In 1983 I joined the Navy. I was assigned to a Patrol Squadron. In the Squadron I was a lineman...launch and recover. The collateral duty for that was "Crash, Fire, Rescue" My specialty is aircraft. After two enlistments I discharged for family reasons. Then moved back to Milwaukee, WI. I kicked around with security, and police work myself for a couple years, but hated it. Then one day I was Reading the want ads in the Milwaukee Journal and there was an ad for Airport Firefighting. Well, that's what I had been doing for the past 7 years so I applied.
I didn't get an answer for almost a year, and just as I was about to give up I made a call to the fire chief. I was hired within the week. I don't know why they were sitting on their hands, but I was glad they got off of them.
I worked in Milwaukee, WI for the 440th Air Force Reserves for 17 years. Two years ago the military decided to close a bunch of bases. Mine was one of them. The whole base is now gone. Before they could ship us off to God knows where we all applied to new bases for jobs. I was one of the lucky ones. I had been recruited but Homestead Air Force Reserve FD years ago. I made some calls and sure enough they needed bodies. So I applied. I got the job and I moved to Florida last May. I will be here until I retire. 4 years from now.
I never wanted to be a fireman. I always just wanted to work in a factory. Make good money and retire. Things don't always work out the way you want, but they always seem to work out. Now that I am here in paradise, I plan on staying until I die.