BY GARY LANE
It's 9:45 ON Wednesday morning. Today's drill is scheduled to start in 15 minutes and will be finished by lunchtime. As the members start working their way into the kitchen, the usual commentary starts: "How long is this going to take? Do we really need our bunker gear again? It's too hot. It's too cold. I have sand in my shorts!" A typical fire department training session is coming together once again! As soon as the members top off their coffee cups and grab seats, class begins.
The drill starts out fine. There are a few blank stares and a couple of jokes (usually made at the expense of the probie), but there are promises of getting to the "good stuff" momentarily. The better part of the next hour is spent trying to outline the drill, answer questions, listen to a story or two, and deal with all the usual interruptions. As you run slightly behind schedule, an emergency medical service (EMS) run tones out, and three shift members head out in the ambulance. Left with just four members, you start the drill again. The training is now rushed. Some of the material is washed over, and other parts are completely cut out. The "getting dirty" portion is deferred until "better weather," and you are finished before the members on the EMS run return. Everyone is glad another training session is over and done with and they can get back to "more important" things. The required paperwork is filled out and turned in. Finishing up, a few members seem to be thinking the same things, "Oh well, typical. Better luck next time." Sound familiar? If it does, you are not alone!
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