Robert Burkett
11-18-2008, 01:29 AM
by Capt168, 10/30/08
Ok, so it helps to know someone in the political realm if you want to be a Jefferson Parish Firefighter. The politicians started this tradition back in the mid-1980s. I got on the department long before that, when it only went by Civil Service Test scores, and I am proud to say that mine was a 100 with a 5 point veterans preference, for a total score of 105. There was two of us that took the test that day that had that score and we were both hired. As for those firefighters on the job now- I have a very young crew when it comes to my firefighters, and I could not disagree with you more. These men have trained in just about everything related to our profession, learned to be effective at firefighting, search and rescue, vehicle extrication and lots more. They are some of the best that I have come across. I know many of the younger firefighters and feel the same way about all of them. Since I am a Captain, I get to see them in action both as a scene commander and right next to them because I still fight fires...right there next to my boys! I am always with them to keep them safe and moving in the right direction. I know how intense it is inside a burning building and I admire anyone that will follow me, because I admit that I tend to push the edge because I want to save everything possible for the family that I am there to serve and protect. Fire is a terrible thing and my obligation to them is to try to save as much as we can- lives, property and memories. My MEN have stood with me in the worst of fires and never left my side. I will never leave theirs...and I will always be the last to leave the building, making sure my men are safely outside. These men you say may not deserve this job are the best, and you better pray that they are the ones that arrive at your door when you need them. They serve with honor, integrity, pride and the guts to go to the edge to save you and yours. In their hands I lay my life each day on duty, and in return I promise them that I will keep them safe and lay my life down to save theirs. What more deserving men do you want to protect you at night while you sleep peacefully.
Ok, so it helps to know someone in the political realm if you want to be a Jefferson Parish Firefighter. The politicians started this tradition back in the mid-1980s. I got on the department long before that, when it only went by Civil Service Test scores, and I am proud to say that mine was a 100 with a 5 point veterans preference, for a total score of 105. There was two of us that took the test that day that had that score and we were both hired. As for those firefighters on the job now- I have a very young crew when it comes to my firefighters, and I could not disagree with you more. These men have trained in just about everything related to our profession, learned to be effective at firefighting, search and rescue, vehicle extrication and lots more. They are some of the best that I have come across. I know many of the younger firefighters and feel the same way about all of them. Since I am a Captain, I get to see them in action both as a scene commander and right next to them because I still fight fires...right there next to my boys! I am always with them to keep them safe and moving in the right direction. I know how intense it is inside a burning building and I admire anyone that will follow me, because I admit that I tend to push the edge because I want to save everything possible for the family that I am there to serve and protect. Fire is a terrible thing and my obligation to them is to try to save as much as we can- lives, property and memories. My MEN have stood with me in the worst of fires and never left my side. I will never leave theirs...and I will always be the last to leave the building, making sure my men are safely outside. These men you say may not deserve this job are the best, and you better pray that they are the ones that arrive at your door when you need them. They serve with honor, integrity, pride and the guts to go to the edge to save you and yours. In their hands I lay my life each day on duty, and in return I promise them that I will keep them safe and lay my life down to save theirs. What more deserving men do you want to protect you at night while you sleep peacefully.