Seeking Advice

[Fassi123]

Where in Ga are you? I have 6 kids. My wife and I each own a business. Those hours are not sustainable to stay married and engage with your future kids. Linemen make good money and can turn into a great municipal job. Keep you side hustle going if possible. Fire department will be fine without out you. Volunteer somewhere if you love it that much. I was active duty coast guard for 9 years. Been a reservist for 8. Make wife / family priority.

 

[IDLassie]

Having been in Wild Land fire for 40 seasons. When realization hit it was too late to jump out. Retired with just enough to pay for health insurance and little left over. GET OUT of the fire service and go get a real job and have a life! IF a seasonal employee you'll never get ahead at your age.

 

[wapitibob]

Brother that’s EVERY FD in the State of Georgia.

Sadly, we’re one of the “better” paid Metro ATL Departments

We have a pretty good dept here, a friend works there.
"The department works on a four-platoon system, 48 hours on shift and 144 off with one debit day per FLSA cycle."

 

[BRTreedogs]

Not that you’ve never worked outside, being a landscaper.

But when I think of FD & Lineman, there 2 different crowds of people imo.

Very different jobs as well.

Can you go job shadow with a lineman for a couple days?

I’m sure it’s much different now, but when I looked into it. Being a lineman apprentice was no joke and you better have thick skin.

That being said, I’d wish I’d done it I just didn’t have the required math.

 

[Long Cut]

We have a pretty good dept here, a friend works there.
"The department works on a four-platoon system, 48 hours on shift and 144 off with one debit day per FLSA cycle."

Wow…. Your Step 1 Firemen make more than our Fire Sargent/Paramedics

 

[Long Cut]

You should check if anything happens at the five year mark.

Yes our Pension vests at Year 5, which my 5th year at my current Department will be August of 2027.

But honestly for the marginal amount I’d receive, waiting another year it’s not worth it in my opinion

 

[Silver Wings]

I’d get out a legal pad and run 2 columns. First I do short term financial, then long term. Then factor the hours worked to get to retirement. Next page I’d do quality of life pros and cons.
I retired from the fire service after 35 years. I really enjoyed the job, so that would factor into the decision for me. They are paying you guys peanuts and that will probably never change during your career. At least not in a really meaningful way. I loved the job, but not enough to spend 56 hours a week away from home for that kind of money.
Good luck

 

[Long Cut]

I’d get out a legal pad and run 2 columns. First I do short term financial, then long term. Then factor the hours worked to get to retirement. Next page I’d do quality of life pros and cons.
I retired from the fire service after 35 years. I really enjoyed the job, so that would factor into the decision for me. They are paying you guys peanuts and that will probably never change during your career. At least not in a really meaningful way. I loved the job, but not enough to spend 56 hours a week away from home for that kind of money.
Good luck

Yessir, congratulation's on your retirement.

Myself and a group of coworkers/ Chiefs/Officers have gotten together to pitch different ways that our Department can swing a 24/72 schedule… Unfortunately we’re stuck in a “we’ve always done it this way” mentality with the Politicians…

Even IF we somehow went to a 42 hour work week from our current 56… My salary would stay the same or potentially go down from what I’m being told! “Because you’ll work less hours and lose the built in OT” is the excuse.

It’s one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, but ultimately based on all of the #’s, scenarios and advice I’ve gotten from others (friends, family & y’all tonight) .. the linemen path “wins” every time.

 

[7mm-08]

Yes our Pension vests at Year 5, which my 5th year at my current Department will be August of 2027.

But honestly for the marginal amount I’d receive, waiting another year it’s not worth it in my opinion

Dude, don't let a government entity get you in "the golden handcuffs." I contemplating leaving federal service at one point in my 32 years of federal law enforcement (before I retired more than a dozen years ago), but I had gone too long and was kind of stuck my last X number of years. You can recover (and prosper) when you're young - not so much after you have spent too much time on a government job.

 

[Montucky]

I would apply for the Apprenticeship…Don’t forget there’s plenty of other applicants that paid $20k for LineSchool & if you got a chance I would go for it……OT calls are also 3week storms on DoubleTime….would be hard to lay sod or install trees & sprinklers making $150/hr + benefits——-lots of options