It all started back in 1983 when I decided to move to Florida and become and EMT. I received my initial training at St. Petersburg Junior College (now St. Petersburg College) and passed my board in early 1984. Well I tried to get on with various departments throughout the state and found no jobs available. So I joined the military (read; AIR FORCE).

I found the military version of EMS and the civilian version of EMS are VERY different. After 4 years service as a medic, I left the EMS community entirely. I still kept sort of a toe hold in it through volunteer emergency service in the Civil Air Patrol.

Well times change and so do the attitudes associated with it. After spending a year in Korea with the Air Force where I was the defacto squadron medic, there was no use in trying to deny it. An EMT was what I was meant to be. Well we all know that you have to have Firefighter I as well as EMT to go anywhere.

So that's what I set my sights on. Now I know you are probably asking yourselves, "WHAT'S AN OLD MAN OF 38 DOING TRAINING FOR THE FIRE SERVICE?" You know something? I ask myself the same thing everyday. Well when we got here to Maryland, I made it my goal to find a volunteer fire department, join it, and get re-certified as an FF/EMT. I am proud to say that I am currently a VFF-I for the MARYLAND CITY VFD! I started EMT-B Class on 15 Spetember 2001 and am psyched up to ride again.

Well here we are almost 6 months later. I have completed ALL of my practice rides (and then some). I have made a great many new friends in class and in my work at the station. We have our state boards on 20 and 23 February respectivly. I am holding a rock solid 88 average (with very little studying) and according to my instructors, my skills are very good.

The next bit of big news is I start Fire Fighter I class on 05 February 2002. I'm VERY psyched about this! I can't wait to do this. I'll keep everyone abreast as to what is going on and how state and NREMT boards go.

Well here's the big news.....I PASSED MY STATE EMT BOARDS!!!!!! Yes miracles do happen! I am now a fully licensed Maryland State EMT. The next step is the NREMT boards. I'll be taking them in late April/early May. it depends on how my work and home situations go. Now that I have finished HAZMAT OPS, it's up to the Chief to get me added to the county database as an Ambulance Tech. That's the first step. I can't wait to get back out on the street.

I have also started FF1 class. The class is ok and I'm really learning a great deal. Although the class is most full of the 16-22 set, this old man is holding his own with the youngsters. Darn I wish they had this class when I was 16! My life would have been so different. We have done hose work and intro to SCBA's. We are doing ladders next and then our turn in the smoke maze this coming weekend (24 MAR). Well that's about all for now.

Well there is a great deal to catch up on. Well the old man did pretty good and finished FF1 second in my class. We lost 4 from our class due to grades and work committments. We had a great last burn and we all did well. I am now a Nationally Certified Firefighter! I received my certificate this past weekend during a class on our company's new engine. The chief is glad to have another certified firefighter around. I also had my first few engine calls. I also faced my first fire. I did ok. It for sure wasn't like the academy! I just hope I can keep doing this. I actually love this job and think it's the greatest job in the world!

After almost a year of calls under my belt I can tell you what I truly think. The EMS side is going great! I haven't lost a step in the three years I had a break. The fire side is still pretty new to me and I am now truly appreciating all that is done on this side of the house. I know the excitement and fear of your first multi-alarm fire, and the frustration of arriving at a potetially large incident and "just staging". There are pluses and minuses, give and take, yin and yang. I really do love this job and everything that goes with it. I look forward to each Saturday when I am up at the station. Recently I had to cut back my hours and miss a few weekends due to my commitment to this nation as a member of its armed forces, but now I am back on track and with a little luck will get my FF-II certification in the not too distant future.

I'm back to sleeping in and doing what tyhe community asks of me. Had a couple of "hairy" calls in the past month or so but I'm holding up ok with everything. I'm in FF-II class right and having a blast with it. We have a good class and we sure are learning a lot. Our instructor is a volunteer officer with a neighboring company and a career FF with DCFD. Not much news on the other fronts. No big fire calls just the two "really yucky" medical calls to report. I can't begin to tell y'all how much I love this job!

I will keep y'all abreast of what's happening with the station and with training through this page. So take care and stay safe!