FHExpo: A Survival Guide for the Newly Promoted Company Officer

BALTIMORE, Md. — If you aspire to become a company officer or have been recently promoted, James Jester has some tips for you.

Jester, a captain with the Salisbury, Md., Fire Department presented "A Survival Guide for the Newly Promoted Company Officer" at Firehouse Expo. And it all starts with one simple question: Do I have what it takes?

Jester says before you take the tests, before you pursue the position, ask yourself that question. If the answer is "Maybe" or "I don't know," the answer is actually you no. If you have doubts, you are not ready. If your answer is an emphatic no, do everyone a favor and sleep in the day of the test. However, if the answer is yes, here is what you need to do.

Arise, Go Forth, and Conquer!

Never stop learning. Jester says you need to study the fire service, especially your own department. "You're department has a history!" he says. "Someone started it. Find out who and find out why. Research any line-of-duty deaths your department may have suffered. Learn the names of the fallen and pass on that knowledge." Jester stresses the importance of a department's history and how when the elder statesmen leave, making sure that history does not leave with them.

Jester also wants officer candidates to take full advantage of all of the learning opportunities available, including Officer Candidate Programs, Fire Officer Course, Secondary Education facilities and, of course, the National Fire Academy. "The classes at the NFA are free!" he stresses. "You can't beat that!"

The Internet is a great source to tap into. Many associations and fire service publications have websites with a wealth of knowledge," says Jester. "Check them out and study, study, study!" And never give up. If you don't make it the first time, studier harder. "It's just like fighting a fire," Jester says. "Never stop fighting until the fighting is done."

And always shoot for the top spot. Jester tells of the time when there were four openings for promotion in his department and four firefighters were vying for the spots. Three of them worked their butts off studying, while the fourth never opened a book. "What is wrong with you?" Jester asked the fourth firefighter. "Why aren't you doing anything?" The fourth firefighter responded by asking how many spots were open. "Four," said Jester. the firefighter then asked how many people were applying. The answer was once again four. "The firefighter simply shrugged and said do the math. And while he did indeed get the spot, he was not the officer the other three became.

You Made it: Now What?

General Norman Schwarzkopf once said, "When placed in command, take charge!" Jester feels the same way. Base your decisions on good information and sound judgment, but most importantly, make a decision. "Don't suffer from 'Paralysis by Analysis,'" Jester says. "Make a decision and move forward. The only detrimental decision you can make is to not make a decision at all." Remember, however, there is no perfect plan. As Vince Lombardi once said, "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we might find excellence." So Jester says stick with your decision until the situation is resolved or until it is obvious that it is not working. Then move to Plan B, and you must always have a Plan B.

Jester offers these tips for making decisions on the fireground:

Always do a 360 (if possible)
Be 5 minutes ahead of what you see (make decisions on what will happen next)
Call for help early and often (if it turns out you don't need them, send them home)
Know your district (this is paramount)
Delegate (don't be afraid to pass things off)
Tailboard critique every call (there is always room for improvement)
All mask all the time (no excuses)

All Things to All People

Jester says that once you become an officer, you become much more than an officer. You are a symbol of your department in the community, so always carry your department's flag with honor. Every day is a public relations and human resources day. Get out in the community and remember that you will be held to a higher standard. You may take your uniform off, but you never remove that badge. You will always be seen as a firefighter. make sure you polish that badge, not tarnish it.

In the firehouse, you will suddenly find that you are much more than an officer, you will be all things to all people, including, friend, coach, mentor, counselor, parent.

So, do you have what it takes?

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