Top 10 Traits All Firefighters Should Have

Honor is one of the highest regarded values in the fire service. However, it has several applications.

First, we honor our values by doing the right/moral thing around the clock.
Second, we honor our department by being good role models to fellow firefighters and showing care and compassion to our communities.
Third, we honor our brotherhood/sisterhood. It important to carry on the traditions in fire service and honor our own by helping them.

Whether it is providing guidance to one another to helping one another in a time of need. Brotherhood/Sisterhood is one of the finest traditions in the American Fire Service.

Initiative: "The ability to assess and initiate things independently." Firefighters need to be self-starters, because there are many things that need to be done on a daily basis: house duties, community outreach, and fire safety inspections. Without initiative, nothing would get done or "the brass" will be micro-managing everyone.

Firefighters must be aggressive in order to protect lives and property. However, agressiveness alone is disastorous. Tactics and safety should be in the forefront of every firefighters mind. Aggressiveness plus safety are the key to saving lives.

Loyalty like honor has many meanings within the firehouse.

-Loyalty to duty: A firefighter needs to first be loyal to their duty. Firefighting is a serious matter, and training plus knowing your equipment shows duty loyalty.

-Loyalty to your department: As a fireman, you really do represent your family, your department, and the fire service a a whole.

-Loyalty to your brothers: Firefighters are one another's keeper. It doesn't matter if you like the guy or not, in a fire, on the job, and in life you have his back.

Firefighters are public servants, and thus are held to a higher moral standard. You are to set the example for your community, so stealing, deception, lying, fraud, and cheating have no place in the Brotherhood.

Being driven is not just raw passion. It includes channeling that passion in things such as training. Don't just do your job, be a student of the job. Complacency has no place because you won't be prepared when those tones drop.

The firefighting game changes constantly. You never quite know the situation you will arrive upon, and even then the situation can turn on a dime. You gotta adapt quickly. Don't allow yourself to get stuck.

Being responsible is your responsibility. There's no room for passing the buck. Whether it's firefighter safety, training, operating equipment, equipment checks, or house duties, no one is exempt.

Firefighters are no strangers to having fun. However, in the fire service, it's a work hard play hard job. You can't take forever doing your tasks. Being a slacker just puts more pressure on the rest of the team. Don't do it.

While it's a cliche, there really is no "I" in team. If you're out to be a lone ranger, this really isn't the job for you as it is a team sport. Being a part of this elite team to serve includes the ability to follow orders to do your part to save lives.