Professional
 

I am sure I must have gone down this path before, but some recent events comments and things that have occurred this week are making me refocus on this word, this nebulous word called Professional.

 

I made my living by receiving a check and being paid as a firefighter. I have also served the early part of my career serving as a volunteer and then a paid on call firefighter.

 

Being professional has nothing to do with either of those.

 

My simple definition is that "professional" is what you do when nobody else is looking. Your personal behavior and how you conduct yourself is professional.

 

Some of the events that have taken me to this conclusion are these few:

 

In the city of Providence Rhode Island this week we heard testimony given under immunity that the providence police chief (retired now) had in fact compromised exams for promotion. Examination information was allegedly provided to some candidates prior to the exam. What a horrible black eye for the hundreds of men and woman who work everyday to be professionals, when it is not a member of the rank and file doing this but more importantly their leader! I also know that this situation has also been alleged in many fire departments at different times across the country. My issue is two fold.....the leader is clearly not acting in a professional manner, and the person who would attempt to gain promotion, pay and rank under false pretenses certainly does not belong among the remainder of the professionals.

 

Another issue which has been brewing is the DC Fire Chief and the questionable resume. I am not sure the term professional should be used with the term LIAR in the same sentence, however I swear I have known, met and interacted with some professional liars. Misrepresenting yourself in this way would be like having non-uniformed sworn positions, suddenly created into uniformed positions, by folks who go out and just purchase a uniform and come to work expecting all of the benefits, respect, and courtesy given to uniformed personnel. Hey it could happen you know!

 

Another issue which ties into this and stuck in my craw this week was this horrible tragedy in New York State with the training officer who injured one and another was killed during a live training exercise. Now I have significant personal views on the live burn drill and what happened there, but the issue this week is the attorney for Mr. Baird ( the person who is on trial) who had a great statement this week. This genius says in an article that is on the Firehouse.com website something to the effect like " Mr. Baird cannot be held accountable for adhering to a national standard after all because he is only a volunteer"..or something like that. This jackass just slapped the face of some 73% or more of America that is protected by the volunteer fire service. I agree there are some crummy volunteer firefighters. There are some crummy paid firefighters etc. and any profession we look at has their share. If you don't want to attempt to be a professional and attempt to use national standards as a goal and you too want to use the "hey I am only a volunteer" excuse, then get the hell out of the fire service.

 

It is that simple for me.

 

I am a member of the fire service, proud of the service that I perform today, yesterday, and when I was "only a volunteer". I strive to be professional everyday, and although I fail on some days like everyone that is my personal goal.

 

If you do not want to be a professional, and you are in public service, go down to the costume shop and pick out another one, because your behavior is pissing off those that are trying to be professional.

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