Jose Prosper was a Firefighter and jet mechanic in the Navy. Once he retired from the military, the decision to join FDNY was an easy one. Of course, Jose didn’t step directly from a career in the Navy into his role as a Firefighter with FDNY. There’s a lot more to it than that. However, being in the military did provide him with some useful skills and knowledge in pursuing the career of a lifetime with us.
“I loved firefighting [in the Navy] so much that I decided to do it as a career.” – Jose Prosper, Engine 38
Let’s be clear: military experience isn’t required to join FDNY. But it does help explain how we work. We are organized a lot like the armed services in terms of rank and hierarchy. We follow a chain of command that is typical for Fire Departments with a structure that includes Lieutenants, Captains, Battalion Chiefs (or Commanders), Deputy Chiefs and so on.
What’s most important about this is that it means there are several leadership opportunities for Firefighters who want to follow the path into management. The conditions for promotion are strict, but every effort to climb the ranks is well worth it.
Something else about working with FDNY that appeals to military veterans like Jose is being part of a unit that is accountable for mission-critical tasks. A career with FDNY provides the same sense of camaraderie, responsibility, and sense of duty.
During training, every Firefighter learns that it is essential to be able to trust the person beside them. They are the one that is going to have your back at all times, from when you head out on a call to when you get back to the firehouse. That’s why our physical and mental training is so tough. To make sure that every FDNY Firefighter can have complete confidence in one another. Your ability to do the job is what matters most to us.
You certainly don’t need military experience to understand the feeling of family that comes with being a Firefighter. The team spends a lot of time together on the job, and gets to know each other pretty well.
“FDNY is an awesome rewarding experience, with a family atmosphere and many opportunities.” – Jose Prosper, Engine 38
Firefighters become a second family of brothers and sisters. The firehouse is our home away from home. We share our meals and our experiences. We talk about everything and would do anything to keep each other safe.
FDNY doesn’t just give you the career of a lifetime, it gives you lifelong friendships too. It’s one of the best benefits of the job. Explore our site to learn what it takes.
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