Every spring, every unit has some form of FPE. The hike portion is 2.8-3 miles with 600’ of elevation gain. The time given is 60-80 min wearing the required PPE(nomex, web gear, shelter, 3.1L of water and a tool. When we get FF, we do hikes that are similar to that(+/- 1/2 mile). We start with a short 1 mile hike and work up to the FPE Hike and then we go beyond. To me, Hiking is 2nd only to safety for those in the 02350 PCA code. We do hose lays, hose Drags, hike, hell we even do the old TUU drill for competition, camaraderie, and PT. While that drill is outdated…it teaches the basics, as an individual that when put together in a progressive hose lay is a thing of beauty when the GO TIME. But WE Supervisor are taught to NEVER USE PT AS A FORM OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. We also have access to and are given the OSHA HEAT/WORK/WATER CHARTS. But what it left out in All these Injuries/deaths are the intangibles. The intangibles only come from experience, time on the job and time as a supervisor. Here is where the problem GETS HUGE. The retirement rate is only getting bigger. The inexpensive rate is only getting bigger. Where these two things cross, we pray isn’t the accident scene. But just like a baby isn’t born “Walking, talking, Chewing Bubble Gum” Fire Firefighing, leading, promoting takes time as well. We’ve all heard about “Slides in the slide tray” but how many of us have been told “I just need meat in the seat” I will end with a saying that has become more and more true the older I get. “To learn, grow, and promote takes time. The short cut goes Iime this: you sacrifice your personal life for your professional life. But no matter how fast, you can’t short circuit EXPERIENCE.”
Remember, babies are born, then learn to roll over, they learn to push up/sit up, they learn to crawl, they learn to pull themselves up, they take those 1st steps, they learn finally walk. All of this happens before they learn to RUN.