Volunteering at the Fire Department

sbrown96

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
23
I am a junior member at the Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department down in NC. I've been doing this for about half a year now and I'm in my junior year in high school. I log at least 24 hours monthly volunteering as this is required (but I usually do more because I enjoy going). I am actively participate in training and I've even taken a few classes at my local community college for it. It started as something I did out of curiosity and exploring ways to serve my community but it has turned into more of a passion. I really do love being there and I enjoy the whole brotherhood aspect that is formed within a fire department. Any ways I guess my question is how will admissions boards view this. Does volunteering at a fire department look any different than say volunteer work at my church. I thought maybe since it was a paramilitary organization that it may look good for the admissions boards. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated. Thanks
 
I am a junior member at the Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department down in NC. I've been doing this for about half a year now and I'm in my junior year in high school. I log at least 24 hours monthly volunteering as this is required (but I usually do more because I enjoy going). I am actively participate in training and I've even taken a few classes at my local community college for it. It started as something I did out of curiosity and exploring ways to serve my community but it has turned into more of a passion. I really do love being there and I enjoy the whole brotherhood aspect that is formed within a fire department. Any ways I guess my question is how will admissions boards view this. Does volunteering at a fire department look any different than say volunteer work at my church. I thought maybe since it was a paramilitary organization that it may look good for the admissions boards. Any thoughts or comments are appreciated. Thanks

It's a great volunteer opportunity depending on what you do while volunteering. You need to sell the specifics of what you do and how it impacts the community. Making coffee at church weighs the same as making coffee at the fire station :thumbdown:. Being in charge of maintaining gear vital to the mission of fighting fires or teaching fire safety classes to kids is better :thumb:.
 
It's a great volunteer opportunity depending on what you do while volunteering. You need to sell the specifics of what you do and how it impacts the community. Making coffee at church weighs the same as making coffee at the fire station :thumbdown:. Being in charge of maintaining gear vital to the mission of fighting fires or teaching fire safety classes to kids is better :thumb:.

How would I go about making sure I describe what I do when I am there? Is this something I would accomplish in an interview? Or more of a resume type of deal?
 
How would I go about making sure I describe what I do when I am there? Is this something I would accomplish in an interview? Or more of a resume type of deal?

Both. An interview is set up for more discussion about what you did, but the resume/statement needs to be short and to the point so that you can include additional activities. It's very important to include impact of what you do (answer the "so what?" question). Some obscure things might require a little bit of background information, but understand that background information is filler and not significant to the reader.
 
Both. An interview is set up for more discussion about what you did, but the resume/statement needs to be short and to the point so that you can include additional activities. It's very important to include impact of what you do (answer the "so what?" question). Some obscure things might require a little bit of background information, but understand that background information is filler and not significant to the reader.

Sounds good thanks for the advice it was very helpful.
 
I don't know about USNA, but on the USMA Class of 2018 facebook page, I've noticed quite a few volunteer fire fighters. Don't know if they disproportionately make up those who listed volunteering in their app, but its definitely a good sign!

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