Light At the End of the Tunnel

Lets just hope that the light isn’t an oncoming train.  Today was the first day I get to work with a newly transferred lieutenant at my station.  While I’m not unfamiliar with him, as he was assigned to the training academy while I was going through, it is the first time I’ve gotten a chance to work with him in the field.  I must say that some new blood is a breath of fresh air.  In very short order he had myself & other members of the crew today wracking our brains about things aren’t taught in basic firefighting & rescue courses.  Not only that, but he had us out and training most of the day since we haven’t been busy.  In one afternoon, I’ve done more in house training with this lieutenant than any of the rest in recent memory.  Sure, its nice to be able to perform all of the various tricks I may have learned from some of the other officers, but the basics were not on the menu.  Not only that, but the logic behind why things are done the way they are done was explained.  I’m very pleased to have an officer who takes pride in training, who doesn’t just throw a task at me & walk away, & who will constantly challenge me to become a better fireman, and hopefully a better person.  Not to knock the other officers that have been through here, but this new Lt. stands head and shoulders above the rest on first day impressions.  If this can keep up, I’m sure that some of the trends that I’ve been seeing will reverse themselves.  Its almost bedtime on day 1, but I’ve gotta say so far, so good.  This guy is combat ready, and I hope the attitude is contagious.