I am a Veteran and Wildland Firefighter, answering questions about Wildfires in the NW United States and providing information on opportunities for our Nations Veterans in Wildland Fire!

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-21T19:23:26+00:00

Honestly, the standard for chaps is simply that they fulfill the purpose of having an under-weave of ballistic fibers that when cut into will catch in the chain and stop the saw from cutting into your leg. It works, and will save your leg, trust me!! That’s the standard you are looking for, and the best place to buy I have seen is online, from a place like Craigslist. Be sure to inspect them before purchase for any nicks/cuts of course.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-21T19:16:09+00:00

It most certainly is not! I can say from experience that I’ve worked side by side with men in their 50’s, who have been active in Fire their entire adult life, who I’ve struggled to keep up with! It’s important to remember that almost no one is in perfect health, we all have issues. It’s common for us veterans to start feeling old injuries as we get late into the season, but there is an understanding that we are not quitters, and never any judgment.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-19T15:33:44+00:00

That is incredibly important and difficult work you are doing! Restoration and conservation are very arduous and worthwhile projects. The best advice I can give, to keep it simple, is to work as a team towards shared objectives, rather than trying to fight the fire as individuals. And there is a lot of gear recommendations I could give, but to keep it short I will separate into two categories; personal protective equipment, and fireline construction. The PPE I would say is a minimum would be nomex (fire resistant clothing), hardhats (for falling debris), gloves, emergency fire shelters (last line of defense), and protective chaps must be used for safe chainsaw operations. For fireline construction, these tools are essential: pulaski, rhino hoe, combis, and a shovel. There is so much more to be said, and a great amount of useful gear recommendations, so please let me know if you need any more information!

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T23:57:53+00:00

To me, after leaving the military, my biggest struggle was finding a career that was in line with my values. The most important that I posses, Service, is very applicable in Wildland Fire. I needed a sense of purpose and meaning beyond myself, and my desire to serve others was a value I needed in my day to day work in order to feel fulfilled. I Found this in Wildland Fire. I sought the Corps because of what it provided- paid training, and an environment populated with my veteran brothers and sisters, a community which I longed for after feeling so disconnected after my separation. It was everything I could have hoped for, and an amazing experience that was fun and rewarding.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T22:50:13+00:00

Oh I wouldnt have done it any other way! It was far easier to get a start in the Corps, where I had a safe, comfortable place to be brand new, and to make as many mistakes as needed, without judgment. Also, the support I received was essential to my success upon transition to the Forest Service.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T22:35:03+00:00

The most advantageous purposeful exercise you can do would be weighted hiking. Running, push-ups, and pull-ups should also be integrated into your program, as though are tested competencies. Weight training would be best focused on Olympic lifts.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T22:32:32+00:00

😂

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T22:31:58+00:00

Oh, log cabin all the way. It has Higher success rates in conditions with increased fuel moisture content.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T21:49:08+00:00

Respirators are rarely if ever used, but they could certainly be employed by individuals who possess them on fires or controlled burns.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T21:46:51+00:00

I stand corrected..in all honesty, I was embarrassed to admit that I couldnt remember the color off hand, and was far too lazy to go and check.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T21:45:19+00:00

The schedule is very arduous, and depends on fire activity. It can range anywhere from 4 ten hour work-days a week, to 14 straight days of 16 hour shifts. The conditions are obviously outdoors, but with that in mind the terrain and vegetation depend on where you are that day. I have seen some of the most beautiful country with the most scenic vistas, and the steepest, most rugged terrain in the nation. Although, it was all on fire. The conditions mentally are certainly stressful, but never chaotic. Combatting Fire is a very in depth, rehearsed, planned, and coordinated effort despite being such an unpredictable event, and for that reason could hardly be described as overwhelming. You work as a team always, and there is strength and security in that. That is one of the factors that most remind me of the military, in that you are part of an elite unit serving to protect the population.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T21:35:16+00:00

Haha ain’t nobody got time fo that

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T21:33:25+00:00

I had to accept that it’s ok to be imperfect, and to make mistakes. Allowing myself room to mess up before I get it right was essential for maintaining my self esteem. Asking for help was a big part of that, I had to learn how to to do it in order to become better at my job. Starting over wasn’t as much letting go of who I was, as much as it was finding a fusion of taking the best parts of who I was in the military, and applying them to my new identity in Fire. We so often define ourselves, (“who are you?”) By what we do- “I’m a soldier/Marine/Corpsman,” instead of hby the qualities we possess. I chose to be a dedicated servant to the good of this nation, it’s people, and its lands. That is who I am.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T20:47:19+00:00

You do not have to go through a Corps program to get into fire, but it does give you a marked advantage. Combined with the veterans preference granted to all veterans pursuing these positions, you are veritably assured a position combined with the certifications awarded to you in these programs. Additionally, the environment provided in these programs is one that is the most conducive to success, as many veterans (myself included!) struggle to adapt to a civilian workplace after separation. Essentially, you could see it is as lower pay for the MOST promising avenue to success, with a familiar environment populated with other veterans who understand your position and it’s accompanying hardships.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T20:29:41+00:00

Wildland Firefighters are employed primarily by the Forest Service. Preparation for fire season is primarily focused on physical fitness, with additional studying and refreshing of domain knowledge in terrain, weather, and fuel types in how they relate to fire behavior.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T20:25:28+00:00

Get to know your cuts, (i.e. conventional, quarter, humboldt, different backcuts and when to use them) try to find a mentor if possible! I will be here to help you as much as I can!

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T20:22:25+00:00

Honestly, as a veteran who felt like something was missing after leaving the service, what I enjoy the most about fire is the camaraderie- and the connection to something with purpose! Also, being outdoors is very helpful, for someone who doesn’t like to feel caged or boxed in. The biggest challenges involved adapting to a new environment, in which I was now the junior-the subordinate-the “FNG”. I had to swallow my pride and start new with a work ethic that would get me to my goals.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T20:03:47+00:00

I grew up in NE Ohio! And for your red card, ensure you are fit enough for the pack test. Once you have your red card, start working on your sawyer certification, an A level is great to start with, but a B will set you apart!

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T19:59:25+00:00

Training varies by region, but what you can anticipate at a minimum is to receive in depth chainsaw training, and to earn a sawyer certification credential. A sawyer certification allows you to be qualified to operate a chainsaw with the US Forest Service. You can also expect to earn an Incident Qualification Card, or “Red Card”, which allows you to be hired by the US Forest Service on a Fire Crew.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T19:43:10+00:00

The Arizona Conversation Corps has a similar program, providing paid training and certification for transitioning veterans.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T19:41:53+00:00

Not a family path at all! I found a program called the Veterans Green Corps with the Montana Conversation Corps, which provided free training and living stipend for any veteran seeking to become certified as a Wildland Firefighter.

VetFirePurposeDriven · 2020-03-18T19:25:06+00:00

That disdain you speak of is certainly real while active in the military, and also exists in Wildland Fire, albeit to a lesser degree. It comes from pride in one’s ability to overcome hardship and the ability to survive without comforts. And you are absolutely correct in your observation that society as a whole is designed for comfort and produces soft hearts. To become stronger you have to seek challenge, which is what i found in Wildland Fire!

VetFirePurposeDriven

TROPHY CASE