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[WTTCHMN]

Firefighting is an insanely difficult job that requires skill, top physical conditioning and stamina

as well as financial savvy to manage the shitload of money they make for working only 10 days per month. 

 

[JBean72]

Firefighting is an insanely difficult job that requires skill, top physical conditioning and stamina

as well as financial savvy to manage the shitload of money they make for working only 10 days per month. 

I'm sorry - how much do firefighters make? I always assumed their salary was equivalent to a higher paid RN, around 80K a year, but looking at this chart:
http://www1.salary.com/Fire-Fighter-Salary.html

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Firefighting is an insanely difficult job that requires skill, top physical conditioning and stamina

as well as financial savvy to manage the shitload of money they make for working only 10 days per month. 

They work about 15-20...3 days on, 3 days off.  That's assuming normal schedule...which is pretty nonexistent in the perpetual fire season we have in California.

This is like the silly argument that teachers should be paid less because they don't work summers.

 

[Bullsback]

All I'll say about firefighters, is that there's a long wait list for this public employee job, yet the compensation is very high and the pensions absolutely insane. That doesn't make sense.

As for vets, I'm someone who thinks our military industrial complex is maybe ten-times too large and preys on the young lower-socio-economic demographic. Any disparaging comments I make should be understood as shots directed toward the military industrial complex.

If I were to give advice to a kid in an inner city or lower socio economic environment, my best advice would be to get into the military. It probably is your best shot at getting your head on straight, learning discipline and work ethic, and eventually getting an opportunity to go to college. And all that the same time, while being in the military, you are also sacrificing your life to defend our country and ultimately defend freedom's abroad. Very heroic job, even if you don't necessarily agree with the politics of it, I think everyone can respect the sacrifices those soldiers are making. 

 

[Happiness]

Many Filipinos, Mexicans, Koreans, etc. join the US military for the expedited US citizenship (2 yrs vs. at least 5 yrs for civilians if you're lucky).  Many students of modest means join the US military because its the only way they can afford to go to law or medical school.  Society gets something, and the vets get something.  It's not as simple as vets give and society takes.

 

[Roger]

All I'll say about firefighters, is that there's a long wait list for this public employee job, yet the compensation is very high and the pensions absolutely insane. That doesn't make sense.

As for vets, I'm someone who thinks our military industrial complex is maybe ten-times too large and preys on the young lower-socio-economic demographic. Any disparaging comments I make should be understood as shots directed toward the military industrial complex.

The same goes to cop...  oh did I just open another can of worms  :

 

[Happiness]

The cops I know generally have an incredible amount of patience and self restraint considering the f*ucked up people they have to deal with everyday.  I know I wouldn't be able to do it. 

 

[Perspective]

Well, from what I understand, very few police departments across the country have long wait lists like fire departments, and many have shortages of interested qualified candidates, also unlike fire departments. So, arguably, we should be offering higher compensation packages to cops, and lower comp to firefighters.

 

[Roger]

Well, from what I understand, very few police departments across the country have long wait lists like fire departments, and many have shortages of interested qualified candidates, also unlike fire departments. So, arguably, we should be offering higher compensation packages to cops, and lower comp to firefighters.

Agree if the cops are working on streets in rough nbd having high crime rate.  I have a relative who works in prison and all day long she does nothing but playing computer games according to her.  What a way to spend our tax money  :

 

[zubs]

So I heard from someone that cop applicants are now asked:
How many times do you masturbate a week?
What porn sites do you frequent?

Sounds a bit invasive, but is this true?

Maybe the guy I talked to was just being hazed....

 

[Bullsback]

Well, from what I understand, very few police departments across the country have long wait lists like fire departments, and many have shortages of interested qualified candidates, also unlike fire departments. So, arguably, we should be offering higher compensation packages to cops, and lower comp to firefighters.

I presume it is because firefighter's are paid more then police officers and they have much safer jobs (relatively speaking). That is all based upon my perception.  I feel as if firefighter's have risk, but it is a known risk...going into a fire, etc. Where as police officer's are at risk 24/7 when they are in their patrol cars.  World would be screwed if I had either job so I'm glad their are other people who can do a job I wouldn't do all that great.  World would also be screwed if I had to pick / plant fruit too. Lot of people would starve if I was farming (at least if my backyard is any evidence to my farming / gardening abilities). 

 

[JBean72]

Well, from what I understand, very few police departments across the country have long wait lists like fire departments, and many have shortages of interested qualified candidates, also unlike fire departments. So, arguably, we should be offering higher compensation packages to cops, and lower comp to firefighters.

There are reasons for this too - Firefighters are respected more than Cops, and have overall higher job satisfaction b/c the public isn't threatened by their enforcement of laws.

Ask any Police officer or FF, and the answer would clearly be that FF is the better job for sure. Granted, you have to be okay working multiple shifts straight in a row, but you're dealing with a lot less ambiguity as far as emergencies are concerned. Cops always have to be on their toes, and ready for anything. If I had to pick between the two, I'd pick FF hands down.

