
work off automatic aid. So there's a good chance that
we're going to be seeing them working in a neighboring city
anyways, right, right. So the whole goal is that we
want to help good people get into the fire service, right,
and make this better than it wasbefore we got there, when we got
there, and moving forward into the future as well.

(11:48):
Yeah, and I mean, and we it's a little cliche, but I've
mentioned this multiple times, right, because I hold hardly
believe in it. Like guys will say that all the
time, right? Hey, leave it better than you
found it, right. But that actually does mean
something to us, right? It means something the guys that
sit down in front of in front ofus on this podcast.
It means something for the Copper State fools members.
I mean, it means something because we wholeheartedly want

(12:10):
the American fire service no matter what freaking city,
county, whatever you work in, just to be better, more
efficient, more aggressive, right?
To do the job that we all signedup to do and to do it very well,
right? And that's protecting the public
property. I mean, you name it.
So just a little bit more about the fire vets.
It's like, so I'll tell a quick little story.
So me and Nick actually met together when we were both in

(12:32):
the process to try to get hired out here right with the fire
vets. So Nick is prior military on
prior military. And it's funny because we went 2
completely different routes. You know, we both happen to see
each other at the, at the station or at the Academy that
day to do a workout or one of the mentorship meetings.
And then I remember it was just like, Hey, the, at that time,

(12:52):
the department that you were applying for was starting in
like November, right? And then I was actually asked
and I love telling this story. I tell this story to the guys I
work with right now because they're most of the time they're
surprised. The gentleman that was running
the fire vets that that at that time had asked me because I was
a fireman back east. I was literally flying out to
Arizona just to even see if I like the state, right?

(13:14):
And I'm like, I'll even know what departments are out here,
right? I know Phoenix exists because
they're big, right? So let me just see if I even
like the state, see how they operate on the West Coast
compared to the East Coast, right?
And I remember the guy that ran the fire vets at that time, I'd
asked me, he's like, all right, Steve, who else are you applying
with, right? And I'm like, dude, I have no
idea, right? And this is my favorite story

(13:35):
ever, right? So he goes, all right, listen.
And the department he works are,right.
He goes, we're the best, right? And then jokingly I say, well,
duh, I'm the best. That's why I'm sitting here,
right? So we have a good little laugh
about that, right? And then he goes, the only other
department that he goes, me personally, I would apply with
was the one that I now currentlywork for, right?
And so I'm like, interesting, you know?

(13:56):
So this is the guy that works for a very large fire
department, right? And he is wanting guys to work
good guys to work for same department, right, But has such
a good outlook was like, hey, first question, who else, right?
And I'm like, it then gives me arecommendation and then sure
shit, the department I work for now happened to open up in May

(14:17):
when the other one was opening up in November, right?
So it was one of those things. And I told him, I'm like, hey,
I'm going to apply here. He goes, listen, he's like,
cool, we're here 24/7. Like if you want to ride with
us, ride with us. And it was funny.
I never met a single fireman forthe, the department I work for
now until the day I went throughthe physical agility test,
right? And then the interviews and
everything else. And everyone was surprised.

(14:39):
And I, I strictly put it back tothe fire vets while I was
successful because at least the guys in your organization were
like, Hey, this is what you needto expect, right?
And I did the workouts with you guys and everything else.
And it's like, holy cow, it's a different atmosphere, it's
different gear, it's a differentmentality.
I mean, everything's, it's an American fire service, but it's
all fucking different, right? And I'm like, holy shit.

(14:59):
So if it wasn't for them, I don't know.
I thought we've been successful in my first shot.
And the crazy thing about it is like, how was that guy flying
from East to West Coast every single time for a testing
process? It was like 8 flights and eight
flights equivalent to $8000 between hotel rooms, flights,
rental cars, I mean, you name it, to come out to do the
process right. And without the fire vets

(15:21):
basically saying, hey, bro, staywith us.
Like I got got. I mean, it was just like they
open their arms. So it's, that's the kind of
program that these guys are. So talk a little more about
that, like what you guys do for these these dudes that are, you
know, trying to get a job. It's funny that you mentioned
that. I, you know, I've had a variety
of different mentors throughout the process.
And when I was trying to become a firefighter, some of the big

(15:43):
ones throughout it were fire mentors as well.
But I had one outside of it thathad nothing to do with the
department I work with now. And he was no part of fire but
at all. And he's going through the
process and we're having a chat and he was telling me, you know,
he's like, hey, you know what, you need to figure out where you
want to be. I think this is the department
that you want to work for. He's like, I can see it in you.

(16:05):
He's like, but you're testing all over the place.
You're spinning your wheels and you're going to get burnt out.
Yeah. It's like, so I'm not saying not
to go test everywhere. He's like, but a lot of your
eggs are in this basket and maybe you should start making
that your primary focus because you're going to XYZ department
over here testing and you might strike lightning.

(16:25):
He's like, but the chances rightnow with how competitive it they
are, that's probably not where you belong.
And he had a lot of friends withthe department that I work for
currently. And he was telling he's like,
hey, I just think personality wise, that's where you'll
probably fit in the best becausetalk about traditions, fire
service culture, etiquette, all that stuff, right?
And while it's the same and there's a lot of value in it

(16:48):
across the board, across the country, there is internal
subcultures and things like that, right?
So he encouraged me to focus with department that I wanted to
be on. And sure enough, after I took
his advice with that, you know, a couple months later, it panned
out. I was offered opportunity to
come back and do an interview and was shortly thereafter in

(17:08):
the fire Academy. Perfect.
So with that being said, I have this discussion with people all
the time at the mentorship meetings because I know a lot of
the mentors, including myself, we all work with the same
department. And I encourage guys that have
been successful through the process and work with other
departments to come back and help out with mentorship and

(17:30):
give back to the fire vet program and essentially grow it
that way. We have points of contact at the
other departments like, hey, we have this really good guy, he's
coming, he's testing with your guys's organization.
Can we send them over to you andhave them learn about your
guys's culture specifically things are going to set them up
for success if they go work withthis department in the East
Valley versus in the West Valley.

