Fox Reality The Academy

[Diazepam618]

has anyone caught the new Fox reality show the Academy about OCFA, wow those guys are tough and I hear they make some great cash too, we should all strive to be like them, I mean look at the dicipline they and commitment they go through, I wish amr was like that.

[fireflymedic]

I've not watched it, but my husband's caught a few episodes on HULU and he seemed to think it was okay. Haven't heard him fuss too much bout it (course this is coming from a guy that watches COPS and laughs at them)...

[JPINFV]

This is actually the third season of The Academy. The first two seasons followed LACo Sheriff academy classes.

[stcommodore]

This is basically how any major cities fire academy works. I wrnt through 7wks of that for the ems side of where I wk.

[Diazepam618]

This is basically how any major cities fire academy works. I wrnt through 7wks of that for the ems side of where I wk.

that's cool did you have to PT, man if medic schools required this kind of pt we would have fat medics around.

[46Young]

I love the show. It was pretty much the same thing at my academy at the Fairfax FRD. Tough PT, inspections, trips to OHC for injuries (or face being recycled into another class), having our flag stolen numerous times, the whole paramilitary atmosphere, the whole idea that your job is hanging on by a thread, with the risk of being terminated for failure in skills or written tests, as well as professional standards, recruits giving up a lot in sacrificing their previous job as well as putting stress on the family for a chance at the greatest job in the world where anything could happen, resulting in you being dismissed. Risk little to gain little, risk a lot to gain a lot. Love it!

I can't believe that, in addition to everything else, they pay us PAY US to PT while on duty. I almost fell over when I learned that PT on duty was mandatory XD! Twist my arm! Know what I'm saying? I went from working hosp based to third service, and I was lucky to get to the gym twice a week. I bought a pair of large kettlebells to get in a few hard metcon sessions during the week to compensate. Now I get in a 30-45 min session before work, another during work, maybe another session after shift change if I have a plans at home that day. Tire flipping, sledge shots, sandbags, sleds, as well as an indoor gym with an olympic weight set, pullup bar, bench, DB's up to 80#, treadmill, stepmill, weighted vests.

When I started the academy I practically got off on the fact that we were doing hard daily PT as well as work performance, which is when you're fully dressed, on air, and doing a series of tasks back to back with no rest. Hurts so good!

It was motivating seeing the recruits doing kettlebell swings, burpees, pullups, band walks, push presses and such. That's what's effective, not distancerunning every day ad nauseum with a bunch of pushups, situps and stuff, that's archaic and has poor transfer to actual job performance.

[stcommodore]

The day started with roll call at 0730. Then we broke for about an hour of pt, the only saving grace in pt was "they wouldnt ldt us die, and it had to end at some point." We then had alot of ems protocal review, skills, then things like carrying a maniquin in the reeves or staichair through the fire tower. A few weeks of "fire orientation" since we have scba and gear, and hazmat ops. We only lost one person of twelve, and most watched him be given a trash bag to empty his locker with and be escorted to the gate.

[46Young]

Too bad that more places don't hold an EMS academy. My former hosp based employer held a two week orientation which was mostly powerpoints, alphabet card recerts and ride alongs. My former third service employer held a one day (that's 8 whole hours!) of orientation and then it was into the field as a released provider, after a ridiculously quick hiring process (a few weeks).

More of this would be a great thing for the EMS service. For one, it would ensure that all are able to do the job physically. Yearly CPAT type testing ought to be implemented to keep employees from losing their physical conditioning. It would also instill a sense of pride in their chosen profession, and would also instill a sense of accomplishment and seriousness in the profession that is severly lacking today in the absense of high educational standards. Most who are willing to endure a paramilitary style academy should be able to perform well in the field, at least as far as productivity, ethics, and attitude are concerned. The instilattion of core values in the academy certainly can't hurt. It would weed out many of the cretins working across the country currently, as in "Screw this, who do they think they are making me do all this stuff, exercising, yes sir, no sir, marching, and all. I don't wanna do all this work. I'm just doing this for the easy work and quick money. I don't want the job anymore. Let someone else have it".

Edited November 12, 2009 by 46Young

[funkytomtom]

Attention to detail, sense of pride, teamwork...these are all things I think my service could benefit hugely from (myself included). I try to incorporate a mindset like this into the way I approach my job. I think a lot of it gets back to self-respect and respect for the work you do. You should have both to be effective as possible in the field...I'm gona go pump some iron now

[FormerEMSLT297]

A lot of Paramedic agencies do not do that type of academy becasuse, IMHO, who wants to go thru that, for the meager salary they are paying.

When FDNY is starting people at 31Kper year, and medics at 43K, and that is some of the higher salaries i've seen, whowants to go thru tha for that end. Plus if FDNY woul pay you to PT on duty, they woul;d be in major back log.