Comments for ENGINE COMPANY 22

Comment on Take and Give by Colin Kelley

Colin Kelley — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:51:33 +0000

Mr. Huston, your article came to me right when I needed it! I thoroughly enjoyed what you wrote here. At a time when the “brotherhood” feels pulse less, your article gave me a little lift in my sails! Thx and well done! Spit on. CK.

Comment on Moment in Time by Christopher Huston

Christopher Huston — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:30:47 +0000

Photographers are artist, their canvas is our world, our lives and our emotions captured in fragments of time. Thank you to those who have chosen to document the Fire Service, to capture our spirit, our souls, our triumphs and our tragedies. We owe them a debt of gratitude, we re-pay their efforts through using imagery as a positive force in our world. Respect those in the photos, respect those who captured them. “Life moves pretty fast, sometimes you have to stop and look around…or you will miss it.” Lloyd, Mitchell, Kim…thank you.

Comment on The value of fiction by Jim Murphy

Jim Murphy — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 21:47:03 +0000

Much like a set of Irons; a video, photo and for that matter a simulation is just a tool. The tool may be dangerous if not properly utilized, but is invaluable when effectively managed.
Having conducted literally thousands of simulations facilitating incident command school, company officer training, strategy and tactics classes, practicing CAN arrival reports and tabletop exercises; I would like to share some “lessons learned”.
Preparation: Ask yourself a simple question. What am I trying to share, teach or convey? Then develop a simulation which encompasses your key teaching points (i.e. reading the building construction, reading the smoke, and reading the fire).
Presentation: Keep in mind Firefighters (like most people) don’t want to be lectured to/at. Engage them and encourage them to be an active participant.
Application: Run the simulation. It’s OK to make mistakes in a sterile environment. Trust me, when a student makes a mistake often times he/she is their harshest critic. Use positive reinforcement.
After Action Review: This is the golden nugget. The simulation exercise is discussed and all participants give their feedback. The Instructor facilitates and reinforces the learning objectives in detail, thereby “filling that slide tray”. This produces measurable results and is pleasurable experience.

Comment on The value of fiction by Jonathan Kaye

Jonathan Kaye — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:35:39 +0000

Certainly agree with your viewpoint strongly. One aspect of simulations that has not received much attention, but I think is worthwhile, is the ability of photos and simulations to “unlock” experience of the senior leaders in an effort to share experience with the next generation (and really any student).
For example, I was present at a training session where the senior BC was leading two companies to handle a somewhat routine incident that turned into the discovery of a meth lab. During the critique/review part of the training, the BC announced “and this was like an incident we had in ’92…”, and then proceeded to articulate the similarities and dissimilarities of that incident, compared with what was just practiced. The simulation had triggered memories that enabled the BC to help transfer the lessons of that real incident, through the virtual experience that the companies just had. It made me think that one way to help transfer such knowledge to future leaders is to use the department’s past as a way to evoke important details about local, real situations and how to approach them with the benefit of time.

Comment on Remembering is about what you do with it. by Joe Starnes

Joe Starnes — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:47:30 +0000

Very well said!

Comment on Is it in you? by Trevor Bertram

Trevor Bertram — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 19:18:29 +0000

Pride, commitment, dedication and passion… In my option the backbone of the fire service. The only thing I would add to the list is tradition. Great site brother!

Comment on Accidental Thoughts by EngineCo22

EngineCo22 — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 23:31:06 +0000

Thanks Jonah!

Comment on Accidental Thoughts by Jonah Smith

Jonah Smith — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 23:23:56 +0000

Great post. The start to your day sounds a lot like mine.

Comment on Is it in you? by Christopher Huston

Christopher Huston — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 06:51:02 +0000

Brian, thanks for stopping by and reading. i write what i feel and if others feel it too then we know there is hope. keep the faith….

Comment on Is it in you? by Brian

Brian — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:29:28 +0000

Thank you Brother! Great read and dead on accurate