(17:50):
You know, those types of things.You're asking what what we do
for these guys. I would say the biggest thing,
in my opinion, of what we do forcandidates going through the
process is allowing them the opportunities to really dive in
to the culture of the fire service and the subcultures
within different departments, shifts, stations, those types of

(18:11):
things. So they can learn as much as
they can and gain as much job knowledge as they can.
So they can then take the knowledge of their experiences
prior and connect the dots to the fire service in the
expectations so they know what they're getting into.
So they don't get on the job andsay, well, I didn't have any
idea this was going on. And now they leave two years

(18:33):
afterwards. Yeah.
And that's that's a struggle that I think all of us are
having right now across the nation because and it it is
partially our fault. And when I say our fault, I mean
guys already on the job when youget dudes coming in to either
ride along or or and I'm curiousif you run into it with the
mentorship program for the fire vets too.

(18:53):
But we do a great job of saying,hey, the fire service can give
you all these benefits, right? Great schedule, time with the
family, decent pay, right? The calling, just being able to
help people get back to the community.
I mean, the list goes on and on and on and on, right?
And what I've been recently asking, especially new guys
trying to get hired, is that I know what we have to offer to

(19:17):
you, right? What do you in your personal
experiences, right, in your lifeprior to trying to become a
fireman, what do you bring to the city county department that
you want to work for? You know, and I think that hems
up a lot of people. And then more importantly too
is, and it's what you're kind oflike saying, and I love the fact
you guys do Hey, where do you really want to work?

(19:38):
Right? OK, it's department A, right?
So we're going to go to department A and do you know how
many calls they run a year? Do you know how many stations
they have things along those lines?
Because so the department, just like you, the department I work
for now is very busy, just like yours, right?
So we're having an issue now where guys come in and we tell
them, you know, we run these many calls, right?

(19:58):
We have trucks that run 35 to 4000 calls a year individually,
you know, like, but those are just numbers, you know?
And then all of a sudden they run them, right?
And they haven't, they don't know what that feels like.
And then five years later they're like, hey, I'm going to
go to a podunk fire department that there's nothing wrong with
that, right? But we just me personally,
right? We just spent all this time,

(20:19):
money and effort to make you a fucking great fireman, right for
this department. And now you're going to
basically put your tail between your legs and run because it's
too busy, right? It's like, bro, we told you it
was busy. So like, I almost want it.
And I'm curious if you guys are doing this at all.
I almost like to tell people allthe negatives now.
Hey, do you understand the chance of you getting divorce is
higher than the rest of the nation?

(20:39):
You understand that the chance of you getting cancer is high?
Like I almost want to and sell them the job and then if they
show back up, be like, all rightnow we're in right now.
Now let me tell you all the the brotherhood stuff and all the
benefits. I don't know, just.
Some way to create some kind of buy in, right?
Yeah. And it's it's it's a whole
thing, like I know you've seen it.
It's like if we and I say we like for you guys, if the fire

(21:01):
vets want it more than that candidate does, it's not going
to work right. You know, like they have to want
it more than you guys want it. You're just an Ave. for them.
Absolutely. And that's why I said, you know,
it's what you put into it. There's a lot of times over the
last couple years where, you know, I was trying to do my due
diligence on almost every off day to be able to get back to

(21:22):
people, following up with people.
And it got to a point where it'slike we we can't be begging
people to come in here. I'd rather personally take one
good candidate than 10 that don't really give a shit.
Right. And they have to put in the
work. When I was going through the
process, I was putting in the work day after day.
It would be early in the morning, late at night.

(21:43):
I was working my job outside themilitary.
I was a Guardsman. So I was doing my military thing
as well as a father, a husband, right as a full time student.
And it's about work life balanceand being able to find the
dedication in order to be able to make the commitment and be
successful in the process. And it's what I wanted to do.

(22:05):
So I did everything in my power to be able to hopefully make a
successful outcome, to be able to come become a fireman.
And I was passionate about it. And the more I dove into
learning about the culture and the fire service itself and the
job itself, the more I wanted tobe involved, the more I wanted
to do it. How?
I know this is a little off topic, but just because I don't

(22:26):
get a chance to talk to veteransevery single day, right?
And I like to share their experience.
What to you right, does a fire service emulate for the military
that you like the most? Like what is it?
Is there anything that you correlate from the military that
you really enjoyed? And then the fire service also
has that, that you're like, man,this is like the perfect like
melting pot. So the first time I did a ride

(22:48):
along, I stepped into a fire station and the first
firefighter I met was checking off his equipment in the truck.
It was, you know, 0700 in the morning, given good relief and I
walk in there with box of Donutsand I had no expectation of what
to do. I didn't really know what that
time. I was just told hey show up the
station at this time. And this is a ride.

(23:08):
You don't have a job yet, right?No.
OK, yeah, this is very first ride along that I did show up at
the station this time this out, you know this outfit, some
slacks and a shirt tucked in andbring something.
Bring something Donuts or something.
Like that, Yeah, Look, I can follow direction, right?
Yeah. So, and that's kind of a
tradition thing, right? Yeah, absolutely.

(23:30):
Ice cream. Some like that for the station.
They're invite you into their house, bring him a little gift.
So I show up, walk up, he's checking off the equipment on
his truck. And I'd never seen an SCBA at
that time. I'd never grown up around the
fire service. I I didn't know much about it.
I was just kind of going there. Completely blocked.

(23:50):
Yeah, yeah. I'm just hoping to learn.
And he's going through the equipment, showed me the truck,
Super friendly guy. I was thinking my head at the
time. I was like, this is freaking
cool. Like it reminded me of setting
up your kit and getting your equipment ready for missions and
things like that in the military, like knowing your
equipment, your function. I was like right there.

(24:10):
That was the first thing that related to.
It it's almost like that professionalism, right?
Yeah, you know, and the extent to me, like it might sound as an
immature word, but I thought it was cool.
I was like, this is awesome. Dude, it's fucking badass.
This is something that I enjoyedabout the military was having my
equipment ready, my rig set for different stuff.
And that kind of was the first thing, right?

