Firefighters

Background

Military bases have their own protection services, including fire departments. Military firefighting units are responsible for protecting lives and property from fire. Firefighters put out, control, and help prevent fires in buildings, aircraft, and aboard ships.

What They Do

Firefighters in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Drive firefighting trucks and emergency rescue vehicles
• Force entry into aircraft, vehicles, and buildings in order to fight fires and rescue personnel
• Give first aid to injured personnel
• Inspect aircraft, buildings, and equipment for fire hazards
• Operate pumps, hoses, and extinguishers
• Repair firefighting equipment and fill fire extinguishers
• Teach fire protection procedures

Physical Demands

Good vision without glasses and a clear speaking voice are required to enter some specialties in this career. Firefighters have to climb ladders and stairs. They must also be able to lift and carry injured personnel.

Special Requirements

No information available.

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

• Ability to remain calm under stress
• Ability to think and act decisively
• Willingness to risk injury to help others

Helpful School Subjects

Helpful school subjects include:

• General science
• Health

Helpful Fields of Study

No information available.

Work Environment

Firefighters work indoors and outdoors while fighting fires. They are exposed to the smoke, heat, and flames of the fires they fight.

Services offering this career:

• Air Force
• Army
• Marine Corps
• Navy

Hiring Practices

To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

This position is for enlisted personnel.

Wages

The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.

Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay. 

Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.

There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.

Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.

Training Provided

Job training consists of seven to 11 weeks of classroom training, including practice in fighting fires.

Course content typically includes:

• Firefighting equipment operations
• Firefighting procedures
• First aid procedures
• Rescue procedures
• Types of fires

Further training occurs on the job.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian firefighters work for city and county fire departments, other government agencies, and industrial firms. They perform duties similar to those performed by military firefighters, including rescue and salvage work.

Related Civilian Careers

• Firefighters

Employment and Outlook

In peace time the services have about 8,000 firefighters. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new firefighters due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After training, new firefighters perform work under close supervision. With experience, they work more independently and may supervise others. Eventually, they may become chiefs of base fire departments or similar units.