“The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.”, “A pledge or undertaking”,

or “An engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.”

We experience few things in life that are more and guide me to becoming a professional through rewarding than being a part of something bigger than ourselves. Hell, this is the reason most of us end up on the job in the first place.

So, when I was asked to write an article for this fantastic publication, which is put together by some of the most dedicated, passionate brothers our profession has to offer, I was honored to say the least. When they went one step further and told me I could pick the topic as well, I was actually quite intimidated.

What could I possibly write about that would resonate with those who are truly committed to improving our craft, many light years ahead of myself as far as knowledge and skill level, that would still have an impact on their passion? I spent quite a few weeks pondering different topics which seemed interesting but just didn’t seem to fit the bill. Finally, it hit me; what’s the main thing that separates names on a roster from firefighters? COMMITMENT!

Let me start out this discussion by saying if it wasn’t for commitment, my fire service dream would have sailed right on passed me. I am a first-generation firefighter who stumbled into this profession mainly because it engulfed and intrigued me at a young age. At a towering 5’9” and whopping 135lbs., I hit the fire service at the age of 17 with sheer passion, will, and commitment to learn a job I had been infatuated with probably since the age of 8 or 9, with no valid reason or understanding as to why.

Once I got a taste, it was game over for anything else this life had to offer me. The fire service was for sure my calling! I was told quite often that I would never fulfill my dreams due to my size and the outsider status that can often accompany those with no traditional or historic ties to the fire service. However, I took that criticism and turned it into a challenge that drove me even harder to accomplish my goals.

I spent the majority of my free time at the firehouse, learning the rigs, donning my gear, and taking on any additional tasks they would allow me to complete. It was in these early days of my fire service career, as a young, hungry, enthusiastic kid that I first learned the value of commitment.

I propelled myself into many arduous tasks that others wanted no part of and began to realize that if you leave your mark on things through dedication and the pursuit of betterment, people will certainly notice. I transformed from a stranger, who people probably didn’t put much stock in, to someone that may have not always been the popular choice but was certainly reliable and committed. I also learned that this was far more important to most. I can thank my early role models that came in the form of senior men and great chief officers who saw a kid who didn’t always know how to harness his own enthusiasm, but were somehow able to control my raw passion encouragement and a much longer leash than I probably deserved.

I failed quite often in my efforts to do great things, but instead of running me off they sat me down and showed me the way. I am forever grateful for the lessons I learned and value I gained from the amazing volunteers at the Defreestville and Wynantskill Fire Departments in the small village of North Greenbush in upstate New York. Their influence has remained with me in every fire service venture I have taken since. The confidence they gave me is invaluable and irreplaceable. It is also the foundation of my commitment which I have continued to build upon with the advice and knowledge of the amazing people I have met and learned from since.

I consider myself part of the fortunate minority who get to do what they love for a living and I try to remember that even on the days where I am probably not as appreciative of the opportunities which I have been blessed with as I should be. My commitment doesn’t always come with a meter, can probably be viewed as abrasive at times, and in many cases has caused my mouth and attitude to get ahead of my skill and experience level.

However, that commitment has also pushed me to constantly improve through education, training, and surrounding myself with people from my own department, as well as many others, who keep me focused and grounded. I may not be a guy who has been to thousands of jobs, I have never made a grab, I definitely don’t always make the brightest decisions, and in all honesty, I probably have way more to learn than I have to offer, but what I do know is how to love this job and the drain and sacrifice it often takes to commit to it.

So, what exactly is commitment? As defined by a Google search, commitment is “the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.”, “a pledge or undertaking”, or “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.”

As defined in terms of firemanship, commitment is drilling (sometimes by ourselves) when we could be enjoying some down time, working out even when we are tired, walking a building properly at 0300 when we are pretty sure we are chasing a nuisance alarm, trying new strategies and tactics even when they are not the easy or popular option, attending training opportunities as frequently as possible (even if that means using our own dime and time), helping someone else on our crew because we fail and succeed as team, taking on projects to move our departments forward, sitting on committees, polishing hand tools, learning the streets in our due, becoming familiar with local building construction methods, setting our rigs up in a manner that helps us win battles on the fire-ground, and pressing on in our journey of mastery despite difficulty, failure, adversity, and the inevitable naysayers who don’t always understand us or our undertakings.

Simply put, commitment in our line of work is continuing to push ourselves, and others, with the understanding that the minute we take the job for granted is the minute it shows us what a serious miscalculation that really is!

