ORANGE PEEL
MARCH 6, 2016
BY: JERMEY REBOK
United States Military Academy
“The Assumptions of Others…Forget What They Say!”
We are given an amazing opportunity every day we crawl out of bed. A dream…to so
many, we get to say that we are part of the American Fire Service! We have the opportunity
of a lifetime to do great things with our lives while providing services to the community
that not everyone is capable of. We aspire to be more than we once were, to be more than
those that served before us, and to be so much more than those who were handed
everything!
Is it biased of us to want to be so much better than others? Absolutely NOT! The
assumptions of those who whisper behind your back are just tears of jealousy, because if
they knew, they would be headed down the same road you are headed…chasing
dreams…putting in work…making your goals reality!
If you instill in rock solid core values of training, teamwork, and tradition, you will
create a path for those in your inner circle to follow. Soon, you will begin to see a
movement…a movement towards making the “job” better than it once was.
All this has been a dream come true for so many, a real dream not based on material
things like homes and cars. You owe everything of today to the past, the present, those who
served as mentors to you, catastrophic events, and the training that you have participated
in.
Learning for “EVERY” tier of the job is the cornerstone for your attitude and
effectiveness as a Firefighter, Officer, and Leader for those of tomorrow, and the services
we will provide.
Let ignorant people present themselves in any way they wish. Let them talk. They will tell
you exactly how little they know, and their actions on the fire ground will show. And when
dealing with a leader of substance, let the summation of his actions tell you who he is and
of his worth.
TRAINING…Cause all the cool kids are doing it!
