"DOING WORK THAT MATTERS"
Welcome to recruit school, where the days are long, the tests are hard and the practical exercises more exhausting than you could ever have imagined. Why? Because, what you learn here could make the difference between life and death. A mistake or lack of knowledge on the job could cost a life.
Your days at the Training Center begin at 0700, which is when your instructor will walk through the door into the apparatus room and shout “count off”. At that time you will be standing in a line with the rest of the recruits, dressed in your uniform and mentally reviewing the study material from the night before. After you count off you will be released to the classroom where your daily quiz will be given. Throughout your time at the Training Center you will be given a written exam followed by a practical test every morning. Upon completion of the daily tests you will work as a team to clean up the Training Center. Three mornings a week you will be doing physical fitness activities consisting of running and flexibility exercises. The other two mornings you will be doing work related PT. This could involve running, in full gear, up the steps in the fire tower, swinging an ax, hoisting hose with a rope or any manner of job related physical activity. Just don’t get too set in any routine because at any moment a fire call could come in, making it necessary for you to drop everything and respond. Once you get through some of the classroom material you can expect to spend most of your time out on the training grounds. This is a hands on job and you will receive lots of hands on training to ensure competence upon graduation. You will be in school Monday through Friday from 0700—1600 for 20 to 22 weeks except towards the end of class when you will have 3 evenings of night fires.
What else can you expect? Well, depending on your previous experience and training, you can expect to spend between 3—5 hours studying every night. The amount of physical work involved in this class can be exhausting and difficult for someone who is not in good physical condition. You will not have a lot of free hours in the evenings or during the weekends. Your family should expect that most of your time off will be spent preparing for the next day of class. The instructors are there to teach you, test you and help you. You can go to them with whatever problems you encounter throughout your recruit experience and they will help you find a solution. They are prepared to offer you tutoring for scholastic problems, assistance with techniques for any practical issues and counseling should you encounter any conflicts. Ultimately, your attitude and the amount of effort you invest will be the keys to your success.
Dayton Fire Training Center
200 McFadden Ave.
Dayton, Ohio 45403