The Company Officer and Real Power

By Paul Melfi

The "real power" of a company officer is sometimes unknown to many serving in that capacity. The idea that you are not a firefighter, but rather an officer is sometimes overwhelming in that you now have a responsibility to others. The transition from firefighter to company officer is a roller coaster of new experiences. It is so important that you embrace those experiences and add them to your lifelong training encyclopedia.

I like to think that what we do and the vocation we are in is public service. Let’s define what a "public servant" is and what you need to do in order to fulfill that title. A public servant is a person who puts the public first and foremost during a time of need. In order to be an accomplished public servant, one has to exert oneself. That sounds like hard work for the good of others, and our work is hard, but it is rewarding. An accomplished leader has to put forth a lot of effort to be rewarded with seeing success.

The public calls on our services for a myriad of reasons. It could be the little elderly woman who has a leaky faucet to some of the most dynamic emergencies imaginable. Your job as a leader is to guide a group of members (they are part of that "public"), with their safety as your utmost priority, to accomplish mundane tasks as well as respond to horrific scenes.

In order to do that effectively, I will give you some guiding principles that you should always be working on. First of all, know yourself and continuously improve and strengthen your attributes. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Identifying each and working hard to correct your weaknesses and sharpen your strengths are important to your success. That means self-study, continuing your education, and seeking input from peers, supervisors, and the members you serve can never stop. I tell firefighters, company officers, and chief officers that if you think you can stop with your personal education, you are sadly mistaken. The day you stop continuing your education should be the day of your retirement.

Next, making decisions is one of the most important things you will do for your organization and members. There are a lot of people in officer positions that have a hard time making decisions. Problem solving and decision-making are things that cannot be put on hold. Decision-making is a skill and you can sharpen your skills. Practicing to hone your decision-making skills is like practicing to hone your firefighting tactical skills. You will improve your process and gain confidence as you proceed. Making decisions is both stressful and exciting, and it’s a critical responsibility for a fire officer. People rely on your ability to do this and when you don’t make decisions, frustration will set in with your members very quickly. More importantly, the lives of your members, your life, and lives of the public demand your ability to make decisions in a fashion that supports success and safety through practice and accountability.

It is also important that you know the people in your company. Sincerely take interest in what they do and constantly challenge them to improve themselves. This is important to their success and your own success, too. Keeping them in the loop, which depends on your ability to be an excellent communicator, is another principle that is so important. Just as staying on top of all the things going on in the department is vital, so too is sharing that information with all the members of your company. It keeps everyone on top of the game.

A question that you have to answer is, "do I want to be in the job" or just "on the job?" That decision has to be reached from deep within your heart. Being "in the job" means that this is the best job you could have ever asked for and you show that by example. "In the job" means that you are so involved while you are at work that nothing else is going to get in the way of success.

Training is one of the most important jobs of a company officer and the key to that success I previously mentioned. You have a responsibility to your members, the organization, and your members’ families who count on them to "come home" after every call. In the career side of the New York state fire service, company officers are mandated to attend a month of a First Line Supervisor Training Program. It is no coincidence that during the first week of that training, the newly promoted officer is taking a course called Fire Service Instructor I, because that is your job! I have heard more than one fire officer state that they didn’t take the job to be a teacher or babysitter. I find those two statements to be some of the most foolish comments made by an adult that just volunteered to take on the position of company officer. You have to train your members to the highest level possible so that when you arrive on the scene of any incident, you have a truly efficient and resourceful fighting team.

So often, the new company officer finds confusion regarding what to train on and is uncertain as to how to go about serving his or her members for success. So where do I get the information and training materials to make certain that my members are up to date on all the "stuff" we are challenged with? Here are some answers.

First, the New York State Academy of Fire Science Library is top on my list. That library and its highly competent staff can provide you with so much research information and material that not a day will go by in your career when you cannot train. I know that you are probably very good on the Internet, but rest assured, they are better. They too have continued their education, so researching and finding things online comes easy to them. Use them as a resource to avoid wasting your time. Your time will be better spent training your members. Learn more about the library from the OFPC website. Second is the Everyone Goes Home® website, which has a wealth of training materials and resources. You will never run out of ideas for the rest of your career.

Another training tool is the after action review (AAR) that should be done after every call you go on. This could be done at the tailboard of the fire or EMS vehicle or at the kitchen table upon return. The simple task of asking what each member did on that call could answer lots of questions that we all take for granted. And I mean every call, even those mundane responses that you think were not that important. Your youngest member to your most senior department veteran will learn something using this review. It is a way to get the "those guys" mentality out of your department. Those young guys and gals will be asking those old guys and gals "why" and that should not be taken as a question of authority. Those older members have a responsibility to assist you with the development of the young folks. You meet this responsibility by kicking it into gear with the AAR.

You are the boss... now BE the boss! Make the decision now and show those who had confidence in appointing or electing you to that position that you are "IN THE JOB." Be safe, make a decision, and reach down inside and use the real power we just discussed. Most importantly, make sure EVERYONE GOES HOME!

About the Author:
Paul C. Melfi, EFO, is the Hands-On Training coordinator for the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. He retired as a deputy fire chief, chief of operations for the City of Olean Fire Department after 26 years of service. Melfi also served as an instructor for the FDIC H.O.T. program and Firehouse Expo. He graduated from the National Fire Academy as an executive fire officer and has a bachelor’s degree in fire administration and health and human services. Melfi represents the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Everyone Goes Home/Courage to Be Safe® Program as a regional advocate, teaching and coordinating the "Training Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives" across the state and assigned regions.