 

[The Motor Court Company]

there are so many perks of being a veteran. just serve for a couple of years than you are good for life. you can always use the veteran respect card to win any argument

Many Filipinos, Mexicans, Koreans, etc. join the US military for the expedited US citizenship (2 yrs vs. at least 5 yrs for civilians if you're lucky).  Many students of modest means join the US military because its the only way they can afford to go to law or medical school.  Society gets something, and the vets get something.  It's not as simple as vets give and society takes.

 

[Paris167]

there are so many perks of being a veteran. just serve for a couple of years than you are good for life. you can always use the veteran respect card to win any argument

Many Filipinos, Mexicans, Koreans, etc. join the US military for the expedited US citizenship (2 yrs vs. at least 5 yrs for civilians if you're lucky).  Many students of modest means join the US military because its the only way they can afford to go to law or medical school.  Society gets something, and the vets get something.  It's not as simple as vets give and society takes.

Those couple of years of service can be really tough on the body and psyche. Getting shipped out to the Middle East and battle zones 6 months at a time, possibly losing limbs, seeing some of your closest friends dying in the battle field, being away from your family and society for months..really tough. I remember a few years ago watching some of these young guys return back to base in Pendleton military base from an Afghanistan deployment, it was heart breaking watching some get off that bus without an arm or a leg. They are debilitated for life.  And then many come home with severe depression, PTSD that is barely addressed in the military because you have to be "tough", "resilient" and you just don't talk about that in military culture. So re-assimilating back to civilian life is very difficult. College is the best path back into a good post military life but few take that path due to a lack of adequate social support.  There aren't that many perks compared to the hardships these guys have faced.

 

[Perspective]

True, and that's why my kids will not be getting anywhere near the military industrial complex. Not that they'd even try recruiting my kids. They wanted me - a poor south LA kid in desperate need of an escape valve.

 

[daedalus]

So I heard from someone that cop applicants are now asked:
How many times do you masturbate a week?
What porn sites do you frequent?

Sounds a bit invasive, but is this true?

Maybe the guy I talked to was just being hazed....

Did he show up to the interview in the van in your avatar?

 

[hello]

the compensation is very high and the pensions absolutely insane. That doesn't make sense.

Unions ... it doesn't have to make sense.  The unions just want everyone to be able to afford to live in Irvine, not just the FCBs.

That's pretty ridiculous.  Firefighting is an insanely difficult job that requires skill, top physical conditioning and stamina, and constant threats of danger.  There is a long waiting list because many people think they can do it but only a few qualify.  The high salaries are necessary to attract and keep top level talent, which is what you need and want from firefighters.

im sorry I disagree.  THere is a long history of nepotism in fire because it pays incredibly well (especially the benefits)and requires very little education (not saying they are not smart but very little education is needed to get this job).  IN addition much of the firefighting done in the forests and mountains are done by a different group of firefighters called hot shots who are actually paid much less than the fire fighters we see in our neighborhoods.  If you ever talk to a shot hot they ridicule the "fire fighters" because they dont really fight much fires.  IN fact most of the time the fire fighters we see in our neighborhoods are running medical calls and not doing much fire fighting.  When was the last fire you saw in your neighborhood?  Trust me, you do not need high salaries to attract talent here.  In fact look at this article below about he nepotism in fire fighting.  Why do you think people cheated to get their relatives into this profession???
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0319-lacfd-discipline-20150319-story.html

Its almost as bad as long shoresmen. 

HEre are links to pay and benefits in fire fighting.  Its ridiculous cuz you, me and everyone is paying for this...
http://www.sacbee.com/site-services...ire%20Protection/page=0/sort=pay/direction=-1
http://projects.latimes.com/la-city-salaries/department/fire-firefighters/

http://transparentcalifornia.com/pensions/search/?q=fire&y=

ALso, do not get me started on their DROP program where they collect both their exaggerated pensions and pay at the same time... 

 

[hello]

All I'll say about firefighters, is that there's a long wait list for this public employee job, yet the compensation is very high and the pensions absolutely insane. That doesn't make sense.

As for vets, I'm someone who thinks our military industrial complex is maybe ten-times too large and preys on the young lower-socio-economic demographic. Any disparaging comments I make should be understood as shots directed toward the military industrial complex.

The same goes to cop...  oh did I just open another can of worms  :

http://transparentcalifornia.com/pensions/search/?q=police&y=

You shouldnt criticize fire nor police because they are "heroes".... 
At the risk of being politically incorrect I just want to say that we should call people heroes when they are really heroes, not just cuz they are cops or fire...

 

[Perspective]

Yep, you'll never hear me worshiping any profession as "heroes." We're all doing jobs we chose. That's pretty much it.

 

[Angels_Baseball_2015]

And the highest paid public employee in California is the head football coach at UCLA, making about $3.5M. The UCLA basketball coach is not far behind at $2.75M.  I'm sure it's money well spent.