(24:32):
And then at that station that particular day, there's three
other people there that were prior service military.
They invited me inside and they're like, hey, we want to
get to know you for a second, sit down and have some coffee.
And they started drilling me with some questions and.
I started. How'd you do?
I guess I did all right. Back to come right back.
So I said, hey, before we start doing our morning duty stuff,

(24:54):
sit down, have a cup of coffee with us real quick.
We want to get to know you a little bit.
Perfect. OK, sat down with them and just
the banter between them, the joking, the camaraderie that
they're all all three of them were in different branches.
I think what was in the Marine Corps, what was in the Army and
what was in the Air Force prior,They're all talking shit about
it to each other, you know, and and you know, it's all on good

(25:14):
nature and they really care about each other.
So that kind of banter, joking back and forth, that that stuff,
that brotherhood, I saw it immediately and I was like same
way in the military to, you know, and then you start doing
your morning duties and learning.
Yeah. So they as a rider, let me just
kind of go back to here. I tell Candace is all all the

(25:36):
time when you're going and doingride alongs at the fire station,
you're trying to emulate the jobthat you're trying to get.
You can't emulate being a recruit in the Academy because
you're at a station. So the next thing would be to
emulate a probationary firefighter.
So how do you recommend that they do that?
Well, there's a lot of things that we talked about.
There's a little chart and guidance pack that has been
created to help people along theways.

(25:58):
And we go into more of that if if you'd like.
But the very basic functions, I'd say is the first thing you
do in the morning when you get there is firefighter checks out
their equipment, right? And then you start by cleaning
up the area that you're at. After you relieve the guy that's
on shift and you're checking offyour equipment on the truck and
everything's squared away and dialed in, you start doing
morning duties, things like cleaning the base, mopping and

(26:18):
taking out trash and cleaning bathrooms, right?
And it just the a lot of it reminded me of things that you
do in the military, right? Especially as this is ground
level guy. Those things grasp me into it a
little bit more, right? Then the first call of the day
goes out, tones go off and get on the truck and put on the on
the vest. And I'm like, this is really

(26:38):
cool. It's kind of in the area that I
grew up in. And I don't remember what the
call was. I think it might have been like
a man down or something at the time, right?
But I thought it was awesome. I was bought and I wanted to be
more involved and I kept writingalong, getting more involved and
then got introduced into the Fire Vet program and that's what
really, really shaped and guidedme into being successful in the

(26:59):
process. So you did your first ride along
before you ever met with the fire vets, is that correct?
Yes. Okay, so how did you end up
hearing about that? Was the guys on the job that
told you about those military guys?
So one of my mentors that, so let me go back a little bit in
the platoon that I was in, in the Army National Guard, I would
say the guys in it were predominantly either firemen,

(27:21):
police officers or private military contractors that were
also, I was actually going to school for criminal justice and
I thought, oh. You're going to be a cop.
Yeah, my, I thought my route wasI had to be a police officer.
I don't know if that's just whatI was going for.
I was in school for it, and at the time there's a lot of hiring
freezes and things like that going on.
Yeah. One of the guys in my platoon

(27:41):
was a fireman, pure locally, andAssassin's like, hey, Sir, I
chat with you real quick. He's like, yeah, what's going
on? You know, he's my platoon
leader. I was like, hey, is there a way
I could maybe come do a ride along or check out what the fire
department's like? Yeah.
You know, I don't really know much about.
It, yeah, I don't know. And yeah, don't mean Yep, come
this Saturday, bring Donuts, be there at 0700, wear this.

(28:04):
OK, OK, I'll do it. And yeah, so the I would say the
mentality at that time, or his at least was he wanted to see
how much I wanted it before he was going to give me anything.
So and there's good and bad to it, right?
So it created, you know, he's not going to waste his time on
me going through the process if I'm not committed to it, which

(28:26):
is great. However, you don't know what you
don't know and I was never around any of this, so I really
didn't know what it took to be involved and get to know the
culture and stuff, right. So I was right along with them
regularly and I went through a hiring process, took a test,
just kept riding along. But that test was probably like
a two year test at. The time to your list.

(28:50):
And I waited for that interview and I wasn't successful in it.
And I, you know, we sat out, I went I went and met with him
after that and I sat out there with him.
I told him I was like, hey, thisis absolutely what I want to do.
I know this is where I want to be.
This is the career path I want to go down as you know, pretty
much venting to him, like what can I do to be successful in
this? And he's like, well, first and

(29:10):
foremost, stop with your woes mebullshit.
And I was like, that's not the route that I was going with it.
I just want to know what I need to do, you know, and he's like,
all right, do this, this and that.
And I was like, OK, as I was walking out, I had a piece of
paper that had a little fire VATemblem, this sticker here, OK,
actually. And I said, hey, what's this?
You know, it looks like fireman and soldier walking alongside

(29:31):
each other. And he said, OK, call this guy.
I was like, OK. And he told me a little bit
about fire vet, what it was. And I said OK, So I called him
and reached out and told me to come down to an event.
And I got there and I didn't know who was a fireman, who was
a can and go through the process.
What it was, I was hearing some guys that were just coming off

(29:51):
the interviews talking and they're talking about all the
things that they're doing, how they're involved with the
workouts, they're doing all these things.
And I was like, holy shit. Yeah, I'm nowhere close.
I'm nowhere close to what these guys are doing.
Yeah, to. Compete with these dudes.
Exactly. So that's what I got to do.
Then that's what I got to do. I just got to change my focus a
little bit. For me, involvement is the
biggest piece, right? So if you show up and you show

(30:12):
up continuously, then you learn,you get the exposure, you learn
about the culture, you show up and don't be an idiot.
You know, maintain and guard your reputation.
Those types of things it pays off to in your successes down
the road, right? So I was coming down there doing

