career ?????????????????'s

[port authority]

i am currently joining the navy and am a volunteer ff but anywho i was wondering which is better the structural or aircraft ff position plus if anyone has any additional info they can give me on other aspects of navy ffing would be great thanks

[Bemiss]

When I went to join the military I was told that everyone in the Navy get firefighting training cause when your on a ship or sub you can't wait for certain people to show up. You are assigned to a fire team and have your areas of the ship or particular duties to take care of in case of a fire. No I am not in the Navy but am in the ANG with a few people that were and that is the way they said it is.

[3rd District]

The Marine Corps also maintains military fire fighters. The Army has several fire fighting units in their military reserves, many of these units are deployed overseas at this time.

[Rescue131]

The Navy SeaBees also have a billet for firefighter. All of the firefighters at Camp David FD are Navy SeaBees. Like 3rd Dist. said, the Marine Corps also has military firefighters, but I think these are mostly ARFF positions. At most Marine Corps Air Stations the fire division is split into two groups, one is the structural side, which is almost all civilians, the other is ARFF which is all military.

[AC302]

Are you going Active Duty or DOD civilian? If active duty the closest you will get to being a "firefighter" is the DC rating. Damage Controlman have primary responsibility for saving the ship from catastrophy, but after the Forrestal ALL Navy personnel are trained in at least basic shipboard firefighting. If you are going 0081 series most Navy bases with a flying mission mix up structural and ARFF operations. You are usually assigned to one or the other for a period of time. For my money, on an active Navy airfield ARFF is the way to go. You will run into lots of challenges, especially if you mix carrier based aircraft with inexperienced or trainee pilots. Hope this helps.

[3rd District]

During WWII many of the Navy Stations used Sailor Fire Fighters. This group served at the Advance Base Depot in Davisville, RI

[Observer]

3rd Dist. - What is that truck? It looks like a Ward LaFrance but what kind of aerial is it? Ward used some Maxim aerials along the line but that doesn't look like one. Any idea?

[3rd District]

Observer

The truck is a 1941 Maxim Quint, 750 gpm, 75 ft ladder. It was the first metal aerial ladder produced by Maxim. The rig was being built for the Boston Fire Department, when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the Navy acquired the rig instead. Information and photo come from the collection of Howie Smith.(Mr Maxim) Howie has written 2 fine books on Maxim apparatus.

[Squad Man]

As was stated before the closest you get to a structural position which is actually shipboard firefighting is the DC (Damage Control) rate. The ARFF positions are filled from ABH (Aviation Boatswains Mate). However even if you go in with guaranteed ABH "A" School and the Crash and Salvage "C" school you are not guaranteed to work crash and salvage on the ship. I was onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and was on the crash team in the Hangar Bay, most likely if you get your "A" school you will still work as a deck ape hauling chocks and chains for the aircraft for several months or more and maybe some more time as a tractor driver then maybe, just maybe you get a chance to move to Crash, if at all !

Not saying it was bad for me because it really wasn't but do not let them force you into anything you do not want, find someone who had the job you are looking at and ask them the truth. People out of the service have nothing to gain or lose by telling you the truth about their military job. The recruiter has billets to fill and are very well known to tell you what you want to hear to get your signature!! TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!

[crash_&_smash]

I can't speak from all Navy faclities, but we have a little of everything here. We run two structural engines and four ARFF trucks from three stations. Two stations are DOD civilians and one is Navy sailors in the ABH rating. We are all trained in Aircraft and Structural Firefighting. This is a shore base with numerous trainee pilot. I enjoy both ends of the job here (ARFF and Structural). I came from a volunteer backround to a career postion, and I've learned lots with more to come.

[ABH Shemory]

If you want to be a firefighter in the Navy Go ABH thats what I do I am on the kitty hawk.I was in the fire dept over at Nas Sigonella Italy this rate is all firefighting.But you also will move aircrafts on a carrier witch is not all bad.

[firestrike]

better be good with tie-down chains!!!!!

[SouthsideTRKman]

Quick question....


Anyone have pics or specs of the USN Tractor Drawn Aerials that are in service? I hear there is one at Norfolk Naval Station, but I haven't seen it.

Thanks!