Thanks to Editor in Chief Robert Halton for “With the Deepest Respect” (Editor’s Opinion, October 2008). It is unclear to me to which generation I belong, but I know I am a young progressive-minded person who has been fortunate to achieve success in the fire service. I am well aware of the work I still need to continue my success. I am in full agreement with the comments and thoughts in the editorial.
I had the pleasure of being in one of Chief Halton’s classes a couple of years ago. He spoke of his son who had just completed flight school. I thought, “This is greatpride not only in your son but also in his achievement.”
I will fast forward to just a couple of months ago, when I attended a class called “21st Century Chief Officer,” which is supposed to give newly promoted chief officers guidance and ideas for being progressive. Part of the class included a discussion concerning the “new generation” and how and what they do not do or do not know how to do. This “progressive” chief officer began to expound on the new generation and related that these firefighters do not know which end of a screwdriver is up. This set me on a slow smolder.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