Commitment defines how much effort we are willing to exert into a specific topic or activity. Chances are if you are reading this, you probably don’t have a problem with commitment, at least professional commitment anyway. Contrary to some of the propaganda which is infecting our occupation, the life of the high-speed, committed, dedicated, accountable, passionate firefighter is still alive and well in departments across the country.

From the largest, metropolitan department that takes in a job as often as every tour, to the smallest, rural department which may see one working fire a year, there are committed professionals in all of our firehouses who are dedicated to persevering the calling, duty, and service that fire departments have always served their communities with. Although many of the social media outlets and grumpy individuals who have somehow lost their motivation would like us to believe otherwise, being committed to the job is still very much in style.

With that being said, like any profession, we are also exposed to those who appear as if they could care less about this craft of ours. We are being attacked by those who entered the profession to take from it or figured out how to do so once they infiltrated our rosters. It is these leeches who seem to be sucking the life out of us faster than we can identify and replace them! Sadly, their loud cries all too often drown out the positive dialogue of those who are passionate and committed to our craft.

It’s actually kind of odd that an occupation like firefighting, with such high stakes and serious consequences, would find itself in a dilemma where we even have to address something like commitment. Most would assume our motivation to learn, practice, and improve would be as involuntary as breathing or blinking due to the hazards and expectations of the job. History alone has shown us the respect we must give to the dangers we are up against and has proven to be a great motivator for stopping preventable injuries and deaths through science, education, and training. However, the results of these studies can push us outside of our comfort zones and inadvertently attack coveted traditions and tactics that many are not ready to let go of.

This has led us to what appears to be a commitment metamorphosis of sorts that is unfortunately resulting in factions and divisions which impair our ability to function as a cohesive unit. As members group themselves into distinct sects that are committed to certain tactics or parts of our mission, but not others, eventually an “us” vs. “them” mentality is formed that drives wedges between us instead of bringing us together like commitment should.

Combine a mission that continues to expand and balloon with constant political pressures to further justify our need and value and we are left with many who are simply unable to appreciate or get behind what is now expected of the modern fire department. While almost everyone is committed to the fire suppression side of the job, EMS, rescue, HAZMAT, prevention, and even fire suppression tactics themselves, can become dividing lines between our personnel. Where the job itself was once enough to unite us without much thought or question, it sure seems like many of our brothers and sisters are finding themselves at odds with each other more than they are in agreement.

In many ways, we are actually creating a commitment to negativity because we become so blinded by our opinions that we do things just to piss off, avenge, or retaliate against those with different values and ideas. This “bad competition” is a dangerous trend that we need to stop immediately before we get to a point where we cannot turn back.

There are many theories on why such a phenomenon
is occurring, from the negative impacts of social media to new societal norms finally forcing entry through our bay doors. However, regardless of the root cause of our perceived difficulties, the desired outcomes remain unchanged.

Instead of dwelling on the luster of days past, we have
to commit ourselves to exploring and finding solutions to eliminate the forces that are stealing passion and accountability from our firehouses and replacing them with complacency and contempt. Sometimes that means resurrecting and restoring ways of the past and other times it will require us to find and create new methods that specifically address the modern challenges we

seem to be trying to ignore or will away. We must also remember that motivation, or demotivation, is one of the most prevalent contagions found in our firehouses. The will of the company will almost always suffocate the will of the individual, for better or worse. We have to find ways to motivate the team, take advantage of those who are self- motivated, lift up those who are not, and build a culture which begs us to continue to do more at every turn.

If we focus on what is negative, then we will continue to spread that negativity, whereas if we focus on positivity, it will become the new cultural norm. Regardless of which end of the spectrum your department falls on, commit to creating a reality which mirrors the results and outcomes the department desires. It is far easier to make our aspirations a reality than it is to convince others to change their perception of an environment that falls short of the vision we are selling them.

So, why is commitment such an important quality to have in our profession? Commitment is what drives us to remain competent, improve our skills, find pride and ownership, learn, mentor, and give back.

Commitment is essentially the force behind every decision, perception, and endeavor we decide to get behind or not get behind in some cases. Without commitment, we are names on a piece of paper who show up and go through the motions of the minimum standard without any thought or consideration for the big picture, our brothers and sisters, our families, or our citizens.

