Too old to be a firefighter?

[staticr]

I'm 22 years old and have just signed up with the Coast Guard for four years but have not sworn in yet. I decided to join because I believe a Coast Guard background is attractive to Fire Departments and that I will gain alot of self-discipline and maturity. When I leave the service I will have just turned 27. When I finally graduate from the Fire Academy and complete EMT certification I will be 29 and a half.

Will I be too old to be seeking a career in Fire Fighting.

Inorder to eventually get a job as a fire fighter will I be better off not enlisting?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[MrCool]

I'm not a firefighter, but live in a BIG fire department family. Half of them are officers. Also most of my friends are in the FD.

First off, you wouldn't be too old. Most departments have a cut-off age of about 35. I also think you should join the Coast Guard because you want to do it, not because it will make you more attractive to a local FD. All of my family members in the FD have no prior military experience. Down here in west Texas, previous military experience gives you an extra five to ten points on the civil service exam. What I have seen and have heard from the FD higher ups and other FD officers is that they really look at a persons character. They want to see that you are responsible and that you really want the job. You also need to be a really hard worker. Prior military experience is great, but its what you have accomplished while in the service that counts. If you go the Coast Guard, my advice to you is go out there and try to kick some rear at your job every day. Make every day your best.

You also need to be in excellent shape because when you go to the academy you will more than likely will still be out of shape by their standards. My cousin who was in tremendous shape was carried out in a stretcher the first day of training.


When I talk to firefighters about their job they always tell me the same thing, you have to like helping people. You also got to have a lot of heart. These guys see some of the worst things on earth, but when they see that helped somebody they get that rewarding feeling. That feeling is what keeps firefighters going.

In my book, firefighters get the first and their own chapter.

MrCool

PS
I'm not sure if the Coast Guard is considered part of the military. If I made a mistake please accept my apologies.

[JerseyBoy]

I have to agree with MrCool, in that I really hope that you joined the Coast Guard because it is something that you thought through, and really want to do. Because your first year as an E2 / E3 are not the best years of your life. Also, if you wind up on a Cutter (Chances are good) out of boot camp, you don't have easy accessability to a gym to keep in shape. It's not easy.

However, you should also look into their rating structure. The Coast Guard has fire departments within their training centers, like Cape May and Petaluma. I believe they are DC's that get those billets, but it is something worth looking into if firefighting is something you want to pursue after your 4. Good luck.

[staticr]

Luckily I will only be an E-3 for about a week. This is because I have a college degree and am going directly to BM school after basic training. I will enter the service after BM school as a Petty Officer. I also joined the Coast Guard because I think I wil enjoy it.

[nyfo]

Originally posted by staticr
When I leave the service I will have just turned 27. When I finally graduate from the Fire Academy and complete EMT certification I will be 29 and a half.

Will I be too old to be seeking a career in Fire Fighting.


The age limit depends on the department your looking to get hired by (min/max age requirements) but for the most part 29 is still plenty younge. Good Luck!

[MrCool]

Best of luck senor.

[FFIHC]

WELL IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT STATE AND CITY YOU GO TO ...HERE IN JACKSON MS. WE HAVE HADE 42 YR OLD MALES IN CLASS AND THEY WERE PRIOR MILITARY AND MADE IT THRU NO PROBLEMS... IF YOU CAN PASS THE CPAC TEST I BELIVE YOU CAN MAKE IT THRU..BUT REMEMBER ANY ACADEMY IS MORE MENTAL THAN PHYSICAL..THEY WILL GET YOU IN SHAPE IF YOU CAN TAKE IT MENTALLY THAT IS MY 2 CENTS....BEST OF LUCK AND I HOPE YOU GET A GOOD PORT OR WHATEVER THEY CALL YOU'RE ASSIGNMENT..




GOD IS WATCHING AND KEEPING SCORE......
:)