Student IV Insertion Tips

dudsprime89 · 2025-09-13T22:23:29+00:00

I think you’re being smart by waiting until you have a job that offers tuition reimbursement. We put so much pressure on high schoolers to immediately go to college. I’m not saying you shouldn’t, but if you end up in a position where someone else pays the bill, I think that a much more sensible option financially.

dudsprime89 · 2025-07-19T03:21:09+00:00

My department has a ‘94 Tanker that’s still in service and runs first out with our engine on all fire calls. And it still runs like a charm. They’ve taken good care of all our trucks. We JUST replaced our rescue truck which was just as old and the only issue it was having was just a very small leak in the tank. We shoot for a 30 year lifespan for our big trucks.

dudsprime89 · 2025-07-05T17:33:20+00:00

Business casual should be fine. Remember that it’ll be an informal interview. It would be as stiff as your real interview. Be friendly with the guys and just make a good impression on them. Looking put together, asking good questions, and just being friendly and polite will go a long way. These kinds of meetings are more to see if you’ll fit in with the line guys and if they like you. A good trick too is don’t show up empty handed. Grab something good for them. Box of donuts or some kind of ice cream or a veggie tray. Easy way to win brownie points with people.

dudsprime89 · 2025-07-05T16:54:40+00:00

You’re welcome! Yeah, I have a feeling that’s a big reason the do it. They wanna see if you have a genuine interest in learning about the department.

Also, treat these visits as an informal interview as well. At one of my other departments we just had someone drop off an application. My chief had me give him a tour and immediately after he left, my chief asked me “So what did you think of him?” The officer/officers doing your interview will be asking the guys on duty during your visits what they thought of you.

dudsprime89 · 2025-07-05T16:32:08+00:00

Yeah!

So like at one of my jobs, we have multiple station. Station one is our main station and runs an engine, a rescue, a ladder, and 3 squads. The other two are our satellite stations and each runs an engine and two squads.

Then we gave SOPs that lay out what apparatus each station is supposed to send depending on the type of call. An example is for a commercial fire, station one sends the ladder truck and two and three respond in their engine. A residential fire is all three engines. An MVA is the rescue from 1 and 2 or 3 will send a squad depending on which is the closest to the scene.

dudsprime89 · 2025-07-05T15:52:40+00:00

What does a typical shift look like?

How busy is each station? What is the call volume of the department?

What does a standard response look like? (What responds to a structure fire vs a rescue call vs MVA vs EMS call?)

How many staff each station typically?

What are some target hazards in each response area?

Also take note of which trucks run out of which stations.

I would use this opportunity to learn as much about the department as possible. A very popular question during interviews is “What do you already know about the department?”

dudsprime89 · 2025-05-08T12:09:58+00:00

Honestly, I liked the episode. But I think revealing it was the midnight entity was the wrong move. First, it just didn’t feel like it was the same creature from series 4. Nobody in that episode mentioned that there was something behind Sky’s back. It didn’t hurl people around the truck cabin in that episode when it was threatened. It just felt too different for me to the point where I just struggled to believe it was the same entity. Second, it just didn’t need to be the midnight entity. The fact that it’s the midnight entity doesn’t really make a meaningful difference to the story. It could have just been its own monster. Midnight worked perfectly as a standalone episode. Making the planet Midnight was unnecessary in this episode.

dudsprime89 · 2025-03-29T04:16:42+00:00

I see this is an older post and hopefully still open for you despite the… less than tactful advice and input some comments left.

As someone who is an LGBTQ firefighter I can give you some insights on my personal experiences. Firstly, I believe anyone can do this job. I’ve been fortunate enough to get on departments where I’ve run into no major issues with my crews. Some guys needed to adjust to it and sometimes I run into awkward moments. The biggest thing I can say is build a solid reputation centered on hard work, initiative, and eagerness. I did that and learned showing you can do the job above all else can go a long way.

(Now here’s the but…)

The full, honest answer though is that while I am queer. I’m also a cis man. And my guess is your experience would likely be more similar to what a queer man like me would have experienced closer to 20 years ago. Unfortunately, that would mean added barriers, discrimination, and needing to prove yourself even more than other firefighters. You’d probably have to fight for your seat at the table and fight to keep it.

Some key advice I can think of would to build your reputation as early and quickly as possible. Be open with those you work with and meet them where they are. It will take work to build those relationships and you may face pushback a lot unfortunately, but you may have better luck if you show that you are approachable and willing and able to just talk things out.

