Posted on 06/27/2014 2:37:10 PM PDT by Fitzy_888
As a side note, I had my air conditioning compressor replaced last summer by an active Detroit fire fighter who had a very profitable heating and cooling business on the side.........LOL!
the pension and benefits start at retirement. social security starts at 62 or when you decide, if you participated in it. the reason the retirement age is so young is due to actuarial tables that say how long your job stress levels and health let you live after retirement. first responders and law enforcement/corrections tend to only live 3-4 years after retirement, usually 57 as mandatory for feds.
“Wish I could have retired at 40 with half pay. Wish I could retire at 70 with half pay.”
Hell, I wish I could just retire!
Some of the events listed appear to be positively dark comedy. To wit or perhaps witless: The 18-year-old tattoo artist found hanging in his basement by his roommate. Alas a veritable Van Gogh of buttocks art taken away all to soon.
I’m of two minds on this.
I know it’s a stressful job and a hard one. Don’t know if I could do it and I’m sure glad the good ones are there.
OTOH, everyone knows that going in yet there’s always a wait list to get those jobs. The pay is darned good, the hours are sporadic (I realize they’re on duty for long periods, but how much of that is actually spent first responding), benefits are excellent, retirement is near phenomenal compared to the private sector, thanks to the unions they have near absolute job security and they tend to strike (even when illegal) if everything isn’t going their way, and they get a lot of perks too.
I have to say, it’s a wash for me. If they were doing it for minimum wage in the private sector rather than what they get using my tax dollars, I’d have more sympathy.
As it is, I’m sorry that I’m leaning toward saying suck it up, Bunkie. Work sucks. Get used to it. Be happy you get paid extra for the extra suckiness you have to endure. Take care of your health and be safe and maybe you’ll get out more than you put in.
I understand your nightmares. God bless you and thank you for helping so many.
A buddy of mine (fire chief) mentioned about how they use “fake” fire (propane) for training instead of just setting a bunch of crap on fire. “We die early enough already.”
I questioned him more about the “dieing early” and he was talking about all the crap they breath in, the stress, etc. He wasn’t complaining, just stating the facts.
“Every time you drive to the store you go by the intersection where you had to peel the kid off the pavement, the freeway exit where you pulled the bodies and body parts of the entire family out of the car and off the road, etc.”
Bless your heart. Thank you for your service, and may God grant you peace and happiness .
I guess I’m with you -two minds. That’s kinda why I posted it. An old friend,, firefighter, posted it on Facebook.
It struck me as I use to work in construction and I saw someone literally torn apart and still alive, I thank god he wasn’t conscious. That screwed me up for a good while. Conversely, I once saw someone fall three stories (30 feet +), land so close I felt it through my shoes, lay on the ground and demand nobody touch him, 30 minutes later he refused any help from an ambulance and finished the work day -unbelievable.
Cal Peace Officer and Fire Fighter pension formula.
3% of highest year salary times years of service at age 50. maximum take 90%. Must be 21 to start job.
This formula was enacted under Gray Davis after bribes from state unions. Then the cities and counties accepted the formula to stay competitive in hiring.
I retired under old formula. 2.5% at 50 3.0 at 55%. I was 52 after my heart attack.
My retirement was generous, but the bump to 3.0 at 50 broke the bank. The state and taxpayers still reeling.
PS I know a state manager who got 108% back in the day of no limits. He was at 2.5 (non-peace officer) 40+ years.
Stupid screename... stupid post... active shooter drills happen all the time without telling people, and it's a growing problem all around the country. Next time spend 30 seconds on Google before spouting off.
School Shooting Drills Can Be More Terrifying Than Helpful
Oregon Teachers Fail Active Shooter Drill As Masked Men Shoot Blanks At Surprised Faculty
Mom says local grade school's active shooter drill traumatized child
If I wanted to spend five minutes instead of 30 seconds, I could fill the page with stories like these. This crap is out of control and does nothing but spread fear to children, employees and everyone it touches. It's insane.
Even better - admit you made a mistake about your nature and the career you thought you wanted, and start over. Find something you like to do.
So many people feel trapped when there are choices all around them.
Hubby retired after 33 years. He has the most cynical, deadly sense of humor I have ever seen. His whole crew was like that. In all the years he worked there was only a few calls that really bothered him. I could always tell when he came home and then would shower multiple times in one day. He told me about them when I asked. Other than that he never ever talked about the calls. When they were done they were done.
That's the way it is with police crime scene technicians. (But we only dealt with the dead).
The person who wrote the OP has my understanding and my sympathies. I did 5 years, and that was plenty. There was no pay and no pension. It was for the love of the job, but the honeymoon wore off.
I’m glad there is a pension in it for that firefighter. He sounds like he’s got a case of PTSD and I hope he gets help.
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