When I think of St. Patrick's Day and the fire service, many things come to mind. One of those thoughts bubbling up to the surface brings a smile to my face every time. Today, join me in recognizing the value an experienced veteran with the right approach can bring to all of us, young and old.
With that perspective, I offer up a special note to third-generation firefighter retired Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Eddie Enright who has about 40 years of duty having been assigned to engine, truck, and squad companies after serving his country in Vietnam. As he would say:
“Only 2 more days til St. Patrick’s Day”
* * * * *
Over the years, I’ve attended a boatload of fire training classes which emphasized leadership, training, and safety. Most were team-taught. A primary instructor would be there periodically, accompanied by a great group of “assisting instructors” who would each bring a certain level of expertise to the specific topic at hand.
There were lesson plans to be followed, objectives to be addressed and met, and the test to prove that learning had occurred. It’s a method of learning quite familiar with firefighters worldwide.
But sometimes, the Fire Gods might truly smile down upon you and bless you.
As you’re sitting in the classroom waiting for the course to begin, you wonder where all the instructors went. Just then, you hear guffaws of laughter just out of sight (probably damn near the coffee and doughnuts). What’s going on?
“Da Chief” is in the building.
Not necessarily the current department chief, but certainly a chief nonetheless.
He’s been around for decades and he’s seen it all. He rose up through the ranks and gained the respect from his peers the old-fashioned way. “Da Chief” earned it.
He knows how to handle the pick-head ax just as well as how to handle the politicians. He knows BS when he sees it and he doesn’t hesitate to call it out.
Just like Underdog, he is humble and loveable. He listens to everyone’s views and becomes E.F. Hutton: When “Da Chief” begins to speak- everyone listens.
Down to earth. Real.
When you are blessed with the presence of this special guy, drop everything you are doing and be near him. Hear what he has to say. Drink it all in.
Not only do you learn from his experience and wisdom, but, more importantly, from the way he relates to those around him. He does not condescend to the rookies; he gives no guff to those with whom he may disagree. He is compassionate and concerned. His smile is contagious and his love of the fire service is completely evident. He fills you with motivation and oozes tradition.
While rea
ding this, do I have you thinking about someone you know that could be like “Da Chief”? If so, make it a point to get him to engage with you and your group. Buy him a beer after class.
It will be the best time you can spend in any fire service training session.
w," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
Anyway, us Brothers are not going to let a lack of finances hold Buzz’s son to a lesser standard of care without a fight. We’ve put a party together and want everyone to join us the weekend after the Fourth of July at Arlington Park Racecourse. 
The light turned green. Nooooo! 
OK. I know you readers are all rolling your eyes- but hear me out- this was not something to ever be a part of. 
Jeff holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling. He is currently a Battalion Chief at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois. He is a member of the American Counseling Association, Illinois Counseling Association, Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs and Illinois Professional Firefighter’s Association. Jeff is also an alumni member of International Association of Fire Fighters. He is dedicated to educating firefighters and emergency personnel on the importance of behavioral health and suicide awareness.
Ever have trouble pulling out for a run forgetting you left a coffee cup on the bumper?
Well, I guess this is one of the perks of being a rock star! You can basically demand anything you want backstage, all the while being freakishly weird about said demands. I can vouch for the fact that brown M&M’s do not taste any differently from yellow ones or blue ones (although there does seem to be a subtle difference to those sought-after green M&M’s…).
“If one of your firefighters gets into trouble, how are you going to get them out?”
“You won’t be the best at everything, but no one is.”
“Looking back on it, the things we talked about that weekend were shown to us as being “fresh” ideas ten and even twenty years later.”
“Since I don’t have a juicy “moment of Zen” for you, I will instead give you some things I have learned along the way from some great guys.”
The message is simple, yet it is often forgotten. I use it to reign myself in when tension is high and focus is required.
With the April edition of the First Due Blog Carnival complete, it’s time now to begin collecting your submissions for this month’s topic: 
What You’ve Said