(30:35):
ride along, still getting involved.
Anytime fire Rep was doing philanthropic projects, I was
volunteering my time to help out, whether it was, you know,
backpack Dr. spill the boot for the MDA, somebody, you know, on
veteran's day, feeding homeless,things like that.
Anything that could do to be involved.
Yeah, different, different fundraisers, those types of

(30:55):
things. I'd show up and help union
walks, political walks, those types of things, handing out
Flyers, just getting involved asmuch as I can, networking, doing
the workouts, getting ready for the Academy.
And now it was the more and moreI got involved, the more and
more I wanted to be involved. I think that's what led me to
success. There is few mentors at that

(31:16):
time that are still mentors of mine and still also involved
with fire vets as well. And they're people I reach out
to and work with regularly. And those guys, they really, you
know, were able to take me underthe wing, show me the
expectations and guide me into what I have to do to be
successful through the process. And one of the things that, you

(31:37):
know, I committed to, and I remember sitting down with them,
I said, hey, you know what? I think it was like the night or
two before the interview that I got hired on.
I sat down after the conversation doing interview
preparation and things like that.
I was like, man, if I'm given the opportunity to become a
firefighter, I want to be able to do exactly what you guys are
doing and give back and be a mentor within this group.

(31:58):
Yeah. And I was told, well, it's
expected and. Even better.
And and I was like, fuck yeah. In my head I'm thinking, fuck
yeah, that's awesome. Hey, we didn't give you this
knowledge and all this time for you just to take it, get the job
and go away, right? Exactly.
You now have to pay the price, which is a good thing.
Right. Which is awesome.
Yeah. And then I was.
So I was excited about that expectation.

(32:19):
Yeah, that's awesome. Because it's not like you
begging because you almost expect to be like, hey, bro, I
really want to be involved. And you're like, give it some
time. And instead the guy's like,
yeah, you will be, bro. Like, yeah.
And. And, and that was cool.
And I've, you know, being a mentor now over the years, I try
to encourage and tell people it's expected as well.
Yeah. When you get into the when you

(32:40):
get into the fire service, it's it's expected to give back.
Yeah. And that's something we do
culturally, not only within firevet, but we should be doing
within the fire service as well,right?
Yeah, across the country, that'show it should be.
That, you know, taking care of our own allows us to be able to
take care of the customer so. Yeah, so still talking about the
fire vets here, right. So actually, before I get into
this is I'd like to say this. So that moment that you had on

(33:04):
the fire truck that you're putting that vest on, you're
like, Oh, shit, this is cool, right?
So I had a guy and I like to dive it out.
So Garrett Lee said this one, hehe calls it the fire truck
moment and he still has it. He's a captain now.
So he he goes every once a whilehe goes, I have that fire truck
moment. I'm like, bro, explain that to
me. What does that mean?
He goes, it's when I stop doing what I'm doing.
He's like, he could be anything.He could be like, oh, dark 30

(33:25):
and we just cleared a job or we're going to medical.
He's it doesn't freaking matter.He goes and I just sit back.
I look around real quick and he's like, holy shit, dude, I'm
on a fucking fire truck. He's like, it's like a fire
truck moment where it's like, damn, this is a bad ass, right?
Like because this job is cool asfuck.
So anyway, so the fire truck moment, I love it.
And that was, you know, because of that ride along and then
instilled with the fire vets. I'm curious though, because

(33:46):
obviously the fire vets main mission initially when they're
coming across is hey, let's helpveterans get into the fire
service. So at what point or why did you
guys transition and say hey we'll take non veterans?
Also just curious if you know that answer.
I, you know what I don't know because when I was going through
the process and I think when we had actually met at the time,

(34:07):
I'm pretty sure there is guys going through the process of all
that were candidates trying to be successful in the hiring
process that were coming down volunteering time within the
firefighter affinity group that were also done prior service,
OK. I mean, I'm like I said, I'm
1000% I think it's amazing. I was just curious if there, if
there was. And, and again, like I said, if
there's, if there's any other information that we get to, I'll

(34:28):
add it into the the notes on theshow.
But I think it's amazing that you're helping groups outside
the veterans too. Obviously the main focus is the
veterans for this, but opening up to everybody is huge because
all that information is valuablefor the American Fire Service.
And again, like you had said it before, leave it better than we
found it, right? And that's part of it.
It's you're not looking to lead.Leave your department better

(34:49):
than you found it. You're trying to improve the
American Fire Service as a whole, which is the the whole
reason why the fools exist as a international chapter, right?
It's the only it's the only reason we were sitting down
today talking right is because we are both passionate about the
fire service and we want to makeit better as a whole, right?
We both work for different cities.
It doesn't fucking matter, right, because we're both
firemen. We love this job, right?
And we, we, we want to know as much as we can.

(35:11):
We want to learn from each other.
So I think the opportunity that you guys are allotting people
with this fire vet program, especially allowing non veterans
to get into is amazing. So with with that said, though,
we know your main focus. So I just want to kind of gear
towards the veterans for a second here.
You remember, I don't know if they call it differently in
different service. So it's prior Coast Guard,
right? So we called it taps class when
you're getting ready to get out of the military.

(35:33):
Is that what the Army called it or the National Guard?
It's basically a week ish long class and it's one of those
things where they're trying to teach you how to become a
civilian. Again, I don't know if that was
maybe active duty only. I didn't.
Do anything. OK, So what they do have is
what's called taps class, right?And again, prior service guys
outside of the branch I was in, you might call it something

(35:53):
different, but basically it's a demobilization of your military
structure. And it's it's bare basics.
It's like, hey, listen, can't call guys pussies anymore out in
the public. And you're like, what do you
mean you can't call them pussy? You know, it's like it's
basically trying to teach you how to go back to civilian life,
right? Because we've you've now been
told and taught from when you were very young.
This is how we act. We're very aggressive, right?
Hence why prior military guys are typically very good firemen,

(36:16):
right? Or at least understand our
culture and our nature because that kind of goes hand in hand
with each other. It's down to like the fire vets
itself going with that, that kind of attitude.
Do you see, because of the lack of interest we now have across a
nation in the fire service, do you feel like organizations like
the fire vets or anything out there, right?

