Years of experience/retirement/why do I do this

June 13, 2004

It's really amazing how many people come out of the woodwork to brag upon

how many years they've been doing this. Well, maybe they're not bragging,

rather getting it off their chest.

I don't know who started this thread, but I felt like the OLD MAN with 23

years, only to find out I'm just a novice at this compared to some of the

responses.

I'd like to congratulate those with more years than me, and encourage those

still playing catch-up to me. This is most certainly a profession to be

proud of, even thought we don't get anywhere near the recognition we

deserve. But, on the other hand, it also keeps us in the shadows when things

aren't 100%. Double-edged blade, I guess.

We currently have the rule of 80 for retirement (age plus years of service

equals 80) and we get 2% for each year of service, based on the highest 12

months in the last 3 years of service (including holidays, overtime, etc.).

We are currently looking into a 25 year retitrement that was passed a couple

years ago by the State Legislature (but not yet adopted by all the

agencies). If that goes into effect, I can retire a year earlier with 12.5%

more (based on base pay only). If you add in the holidays and overtime, the

2% a year averages to be about the same, so either way it's a wash. For

those that will have to work many more years, it gets them out sooner.

And now, why I do what I do.... It all started many years ago, in high

school. The town had a volunteer Fire Dept. dispatched by the police

dispacther (YES, SINGULAR). Third year speech students were allowed to

volnuteer in the event of an incident (basically, if the siren went off, the

student went to work). I wanted to do this, but I wasn't eligible since I

had gotten my speech classes out of the way in summer school).

When I moved to Arizona, I found out that people actually get paid to do

this and applied, and applied, and applied. I applied with 2 local

department, and was offered a job at one, but due to driving distance, I

turned it down. The City of Phoenix had " interest " cards that you filled out

if there was no opening, and every year at Christmastime they would return

the cards to see if you were still interested, and if you were, you would

return them filled out appropriately. Well, long story short, mine was

sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to be returned when my sister told me

that they had an ad in the paper, and they were hiring. That was 23 years

ago, and the rest is history. I love what I do, and when I retire, I may

continue doing it part-time somewhere.

EVERYONE: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE!

Ed

Phoenix Fire Dept.

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