Firefighter (21M)
- Enlisted
- Active Duty
- Army Reserve
All Army bases have their own protection services, including fire departments. Army firefighters are responsible for protecting lives and property from fire. Firefighters control fires and help prevent them in buildings, aircraft and aboard ships.
Some of your duties as a Firefighter may include:
- Performing rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crash incidents, vehicle emergencies and natural cover fires
- Performing emergency response duties during hazardous materials incidents
- Operating pumps, hoses and extinguishers
- Forcing entry into aircraft, vehicles and buildings in order to fight fires and rescue personnel
- Driving firefighting trucks and emergency rescue vehicles
- Giving first aid to injured personnel
- Inspecting aircraft, buildings and equipment for fire hazards
- Teaching fire protection procedures
- Repairing firefighting equipment and filling fire extinguishers
Training:
Job training for a Firefighter consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you’ll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 13 weeks, one day of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in fighting fires. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. You’ll learn about:
- Types of fires
- Firefighting equipment operations
- Firefighting procedures
- First aid procedures
- Rescue procedures
Helpful Skills:
Helpful atrributes include:
- An ability to remain calm under stress
- A willingness to risk injury to help others
- An ability to think and act decisively
Advanced Responsibilities:
Advanced level Firefighters supervise and train other Soldiers within their discipline. As an advanced level Firefighter, you may be involved in:
- Directing rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crash incidents, vehicle emergencies and natural cover fires
- Directing emergency response crews during hazardous materials incidents
- Maintaining records and reports on fire department operations