(36:36):
I'm just listening to you guys because you're sitting down with
me. Should we be trying to tap into
these large military bases that are very close to say the city
or the county you work in? They might even be in, right?
So I'll use an example. So here in the Valley, we have a
very large Air Force Base, very large, right?
It's I don't know of any departments currently right now
going there during like a quote UN quote Demobe clash to

(36:59):
civilianized guys again to say, hey, have you thought about the
fire service? I mean, have you guys kind of
talked about that or? That's been a discussion for a
while now, OK. And it's actually something that
our departments looked into or is has been looking into as well
in our recruitment section. Oh good.
Have we done it yet? No, right.
So it's just something that's kind of actively been working on

(37:21):
and it's been a slow moving process.
OK. Yeah, I know we've talked about
that quite a bit within Fire Vetas well with the other mentors
and the executive board as well and chatting about, hey, this is
something we need to tap into and do.
Yeah, and it's, it's funny, justrecent, I mean very recent
future we've been talking about in the department I work for
too, just like, and not on the not on the management level or

(37:45):
anything like that, but just among the guys going like, hey,
why are we not tapping into these resources?
Because we all love prior military guys typically, right?
You know what? So why are we, why are we not
using that? We're all complaining about the
lack of qualified guys or like we'll have, you know, X amount
of people test. We whittle them down, right?
We go through the entire processand then now all of a sudden the

(38:06):
Fire Chief says, hey, we need 20dudes, but we're giving them a
list of 10 because they're the only 10 that we're willing to
hireright. So at least holding that
standard to the moment. But it's like, so how do we tap
into that potential? So that's always curious if you
guys were even considering or ifthat was a conversation.
So I'm really happy to hear thatit's been an active conversation
because it's really new information to me.

(38:28):
And then when someone was like, hey, why aren't we doing this?
It's like then I start asking other guys, I'm like, wait, that
why? Yeah, you're right.
Like why? Why didn't I freaking think of
that to start with? But like, why?
Yeah. So I'm glad that you guys are
tapping into that. What do you think that the Fire
Vets offers these candidates trying to get hired?
What is the big benefit that youguys offer as an organization,
as a nonprofit that other or that they wouldn't get outside

(38:53):
of your program? Is there anything that like you
guys really hold like a pride with like, hey, we turn out
these guys because of anything along those lines?
So a couple of things. One, I would say I, I think I
mentioned this earlier is the opportunity to gain the job
knowledge that they need. Yeah, you do successful
throughout. So I would say that's one of the

(39:13):
biggest proponents, right, to help them be successful in the
process. Something else I think that they
gain is everybody has different stages of their life and things
that they have, right? And some of them might be a
little bit lost. Some guys might be, you know,
not have that sense of brotherhood or camaraderie that
they once had before and they'researching it or a group or
something that they can be involved in.

(39:34):
And often times I know personally within going through
the FIRE BET program, like I built bonds and networked with
guys that were candidates just like myself, other people that
I'm competing against for the job.
And we built a relationship prior to getting hired.
And then now we work on the department together, we're
mentors together, we're buildingthat relationship, right.

(39:57):
So I would say to me, I think that's a big thing as well,
giving I guess like a fraternal organization.
Yeah, it's almost like, is it? And again, these are my words,
right? So please correct me if you feel
differently. It's almost like a brotherhood
inside of the brotherhood. Do you feel like that?
Absolutely, yeah. Okay, because it's like, again,

(40:17):
not secret society stuff, like we're talking about it openly
and like, but like, not only areyour brother in the American
Fire service, but now your brother of the fire vets too,
which is another extension off of that, which is like I said,
even another closely knit group,which which I love, like I said,
and that's kind of what the copper say fools are about too.
It's a brotherhood inside of ourbrotherhood already, right.
And again, just like the fire vets, it spans, you know, across

(40:39):
all different departments has nothing to do with any
particular department, which is,which is great, you know,
because it's about like you had said it before, like, hey, let's
get you, you know, you individual, you know, Jason
Smith to the, you know, not onlythe department, but the area
that you were going to thrive in, right?
Because as you said before, likenot everyone is meant to work

(41:01):
for every single fire department.
Every department's a little bit different.
And, you know, it's, it's gearedfor individuals.
So hey, let's take the time. It sounds like you guys do that.
Like let's take time to figure out who you are and, and where
you would actually kind of fit in.
Right. Absolutely.
OK, Because I've had those conversations, those very candid
conversations. And it's been like, hey, bro,
listen, do I think you'd be a, agood fireman one day?
Yes. Is this department that you're

(41:23):
currently saying in front of me the department for you?
No, right. And that, and that's not me
being mean, that's just me beinghonest and transparent because I
want to see them succeed, you know, and I, and I think that's
really what you guys are about, right, For sure.
OK. Yep.
Ultimately leading people to success of where they want to
be, what they want to be doing, and if we can mentor and guide
them in doing that. Amazing, absolutely amazing.

(41:46):
All right, so we, so we talked alot about the fire vets before
we get into going into the questions for season 1 or
whatever. And I know we glanced across a
bunch of stuff, but it's just somuch.
And I really want guys to be able to check out the website,
do their own research and information.
And then more importantly, hey, if you're on the freaking job,
right? And if there's some sort of

(42:07):
affiliation or group out there like the fire vets or the Fools
or any of these organizations, give back to them, right?
I'm sure that the fire vets, andI'll let Nick speak on this in a
second, but organizations like the fire Vets I'll just do
abroad are probably more than happy to have guys on the job
come up and say, hey, how can I help you guys be successful?

