What is NYSAFC’s Paid Officers Committee?

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By Chief James W. Harrington, Gates Fire District
Chairman, Paid Officers Committee

Several of you have asked, "What is NYSAFC’s Paid Officers Committee?" Good question. Let me see if I can explain and give you some history.

This committee used to be referred to as the "Paid Chiefs" Committee. The association felt the name "Paid Officers" would be better suited in order to serve the members of NYSAFC. The committee is not just for fire chiefs, but also for any paid fire officer in the state.

Currently, the committee consists of five bugle chiefs from career or combination fire departments throughout the state. The committee is looking for fire officers, including lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, assistant chiefs or division chiefs, who would be interested in promoting the needs of fire officers. Newer fire officers can bring a different perspective to this committee, along with direction that will be able to assist subordinate officers with their career development.

One objective the Paid Officers Committee has established is to assist in the development of the NYSAFC Emergency Services Leadership Symposium. As we advance our careers through promotional exams to the position of lieutenant, we are then required to attend the First Line Supervisor Program, commonly known as FLIPS. New, eager and energetic officers head to Randall's Island for their four weeks of officer training. Many items and elements of being a new company officer are presented to us and we begin to mold our careers as new leaders in our departments.

After we leave our FLIPS class, we look over our shoulders and ask, "What’s next? What other form of leadership training and career officer development is out there to assist our future chief officers?"

At a recent committee meeting, it was determined that the shortcomings in career officer development are mainly in the field of effective leadership. This is where the Paid Officers Committee feels we should step in and help with the development of our future fire service leaders. There is no "official" additional training for you as you grow and develop in your officer position. We intend to support and foster career fire officer education.

Our committee is looking for ways you feel the NYSAFC Leadership Symposium could assist you in becoming a more effective leader. From the tactical/operational side of the house, we receive numerous courses, classes and seminars that make us proficient on the fireground. But as a leader, manager, or boss, there is little out there to guide you through the administrative and management issues that you will encounter.

With that being said, our committee met recently with the NYSAFC Fire Education Committee to assist in determining what the association can do to advance your development. The current Company Officer Leadership Training (COLT) is the beginning of this type of program. I highly encourage all officers, from lieutenants to captains to chief officers, to take the time from their busy schedules to attend this worthwhile type of training. I am asking all of the paid officers to provide us with your thoughts and comments on what types of programs you feel would help enhance and develop you as a company officer.

Within the next several months it will be our objective to develop programs to assist the company officer in becoming more effective and respected, both from an operational and an administrative standpoint. We are looking for specific subjects that we can incorporate into NYSAFC's leadership programs. You, as the company officer, have firsthand knowledge of the current topics and issues you face in your career. Whether it is dealing with personnel issues, finances, labor management or conflict resolution, we need your input to assist with formulating these programs.

If you have any ideas, suggestions, or recommendations please forward them to me at jharrington@gatesfd.org. We look forward to hearing from you in the future. Your input will greatly help make the Paid Officers Committee a resource for our up-and-coming chief fire officers.