To put things bluntly, if you ended up in our profession, which is centered around serving others through courage, bravery, and problem solving, you probably shouldn’t need all that much assistance with finding the commitment necessary to master the craft. This job isn’t and never has been for people who aren’t willing to go above and beyond; it’s just not in our DNA!

The ramifications of commitment are different at various points in our career. As young or new firefighters, commitment is the key ingredient to proving ourselves to our crews or departments. We must focus on showing our worth and value to be accepted into a team that in many cases found a groove and rhythm long before we showed up. One-size certainly doesn’t fit all in these situations, but when a new member demonstrates their commitment through hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to the team, they will be much more successful at finding a place on that team.

As we gain some time, possibly a promotion or two, and end up taking on the position of engineer or senior man, we are faced with a new, expanded role of our commitment in the form of mentoring and coaching. At this point in our career it is our responsibility not only to hold on to the commitment we learned as a new firefighter, but also show its value as we groom commitment in our newest members. This crucial point in our careers is how we help continue a tradition of passion and at the same time demonstrate our ability to lead. For some, this will be the end of their upward movement in their department, as they find their calling in such a role. For the record, there is no shame in that!

For others, promotion will find its way to their horizon and they will enter yet another phase of commitment. As the company officer, commitment is now all about taking care of those you have been entrusted with under your command.

Our commitment will require us to put the needs of our team first, develop their skills, teach them how to be productive members of the department, and prepare their path to success as they grow within our agencies. This is where buy in is formed and leaders are separated from managers or supervisors. This commitment also means sacrificing our time and comfort as we must commit to our people, yet still take care of the responsibilities which come with our position.

Finally, for the fortunate, or unfortunate few (depending who you ask), the role of the chief officer provides an

even larger challenge to commitment. Not only must we commit to our members like the company officer, only on a much larger scale, but we must also commit to ensuring the entire department is providing the best possible service to our citizens in an efficient manner which respects their valuable tax dollars as well as the mandates of the local government officials whom they elected to represent their interests and wishes. At this level, our commitment is truly tested as we are often torn in different directions trying to satisfy both sides, while still ensuring our mission and personnel are the primary focus.

Although I have no experience as chief officer, I have learned from chiefs whom I trust and respect greatly, suggesting that their responsibilities can be difficult and trying would be grossly understating the facts. However, when done right, success in the role of the chief officer is an extremely rewarding and satisfying accomplishment to say the least!

Commitment is an inherent requirement at all levels
of our organizations and also one that lives and dies by the example being set in our firehouses. The fire service seems to be treading some pretty deep water these days as we teeter on the delicate balance between being a business and a service. Although there are many business concepts involved in operating a fire department, we must ensure we preserve the importance of service which successfully carrying out our mission hinges so heavily upon.

Remember, the greatest mission statements, vision statements, policies, procedures, and guidelines will be of little consequence without the commitment and accountability to turn those ideas into cultural and operational realities. Our returns are based on our investments; choose wisely. Outcomes and results reflect our values.

While every run presents different challenges, we should be adding more hash-marks to the win column than the loss column. Commitment must start early on and expand, not contract as we are grow and rise within our departments. Passion and motivation must be organic, but we can certainly help them along with the right influence. At the end of the day, we must compare our performance to our own expectations of the crew that will show up to our loved ones. If that doesn’t open your eyes to the significance of commitment in this profession, I don’t know what will.

For those who feel their commitment is met with resistance and ridicule, keep working. Focus on small victories that win bigger wars. Choose your battles but don’t sacrifice your value or passion in doing so. Our failures are almost always centered around our approach, not our content. If there is a will, there is a way! Work to affect one person in everything you do and encourage them to do the same. The domino effect of this approach results in an exponential improvement of the big picture.

For those of us who are supported in our efforts and appreciated for our commitment, keep spreading the word, even to those working in other departments.

Especially these days, our influence is not confined to our individual station or department. Use it wisely. The fire service family needs to reach beyond the jurisdictional boundaries we have historically confined ourselves to. Reach out wide and reach out often. Where we fail as individuals we conquer as a team. Nobody should fight alone in this profession, regardless of the adversary.

Commit to the fire service, your department, your crew, your citizens, and most importantly, commit to yourself. Every great accomplishment in the history of mankind started with one person who had a vision that they stood behind. IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO OUR CRAFT, STAND UP FOR IT AND BE PROUD. You may be surprised not only where that commitment takes you, but also where it takes others!