(42:28):
Because you either help me or I know you've helped somebody else
or whatever the case might be like, does that make sense to
you? Absolutely, no.
I think involvement and giving back is important because it's
what keeps, you know, keeps the gears turning and makes it easy
to pass torches as you progress throughout doing different
things, right? Right and then like you said,

(42:50):
the idea like you guys were founded in you know 20-12 ish
right somewhere around there. I want to hold a a hard date to
y'all, but it's it's 2024 right now, right, So shit, that's
what's that 12 years. My math sucks, right, So that's
12 years already. So ideally I know you want you
guys want to see the fire vets twice as big when you retire,

(43:11):
right, and just keep growing andgrowing and growing, and that's
that's a part of it. You guys cannot be successful.
We can't be successful for foolschapters and stuff like that
unless we have that buy in and that give back from members,
right, For sure. And in the best way to get back
is to to get onto something thatyou believe in, right.
And if you're a prior military guy out there, if you're in the
valley, especially if you're listening to this, right, like

(43:33):
reach out to these guys, they'rehelpful, right?
And they're honest. They'll be transparent with you
and they will they will set you up for success no matter where
that leads you down down the road.
So with that said, is there anything else you want to talk
about with the fire vets? I know we kind of glanced across
it, but I want to at least get the bulk of that information out
for the guys. Yeah, no, the only thing else I

(43:53):
could say is, you know, if you're passionate about wanting
to do this, you want to be want to become a firefighter, put in
the work on the front end, get involved, learn about the
culture, find how your experiences relate to the
different areas of the job and show up.
There you go, right there. Show up is probably the biggest
thing I've heard guys say that if these guys would just show up

(44:17):
and at least give half effort, it would be better than we
normally get right? But showing up is, is the
majority of the battle. And like you said, then pay
attention, you know, listen, getthose mentors and you'll be, I
guarantee you if you, if you gettogether with a guy like Nick
and the program, the fire vets, you will be successful.
If you put the time and the effort in, I guarantee you they

(44:38):
will not let you fail as long asyou're motivated enough.
Does this sound about right, dude?
Awesome. Well, thank you so much for
taking time to talk about the fire vets.
Let's get into the, the fun stuff here.
So let's do the light hearted. These are the questions, right,
for Season 1. They're all the same questions
for everyone we interviewed for this season.
Nick, you ready buddy? We'll get into question #1 let's

(44:59):
go. All right, dude, so the why,
right? So we've talked about it.
You talked about it just within the fire vets, right?
So we ask this all the time. We ask this when guys are trying
to get hired. We ask it when they're trying to
promote, we ask them shit, We ask them within our own
department when they're trying to do another job within the
department, right? But this is a why, why, right?
Did Nick say this is a fucking job I want to do?

(45:19):
Like when was that fire truck moment for you?
So as I mentioned earlier, I wasin the service with somebody
that was a fireman, the department that I worked with
and something that sparked my interest.
I wanted to check it out, learn about it, went down the station,
did a ride, ride along, got moreinvolved and it's what really
grasped me into it. So as I was going.

(45:39):
To say, as I learned more and figured out more, it's like some
of the things I wanted to do, you know, I wanted to fight
fire. I had an opportunity where I saw
a fire happen on a ride along. I wanted to be in turnouts.
I wanted to be on the other end of the hose line at the fire.
It was something that excited me.
It's what I wanted to do. I've always wanted to work in

(46:00):
some form of medicine. When I went to school for
criminal justice, I also studiedpsychology as well.
And the opportunity to work in emergency medicine and dynamic
environment, that's what I wanted to do.
I wanted to be involved in when I got into the Mt class and I
got to learn more, it was something that grasp my
interest. It was something that I was
like, this is what I want to do.I want to be involved in and be

(46:21):
a part of this and have it as a career.
Nice. And then moreover, I wanted to
have a career that had purpose in it.
Purpose, brotherhood, camaraderie, all those things.
And I saw that in the fire service.
Just for my experience. Purpose, right.
You were the first person to saythat word.
Like, I love that. Like purpose.
Yeah, because how many guys leave their job, right?
Those cubicle Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 5:00, whatever

(46:43):
normal work schedule is, we haveno idea, right?
But how often do they come home from work and they're like, you
know, hey babe, like to go there, old lady?
Hey babe, I made a fucking difference today, right?
I filled out three TPS reports. I filed two things, fax 7 and
wrote 7 emails. Dude, I was good, right?
Nobody as far as I know, right? No, no other people I hang out
with, right? But the purpose, right?

(47:04):
Like the opportunity that we have in the fire service to come
home and say, I fucking made a difference today, right?
Sometimes we don't have that opportunity where we're like,
Hey, I ran a ton of calls. I don't feel like I made a
difference at all, right? But that's not on us.
That's on the, the, the, the type of calls or the incidents
or whatever the case that that may be.
But dude, I love when you said purpose, right?
Because it is, it's a calling, right?

(47:25):
A lot of guys have used that in the past.
Yeah, I would say so. You know, that was probably the
biggest proponent of it. So I found myself at a point in
my career in the military re enlisting and extending because
I got a sense of purpose from being a soldier, being a part of
the military. I didn't get that same effect or
desire in the careers outside the military that I worked.

(47:46):
I worked in finance and lending at the time, OK.
And while things that I did werevery, yeah, things that I did on
the private sector were very purposeful and I helped a lot of
people out and that were in bad circumstances, I just didn't get
the same type of pride or purpose that I got from military
service. And I saw that overlay within
the fire service. So that was probably one of the

(48:10):
biggest key components. Dude, I love it.
That's a great why man. So with with the why.
So now you're on the job, OK, you've been on the job now,
right for 8 plus years. So with that said, for your fire
service career doesn't have to be a fireman can be right, who
has been the most influential person so far like up to today,

(48:30):
right in your fire service career and then more
importantly, why? So I would say I can't pick one
individual person at all, OK. I just can't because there's
been too many people that I've been influential throughout my
career, different parts of my career.
I would say outside of the fire service, my wife, she's been

(48:50):
super supportive from the get go.
There was times where I had to readjust schedules to leave for
courses in the military where I was gone for seven periods of
time in order to be able to set up schedules months down the
road in order to allow me to do things for the fire service to
be successful in the hiring process.

