MOS's complimentary to a civilian firefighter career

[Wisconsin1]

Hi. I am currently pursuing getting into the NG by becoming an officer. I already have a degree (in Business) and think that training to be/becoming an officer would help me to obtain great leadership skills which would be helpful in any civilian career.

However, as I am working on getting the education/skills necessary to totally switch career paths (just starting on working to become a firefighter/paramedic), I am also trying to figure out if there might be an MOS for enlisted that would make more sense than going the Officer route.

Firefighter MOS isn't an option in WI, and even in states where it is, I am gathering that it is a small field, and also hard to get into. So, other than "medic", does anyone have suggestions as to what would be a good path to take that would lend well to getting a firefighter position in the civilian world? Officer or enlisted? Or one, then the other? Any civilian ff/paramedics out there?

Thanks a lot.

[SteveLord]

74D - Chemical Operations Specialist?

http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/mos/chemical/74d.html

[Recruiter yosis]

The Navy or the Air Force. The Army went civilian years ago with Fire Fighting.

[Hanson]

The Navy or the Air Force. The Army went civilian years ago with Fire Fighting.

True, but if you talk to my old recruiter, he's pretty convincing to the naive that 13F - Fire Control Specialist - is actually the equivalent to a civilian fire fighter.

Oh the rat *******!

[Wisconsin1]

Steve and yosis--I'm checking into both of your ideas--thank you. Because of the date today I'm unable to reach the navy/air guard, but I'll try again tomorrow. As far as the 74D, I saw the 95 ASVAB req., and I thought, "yikes!" since I figure I didn't do too well on the mechanical part (I already took the asvab) but talked to my recruiter and he explained those are "line scores", so I would be good to go on that...will think about that one some more...so thanks again to both of you!

If anyone else has any more suggestions I'm still all ears. :-)

[Recruiter yosis]

Don't know what to say but......

http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae133/yosis_01/Dang.jpg

[California Major]

We have a fire fighting detachment in California...they do still exist, but pretty rare...

[matthew.ritchie]

The Guard has a few firefighter slots. They tend to stay full, and have fairly low ranks, so you'll wait years to get promoted, if your State even has any.

Consider medic, to enhance your lifesaving skills. Also consider mechanic, military police, behavioral health, logistics, truck driver, or communications -- each of these may enhance your civilian firefighting skills in one dimension or another.

Or go a completely different route, and do something unrelated. That way, you get an entirely new set of experiences and education. Go be a cannoneer, or bulldozer operator, or Kazakh linguist.

[taseal]

We have a 29 YO Firefigther Lt from Iowa... He is 11B :)

[show_stopper999]

My brother was a firefighter in the USAF. From his words, it was some HARD **** to go through. High wash out rate, etc. All in all he said it was well worth and after a few years you can get all your certifications you need to be a firefighter on the outside.

He was stuck in the firehouse for 4 days in Biloxi MS, when hurricane katrina hit. They basically barricaded themselves in for the storm, then mother nature barricaded them from the outside. When they got out, his dormitory room had been looted, he lost everything. He didnt have receipts for his stuff, so the USAF didnt reimburse him for jack either.

He loved doing it, but was mentally bothered by cleaning up all the car wrecks and fatal accidents while he was stationed overseas.

I know he said he loved and was extremely happy he did it, but he doesnt want to go back. He used to call me sometimes in the middle of the night and talk about stuff. He once just told me "I just cut some young kid out of a car using the jaws of life. I bet he didnt think he'd be dead when he put on his pink floyd shirt this morning".

It just ate him up bit. So, my hats off to those who take these kind of professions. I know it's tough and I salute you.

[Rhadamanthus]

Have you looked into the Army Reserves? They have a firefighting company at 1855 Wisconsin Street, Sturtevant, WI.