Jason Hoevelmann's Blog – April 2014 Archive (7)

Ever heard that saying that it's better to be lucky than good? Yeah, me too!

Well, have you ever wondered how some are ALWAYS lucky? That's mostly because they create their luck.

As the officer, you create your own luck by preparing and filling in the gaps in your operational readiness. Luck doesnt' just befall you because it picks you.

It comes along when you have been methodical and persistent in training, drilling, communicating and doing it again and…

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If you are like many in this country, you're dealing with fluctuating manpower on a daily basis.

This makes frequent drilling even more important.

Be sure to drill with different numbers of personnel and practice techniques, not only with full manning, but with limited manning.

There is no way to know your true capabilities if you don't drill and practice with the different configurations of mannnig. It will determine your effectiveness on the fire ground.

Being in control on the fire ground is critical for the fire officer. Nothing is worse than an officer screaming and shouting about EVERYTHING!

This shows a lack of control on the part of the officer. Staying in control allows you to think more clear, instills confidence in your members and allows for members and other officers to actually understand what your saying over the radio or through your mask.

The more your scream and lose your cool, the more inept you…

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You can't worry yourself with what the other crews or shifts do or don't do.

Don't bother yourself with what the other officers are or are not doing.

When you come on shift, all you need to worry about and focus on is taking care of business.

Your members will do the same. Control what you can, when you can and control it well!

Be that crew, company and officer. Be the best!

We all advance at a different pace. Sometimes due to us not being prepared, sometimes just being beat out and other times factors we can't control come into play.



No matter what the reason, use a promotion lost as a learning experience. Not only about the process itself, but where to improve.



Use the time to gain more experience, master the craft and to prove you're the best candidate.



No sulking, no complaining and no…

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Becoming an officer and an effective leader is not accomplished from passing tests or being the best interviewer or having the highest level degree or the most years on the department.



It is achieved by being a servant of the fire service. It is achieved through performing the most subtle acts on a daily basis that makes the fire service and others better.



It is achieved by making sure others come first and that the successes of those around us are as important as our… Continue

As many are preparing to make their way to FDIC or are already there, it is important to understand what our roles are as fire service instructors and leaders. Yes, you are both, whether you are an officer or not if you are helping to make the fire service better, you are a leader and instructor at some level.

I was using my knife the other day and it needed to be sharpened. I have an old stone that has sharpened knives for many years.  When you learn how to use that stone and are…

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