Today’s firefighters are tomorrow’s fire chiefs. It is important to have a solid career development program in place to ensure that the fire department will continue to progress and be able to embrace change as technology advances and the needs of the community change. A Career development programs purpose “is to assist employees to align their own personal goals with those goals and objectives of the organization.” (Stone 1) A career development program needs to address education, training, experience, promotional process and opportunity, and employee satisfaction. Technology and ways of doing things are always changing and improving. The only way a fire department can keep up is to provide continuous education and training for all of the members. “Continuous quality training is often what differentiates professional fire departments from the less capable ones.” (Managing 152) “Education is the process of delivering essentially academic knowledge.
Adult education is generally delivered in traditional and nontraditional settings by institutions of higher learning and is part of a program of study that leads to a degree or certification granted by an accredited degree-granting institution.” (Managing 267) Many fire departments take a proactive approach to education by offering incentives to continue education such as tuition reimbursement. Other way administrations can motivate employees to continue education is to require degrees or certificates in order to take promotional exams. Continuing education provides members the tools to become effective leaders at all levels of the department. Training can be defined as the “process of delivering essentially vocational skills and knowledge.” (Managing 267) Training is conducted in a variety of different ways and usually results in achieving a specific goal. Training is not only important to member development, but also prepares members to handle hazardous situations in a safe and effective manor. Training is often more hands on than traditional adult education.
The Essay on Ladder 49 vs. the Real Fire Department
Ladder 49 is a firefighter movie which gives us a better picture of the real deal in firefighting. Several facets are shown in the movie which takes us to the more intimate level of the lives of firefighters where they do their job, and the personal lives they have that are entirely affected by their being firefighters. We get a picture of how firefighters create long lasting bonds within the ...
Mandatory training is put in place in order to teach members how to use new equipment and new methods of doing things properly. Without continuous planned out training members will to evolve with technology. Another way for members to gain experience is through hands on training. Education and training overlap in the fire service.
” Innovation to meet customer needs will mean that the lines of demarcation between training and education remain blurred, for both are necessary if the goals are to be achieved.” (managing 267).
