THE COMPANY OFFICER - Page 2

The company officer is the vital link between the department heads and the firefighters. Everything that comes down from above is channeled through the company officer, especially the Captains. Captains are like the vortex of an hourglass. Captains can control the flavor and flow of information. A tremendous amount of responsibility is placed on the Captains to support the Chief Officer’s policies and procedures, because the success of these policies and procedures depends on the Captains enforcing and practicing them. Captains need to set the example and obey the policies and procedures. If those policies are flawed, they should be challenged and changed through the chain of command and not by insubordination. By disobeying certain policies while obeying others sends a message that your are being selective on which policies are important. So it should come of no surprise that your firefighters start selecting which station and fireground policies to obey and which ones to ignore. Today’s company officer must be better trained and better educated. This is because the fire company is responding to a wider range of calls in a larger environment. The fire departments success depends on the individual’s willingness to put aside personal differences and work together for the benefit of the department and the people you are sworn to protect. The company officers role is to mold this group into an effective firefighting response team. Now a little information on succeeding in the fire service: Rule #1 – Learn your job. Be sincerely interested in and dedicated to it.

Rule #2 – Be loyal to your department and fellow firefighters.

Rule #3 – Be aggressive in your pursuit of knowledge. Be aggressive in the pursuit of all educational and training opportunities.

Rule #4 – Be cautious, and guard your speech and actions, on and off duty. People see how you act and relate it back into the fire service image.

Rule #5 – Be the type of person who inspires confidence and respect. Lead by example.

Rule #6 – Be able to accept criticism graciously and praise, honors, and advancements modestly. Be humble.

What firefighters expect from their officers

There are three things that firefighters expect from their officers:

1. to be taken care of, 2. to be protected, and 3. to be kept well informed.

To be protected and taken care of are not of the same thing. Company officers should protect their firefighters from -getting killed, -getting hurt, -getting sick, -getting embarrassed, -going insane, -looking and feeling stupid. The most important thing to the company officer is that everyone gets to go home to his or her families. Property can be replaced, lives cannot.