Recruit Responsibilities
In joining the Clark County Fire Department as a fire academy recruit you have
taken on a new set of expectations and responsibilities. The Clark County Fire
Department and the fire service as a whole demand from its firefighters a
certain level of leadership, adaptability, flexibility, stress management,
attention to detail, and responsibility.
Quality, well-rounded firefighters are able to adapt and change based on what
the incident or situation asks of them. The same is true for the successful
recruit. The fire academy is a very dynamic workplace in which recruits must be
able to quickly and efficiently transition between physical training, lecture,
skills evolutions, EMS, and public interaction. No day in the fire academy is
the same as the one before.
Honor, integrity, honesty, and pride are words that Clark County firefighters
live by everyday. Fire academy recruits are expected to uphold these ideals and
live the mission statement of the Clark County Fire Department.
Safety is the number one concern of everyone involved with a Clark County fire
academy. Recruits are expected to bring all of their personal protective
equipment, lecture materials, physical training gear, and other necessary
equipment on a daily basis. Recruits are also expected to completely and
accurately check out and maintain all equipment issued to them. Attention
to detail is of the utmost importance. Recruits who forget to
bring their equipment or are lazy in their daily checkout of PPE and SCBA risk
injuring not only themselves but also their fellow classmates and cadre.
The fire academy is designed to prepare and expose recruits to all aspects of
fire department operations and activities. At various times throughout the fire
academy recruits will intentionally be placed in stress inducing situations to
help them better understand the rigors of firefighting and how to mentally and
emotionally handle work related stressors. Mental toughness is a quality that
successful recruits all have in common.
Firefighters by nature are go-getters. Fire academy recruits should also be
active and looking for opportunities to help whenever possible. Successful
recruits should always be busy when given assignments and, when applicable,
looking for ways to help out fellow recruits or complete additional work as
needed.
Your academy cadre understands that there may be times during the fire academy
when personal issues arise that are not academy related. Communication between
recruits and academy cadre is vitally important at these moments. If personal
issues arise during the fire academy recruits should contact their assigned
cadre member first to inform them of the situation and what actions, if any,
are required of either the recruit or cadre. The cadre is available to recruits
24 hours a day for un-expected personal issues. Your cadre is willing and able
to help but only if you inform them of whatever problems you may be
experiencing. Seek help and communicate with your academy cadre early and
often.
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