(49:11):
And you know when I talk to her about it, do it.
Do whatever it takes, Do what you need to do.
She's been supportive throughoutmy endeavors, going to various
stations, doing specialties, teaching, working overtime,
especially, you know, now as departments need it sometimes
guys are, I wouldn't say that we're forced to work overtime at

(49:33):
our particular department, but. It's close.
Yeah, it is pretty close, right?Stealing the line.
And when that comes up, it's like, hey, they they need
somebody today. I'm on the list.
I got called, I got to go on, hey, do whatever.
And she works full time. She's a full time student.
We have a kid, right? So she's been, I would say, one
of the most influential people throughout my career just by

(49:54):
being there as a support system and a backbone to allow me to be
successful in what I do. Other than that, I would say
some Fire Vet mentors, guys thatare still doing mentorship
within Fire Vet that were mentors of mine before I got
hired and guys that I, you know,are my peers that I came into
the fire vet process with that formulated a relationship with

(50:15):
those people. I've been able to call them when
I need them for something and bounce things off them, ask for
different advice at stages of mycareer.
So those those individuals as well.
Dude, I love it. And the fact that you went back
to your wife means a lot to me because you're, dude, you hit
the nail on the fucking head. Because we've learned on all

(50:36):
this stuff that you've given back between your bio, between
talk about the fire vets and everything else, the amount of
time that it takes to give back to the departments is a lot,
right? Hence why we're always asking
guys, hey, give back because obviously the more guys give
back, the less we ask of individuals, right?
But it is especially guys like us that really do have a true

(50:56):
passion for this calling, right?We're always going to give back.
But man, that is a lot of time away from family.
And it is nothing's worse than trying to give back, right?
Because your heart's in the right place.
But the entire time you have such a guilty feeling because
you're old lady at home, you know, she's fucking pissed off,
right? Because you're taking so much
time away. So to have that support system

(51:17):
at home that says, hey, babe, I get it, right?
Like you do a good job in providing for the family.
But more importantly, I'm supporting you because this is
what you enjoy to do, right? And then knowing that you're
backed by the most important person in your life right there
gives you the opportunity to be successful right where it's the
other way around when you're fighting that coming home, man,
that's, that's a hard pill to swallow.

(51:38):
So I love that man. Like guys, guys will always
usually list like other firemen and stuff like that, which I
believe is, is, is great, right?But I'm kind of in the same boat
as you. There's so many, it's hard to
name them, right? And I would almost feel guilty
because I don't want to miss somebody that had a huge impact
on me. But man.
Yep. Dude, Your family, your wife.
Yeah, Like, in all reality, you probably couldn't have been.

(52:00):
You would not be where you are today without her.
I almost guarantee that. Right.
Yeah, dude. Fucking great answer.
So third question. So we're halfway through here.
Favorite fire department tradition?
There's a lot of them, but I would have to say 1.
Chow's always a good thing, right?
Noon and Six cook and chow together.
So you guys do lunch and dinner together?
Typically, yeah. OK, Yeah, it's a big tradition

(52:23):
in the department that work for cooking meals together, shopping
together, eating together. And when everybody's sitting at
the table together eating chow, it's, you know, funny.
You're catching up, You're hearing stories, solving the
world's problems, all those types.
Of world's departments, everything right political
gander, you've you've figured itall out, dude.
The kitchen. It's funny too, because the

(52:45):
kitchen table is a very popular answer for that.
But it's crazy out of all the people that have said in some
sort kitchen table, right, or the meal time or whatever.
Everyone has a different story to go with that though, but
they're also important. And it's just funny that one
individual thing in our culture is so important.
And then why? Because it's so multifaceted,

(53:06):
right? Like you said, it could be just
a place where we can just decompress because a day's been
disgusting, right? We're just getting our Dicks
kicked in all day, right? And it's just like a place to
catch a breath, get some chow inand then talk some shit, right?
Or it could be a training opportunity or it could be, I
mean, what even to the point where like, hey, Nikki, dude,
what are you doing tomorrow, man?
Like on your day off or whatever?
Like I'm doing shit, I'm kind ofbored.

(53:27):
Like you want to chill out or even like, hey, I'm doing
something can kind of get your help, right?
Or we're just trying to figure out what the hell you're doing
the next day. Dynamics of the discussions at
the chow table or unparalleled? Yes, and I would say with that,
it kind of leads right into whatyou're mentioning just now.
You could even be sitting there eating chow and you're doing
some tabletop training, things like that.

(53:47):
So I don't have one particular tradition, but a couple of them.
Training is a big thing for me. OK.
You know, I've always wanted to hone and refine my craft to be
the best that I can at whatever I'm doing.
That's just been my mentality and I enjoy it.
You know, I'm somebody that's coachable and I like to learn.
And if it's something I don't like to hear that I've already

(54:10):
learned, I want to get better atit.
So training, I enjoy training a lot.
That's tradition that we do within our department as well.
We want to be the best at what we do, right?
So there's only one way to do that is train.
And I've always enjoyed also group workouts with the fire,
fire station, you know, whether it's doing a circuit or you

(54:30):
know, skill scores, things like that, getting together with the
crew and just put in the sweat equity and working out together
and pushing each other, those types of things.
I mean, those are the biggest let.
Me go off on a tangent real quick and I will not interject
my personal opinion on this right, but I'm curious on how
you feel about this. What do you say to the guys,
right, the naysayers when it comes down to, hey, Nikki, dude,

(54:52):
I ain't working out today because we get a fucking job
later, bro. I won't be spent.
Like, what do you say to those guys?
Because I already know you're not that guy.
You just told me because you like those group events.
So. So tell the naysayers on why
that's a horrible attitude to have.
And I'm not interjecting my opinion, but it's a horrible
attitude to have. Yeah.
And I don't want to say I get itwhen somebody says those types

(55:12):
of things, but I see what you'resaying.
But you should be physically capable to.
I'm not saying go kill yourself on a workout to where you can't
function after, right? Yeah.
But you should be physically capable to do a workout, have
that brotherhood and camaraderie, put in the work and
still get a fire and be able to perform to the expectation.
Because. It's to me that's not really a

(55:35):
negotiable thing. Like we should be expected to be
able to do those things, right? Good.
So I love it. Like I said, just curious on
because obviously it doesn't matter what department you work
for across the nation, right? Every single guy has the guy
that I just mentioned, right, ormultiple of those, depending on
your size. Obviously the bigger department
you are, the more, the more noodle heads you have, right?