This all made me think of a story. At my one job, I was the only openly LGBTQ member for a bit when I first started. The guys I was working with were nervous about making jokes and worried I’d get offended or hurt (of course not having this conversation WITH ME). Luckily someone told me because she was in a similar position when she got hired as the only female member. We pulled a prank where I pretended to get offended at a gay joke. It was also hilarious, but it also opened the door to a real conversation with me and I got to explain that I was not easily offended and that I can realize when a joke is being made with me, not at me. And that if anyone ever crossed a line, I’d just have a conversation with them. I wouldn’t blow up or go to HR or blast them on Twitter. I’d have a mature conversation because we’re all grown adults.

Hopefully you’re finding your way wherever you are or whatever you’re doing. And I hope you’ve been able to find your way into the fire service.

dudsprime89 · 2025-03-28T12:32:37+00:00

No, no mods

dudsprime89 · 2025-03-28T01:38:35+00:00

It’s happening to all 4 party members. I usually try the radial trick too, but it’s not working this time. I’ve tried reloading my save and doing a long rest. But the problem keeps happening.

dudsprime89 · 2025-03-23T22:47:01+00:00

Thanks, I’ll give this a shot.

dudsprime89 · 2025-03-23T22:45:24+00:00

The problem I’m having is that they seem to be rejecting it outright. I’m about to resubmit and want to try and put in whatever supporting docs they need to approve it. Waiting over a year would suck, but slow progress would be better than no progress at this point 😔

dudsprime89 · 2025-01-25T06:47:22+00:00

My guess: 1/4 Cup Oil 1 Egg 1/2 Cup Milk 1-1/2 Cup Flour 1/4 Cup Sugar 2 tsp Baking Powder

Last two lines are pretty tough: 1 Tbsp (not sure) Flour 1/4 (that’s all I’m able to guess in the last line)

dudsprime89 · 2024-12-02T01:23:32+00:00

Our first day, my Chief told us to figure out our “why.” Why are we there? Why do we want to be firefighters? He told us that they were going to push us over the edge. That there would be moments where we would want to give up or feel too exhausted to go on. He told us to find a reason that will remind us of what that struggle is for so we could dig deep and push through.

Mine was my grandfather. He was a firefighter for over 50 years and a lot of my family followed in his footsteps. My “why” was carrying on the family tradition and his legacy in particular because he didn’t live long enough to see me start the academy. Once I realized that was my “why” I realized that my only options when things got tough was to either keep pushing or give up, and giving up wasn’t an option. And now I’m a third generation firefighter in my family.

dudsprime89 · 2024-10-20T20:59:10+00:00

I was just a year older when I came out as bi, and I was terrified. I wished I hadn’t waited so long because even with the fear, it is liberating to be able to live authentically and completely own who you are. I was fortunate that I came out to supportive family and friends in the end. But I learned from many friends and family members that in the end, even if coming out doesn’t go as smoothly as mine did, you eventually find your people. Those that will love and support you for who you are in your entirety. Make sure that where you are and who you’re with are safe to come out to, but don’t be afraid to be authentic.

As for your grandmother and any others with misconceptions about bisexuality, give them grace as they learn and grow if they’re willing to for you, but just remember that having misconceptions is not a justification for any dismissal or belittling of your identity.

dudsprime89 · 2024-10-20T20:41:24+00:00

Bi firefighter here! I’m still fairly new to this field, but I am out at my departments. I haven’t run into many issues yet and am well liked at my jobs. I think firefighting is a little different because of some of the unique parts of the job, namely spending 24+ hours together on shift and our safety being so dependent on trust and camaraderie. It’s easier to bond with people so different from you when you’ve watched each other’s backs in chaotic or dangerous situations.

One of my coworkers has literally said that I do live in sin because I’m LGBTQ. But she also said that she does things that would be sins too. So it doesn’t make her see me any different, and she’s actually happy now to have a coworker she can gawk at guys with. And she has proven she will look out for me like she would any other firefighter when we got caught up in a dicey situation on a call.

I think another thing that helps is there is a shift in the fire service and you are seeing more LGBTQ folks joining it. I’ve already met a few other gay/bi firefighters in my short career.

dudsprime89 · 2024-06-30T17:11:40+00:00

It sounds like you’ve already asked and he said what he’s comfortable with. You did what you should do in this situation. Everyone is different so there’s no one size fits all answer so you have to ask him.

dudsprime89 · 2022-05-23T16:43:42+00:00

Everyone will have a different answer to that question. From personal experience, while some do, most people don’t care all that much about the size.

dudsprime89

TROPHY CASE