The angry elf rant: Ill start by saying that at work I am sometimes referred to as the angry elf because I am fearless to express my opinion (often dissenting from the popular opinion). It doesnt carry much weight but the brothers certainly know where I stand. There is no guessing and no subtle beating around the bush. I tell it how I see it. When I took this job I took it out of principal and desire to fulfill my lifes quest. Growing up a block from the local fire station all I ever wanted to do was ride the truck and make a difference. From the beginning of my memories I wanted to be a firefighter. As life progressed I was accepted as a member of the local fire station. I learned the craft from good men and often testing the patience of those same good men. Realizing that my life was possibly headed the wrong direction I joined the Marine Corps. There I learned true brotherhood and the absolute true desire to seek perfection in all that I do. I am forever grateful for those years as they certainly changed me. But the did something weird they strengthened my desire to be a fireman. As I returned home I sought one thing. The brotherhood and adventure I had come to love in the Marine Corps. I returned to that same fire station and continued to practice my craft and trying to be my absolute best. With several attempts to get paid to do what I love under my belt my phone rang one day with that question every firefighter would love to hear. Would you like a position as a firefighter trainee for the City of Reading? Not only yes but hell yes! When can I start? Can we move that start date up? With the support of my wonderful wife I set off to the academy knowing that I was headed into a city in financial distress but it didnt matter. I wanted to be an urban firefighter. I wanted to be on an aggressive department where my values were greatly shared. Thats what I had found! I set out into my first few years with a sense of earning my place. I want to earn it! Lately however certain forces outside the brothers I share the fireground with have attempted to distract my focus for earning my place. You see when I first took this job I took a very significant pay cut to pursue my calling. Now the bean counters have hit an all time high of screwing with me and my family. You see that I believe in this profession I shouldnt have to worry about pay, benefits, or working conditions. We know we are already underpaid, under appreciated and the working conditions on the fireground are hostile enough. Having to worry about all the other stuff takes away from my focus on being a perfectionist in my craft. This loss of focus affects public safety, make no mistake about that. How can my focus be 100 percent on my job when you constantly make me deal with what should be insignificant events. So bean counters and desk jockeys take note. Its time to take your head out of your ass and provide what you are obligated to. Im not asking for much. There is no mansion with an in-ground swimming pool in my future. There is no Cadillac Escalade. All I want is to go to work, make a difference, a livable wage and know that the leadership gives a shit and has mine and my familys best interests in mind. The fact that I was even compelled to put this in print is saddening and infuriating. I love my job, there is nothing in this world I would rather do and I hope that my lifes passion continues to be just that and it isnt bastardized by those who never had the courage to step into the arena. All I want is to do my job to the best of my ability and return home to my family! Is that too much to ask? Shall we continue to play games desk jockeys or can we do whats best for the employees and the public? The ball is in your court!
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 14:19:40 +0000
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