Are You Old School…….
Old school, vintage, back in the day. Whatever you call it, it calls to a time when mentioned of a simpler time. When things were a little slower and just easier. We’re they really, I don’t know but we all seem to remember them that way. How old is old school? I began my professional career in 1995 and some of the new guys, in there early twenties. They seem to think that some of the things we had when I came on the job are old school. I had the opportunity to be assigned to an engine company that had an open cab, by open I mean the jump seats in the back. Now today there are all sorts of regulations why you can’t do that, but THAT was old school.
I hope that everyone has the experience of having an older firefighter take you under their wing and show you the job. I did, and it was instrumental in making me the firefighter I am today. I was hazed, nothing like wet sheets after a long day running calls, but that was the way they were brought in, so when I got there it continued. No whining or moaning you took it and went on. And yes there was a lesson in all that. Some of the ways that we now call old school seem to be dying out in the fire service, traditions that were there are slowly going away. We need to protect our traditions, and I don’t mean the “wearing an air pak is for weenies”. That’s not what I’m getting at. Taking a young firefighter and teaching him to become an old one. Showing the new firefighters to old ways of doing things, for the days when the batteries are dead in the new technology we use. Those are the type of traditions I’m talking about, are they old school? Yea, I guess maybe they are but there is also a lot of tradition in the old school ways as well. When you are looked at as old school, it is your time to pass what you have learned on. That’s how we got to where we are today, learning from mistakes and doing it better the next time.
I hope everyone has a career long enough to be looked at by some new recruit and having your ways called “old school”. That means it is your time to give back what was given to you.
Old school is a good description of Fire and Axes Vintage Sign Collection. Stop by fireandaxes.com and check them out.
Until next time,
Captain K