(55:56):
You also have more good guys, right?
But it's one of those things where I'm always curious on the
guys that are into things like making sure we do group
workouts. How do they how do they
negotiate or neglect those thosenegative Nancy?
'S right, you know, and I and I get it happens and it's very
fluid and dynamic. Somebody could have been just
working. They just came off of 24.
They're up all night. They're working overtime.

(56:18):
It's like, hey man, I, you know what, we got our asses kicked
yesterday. I'm not going to.
I need to recover. Whatever, that's a different
story. That's a different dynamic.
Right. But like to be honest with you,
I don't have really any room fornegative attitudes or the job's
too good to have a shitty attitude in my opinion.
I love it. I love it dude.
For again, I like you more and more of the more I talk to you

(56:40):
right? All right, last question.
This is the exact opposite, right?
This has nothing to do with traditions, right, but solely
the fire service. So in your personal opinion,
right? And in your experience so far,
if you could snap your fingers and through FM right, fucking
magic, this negative or thing that adoys you is gone forever,
right? It costs no work.

(57:01):
It's an immediate gratification.What would it be?
But more importantly, why would you get rid of whatever this?
Is so I would say for members tolive their interview, uphold
what was said, taking pride and being into the job.
It's as simple as that. So you want them to increase
that, right? Not get rid of it.
Yeah, it's just there's, I wouldn't say anything to get rid

(57:23):
of, but you see a lot of people slip away from being excited
about it, right? I would say the first first few
years, somebody's super stoked, they're excited, they're
training, they're all into it. And then down the road they just
kind of start slipping away and they lose interest.
They're not into the job, they don't give a shit about
training, They're not living up to what they said not that long
ago. It's like, hey, what the hell.

(57:45):
Hey, you said this was your dream job, right?
Like you would do anything to behere and now we're asking you to
do something and you're saying no.
Yeah, and now and now you're just, you're not real into it.
You don't really give a shit. It's like there's no time or
room for that. And I would say, and that's not
a lot of people. Right, but, but.
They are there, they exist. And that's the thing.
It's like, hey, take some pride into it.
Have some fun with it, man. And enjoy what you've got.

(58:11):
I remember hearing a lot of people would say you just won
the lottery when you got the joband.
Hey kid, you just won the lottery, right?
Yeah, I had heard that a lot when I first got hired, and I
haven't really heard that as much now.
I mean, fuck, you kind of did, right?
Like it's such a good job. And I, and I mean that

(58:32):
sincerely, like just different things.
The brotherhood, the relationships that you build in
it, the opportunities and experiences you get.
And yeah, sure, there's a dark side to it and there's burnout
and things like that that happened.
But at the end of the day, like,don't forget what it was like
when you first got here, when you got your badge, when you got
the call, when you're just done with the Academy, right.

(58:54):
And the list goes on. I remember early on in the
career, people would say it justgets better and better.
Yeah, I believe that the last, you know, better part of just
under a decade, it has just gotten better and better, right.
There's things that I've opportunities that I've gotten
throughout with the with the being a firefighter, so.
No, dude, I love it. And that's going to that's it
right there. But it's it's it's a perfect

(59:14):
segue because that is exactly toclose out this episode.
That's exactly why the fools organization exists across the
nation right now. You know, as American fire
service across the country, 50%,right, Every single fire
department out there is five years and under, right?
Which includes your department includes my department, right?
Literally every single department is having the same

(59:36):
struggle that you and I are having.
All I hear about that is a negative.
We're losing experience, right? We're losing all these
seniority, we're losing this. We're promoting guys that are
young and don't necessarily havethe calls or the experience
under their belt, right? I like to look at a little
different, right? Since we have, if we have a fire
service of five years and younger as a majority of our
members, right? Let's fucking harness that,

(59:57):
right? Because all those guys are
excited, right? We can catch them pre burnout,
right? And how do you how do you
approach those guys, right? Get involved in the fire vets,
right? Give back, rejuvenate like man,
like look at these guys. They're willing to break their
back to get the job that I fucking have right now.
So get involved in those programs wherever you live.
Find a fool's chapter close to you, right?

(01:00:19):
Like minded individuals, you canlearn something, right?
They will harness that enthusiasm and probably put you
to work. You don't get you as a subject
matter expert teaching a class or doing something to reignite
the fire and give back to that fire service.
You know, that we've talked about from day one.
So dude, Nick, listen, bro, I really appreciate you sitting
down right, going through everything the fire vets, like I

(01:00:39):
said, is I know obviously it's it's super near and dear to your
heart, but I honestly believe it's an amazing program, right?
I'm glad to exist. It personally helped me.
So I have nothing but great things to say about you.
Again, one more time, it'll be in the show notes.
But if they need to reach out, what's the website, What's the
e-mail address that they can reach out to you guys?
So our social media page for Instagram fire vets.

(01:01:02):
Perfect. It's a good thing to follow.
There's a lot of information on there.
Our website isfirevet.org. OK, so you can find them on
Instagram, Facebook and then of course.
And then? Their website.
E-mail [e-mail].
[e-mail] again, everything will be in

(01:01:24):
the notes of the show so you guys can refer back to them.
And please, if you have any questions at all about what they
do, what they offer, or if you want to get involved or even
just give back because you live around the area and you're on
the job, please contact those guys.
I'm sure they'd be happy to hearfrom you.
You have anything else to add before we we sign off?
No, that's it. Thanks for having me dude, a
good time. Yeah, you're the man.
Thank you so much, brother. And again, we'll catch you guys

(01:01:45):
on next episode. Have a great evening.
See ya. Thanks for joining us.
Always remember, the most important grab you'll make in
your fire service career is saving the complacent
firefighter from themselves. Catch you next episode.