Kids becoming Firefighters and Cops

[Anonymous]

I just came through border patrol at Dulles yesterday. The border patrol officers at Dallas look like they had a good gig going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have high school age children that say they don’t want to work a desk job then firefighting and police work may be the perfect avenue for them.

If your children seek variety in their day these two professions scratch that itch.

Most importantly, if your child wants a stable, good paying profession that offers excellent health and retirement benefits, AND is shielded from the upcoming AI-pocalypse, firefighter and police officer check those boxes.

The benefit of PSLF should also not be overlooked.

They can study whatever subject interests them and still apply to be a firefighter or police officer. They can attend a state school, save money, get an excellent education, and earn more than many graduates from private schools.

Maybe. Until they turn 25 and come down with an incurable cancer that will kill them in next year from toxins related to firefighting and their health insurance refuses to cover further expenses related to cancer treatment. This story in the New York Times today broke my heart...
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/us/wildfire-firefighter-cancer.html

‘If I Live to 25, I’ve Lived a Good Life’
He started fighting wildfires as a teenager. After inhaling smoke on the front lines for six seasons, he faced an impossible choice

A 36-year-old white collar coworker of mine died of cancer last week. Young people die. Wait for the vape damage to rear its ugly head. Our son had a classmate that died in a car wreck on 81 headed back to school.

Just because "everybody dies," doesn't mean you should disregard the extremely high rate of cancer among previously healthy firefighters who are exposed to a sh** ton of toxins due to their line of work. It's far higher than that of the average "white collar coworker."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have high school age children that say they don’t want to work a desk job then firefighting and police work may be the perfect avenue for them.

If your children seek variety in their day these two professions scratch that itch.

Most importantly, if your child wants a stable, good paying profession that offers excellent health and retirement benefits, AND is shielded from the upcoming AI-pocalypse, firefighter and police officer check those boxes.

The benefit of PSLF should also not be overlooked.

They can study whatever subject interests them and still apply to be a firefighter or police officer. They can attend a state school, save money, get an excellent education, and earn more than many graduates from private schools.

Maybe. Until they turn 25 and come down with an incurable cancer that will kill them in next year from toxins related to firefighting and their health insurance refuses to cover further expenses related to cancer treatment. This story in the New York Times today broke my heart...
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/us/wildfire-firefighter-cancer.html

‘If I Live to 25, I’ve Lived a Good Life’
He started fighting wildfires as a teenager. After inhaling smoke on the front lines for six seasons, he faced an impossible choice

A 36-year-old white collar coworker of mine died of cancer last week. Young people die. Wait for the vape damage to rear its ugly head. Our son had a classmate that died in a car wreck on 81 headed back to school.

Just because "everybody dies," doesn't mean you should disregard the extremely high rate of cancer among previously healthy firefighters who are exposed to a sh** ton of toxins due to their line of work. It's far higher than that of the average "white collar coworker."

+1000 What a stupid post. It's like the people who don't stop smoking, because they met someone who didn't smoke who got lung cancer so why stop doing something risky that they like doing. An anecdote does not negate actual scientific evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But they'll push their kids into finance/tech/MBB to literally chew up and spit out companies, sell them for parts, and destroy the middle class.

It’s obvious DCUM is very “me-me”. It’s about the test prep space race, academic prestige shopping and IB or bust. I’d call them shallow, but that would give them too much credit. Volunteering for them is a box check for the application process. These personality traits are a mental illness.

Well put

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But they'll push their kids into finance/tech/MBB to literally chew up and spit out companies, sell them for parts, and destroy the middle class.

It’s obvious DCUM is very “me-me”. It’s about the test prep space race, academic prestige shopping and IB or bust. I’d call them shallow, but that would give them too much credit. Volunteering for them is a box check for the application process. These personality traits are a mental illness.

Well put

Well put if you're a delusional moron trying to assume you know the intentions of every high school student, and diagnosing mental illnesses over the Internet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But they'll push their kids into finance/tech/MBB to literally chew up and spit out companies, sell them for parts, and destroy the middle class.

It’s obvious DCUM is very “me-me”. It’s about the test prep space race, academic prestige shopping and IB or bust. I’d call them shallow, but that would give them too much credit. Volunteering for them is a box check for the application process. These personality traits are a mental illness.

Well put

Well put if you're a delusional moron trying to assume you know the intentions of every high school student, and diagnosing mental illnesses over the Internet.

Actually it’s the mental illness of the DCUM parents the OP was diagnosing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But they'll push their kids into finance/tech/MBB to literally chew up and spit out companies, sell them for parts, and destroy the middle class.

It’s obvious DCUM is very “me-me”. It’s about the test prep space race, academic prestige shopping and IB or bust. I’d call them shallow, but that would give them too much credit. Volunteering for them is a box check for the application process. These personality traits are a mental illness.

Well put

Well put if you're a delusional moron trying to assume you know the intentions of every high school student, and diagnosing mental illnesses over the Internet.

Actually it’s the mental illness of the DCUM parents the OP was diagnosing.

Perhaps the PP is projecting, because thinking one has the ability to diagnose mental illnesses of thousands of anonymous posters seems pretty crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the PP is projecting, because thinking one has the ability to diagnose mental illnesses of thousands of anonymous posters seems pretty crazy.

There are thousands of posts here that support such a diagnosis. DCUM is one big looney toon manifesto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the PP is projecting, because thinking one has the ability to diagnose mental illnesses of thousands of anonymous posters seems pretty crazy.

There are thousands of posts here that support such a diagnosis. DCUM is one big looney toon manifesto.

Yes, you must have gotten your psychiatric degree at Trump University. Enjoy diagnosing people you can't see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the PP is projecting, because thinking one has the ability to diagnose mental illnesses of thousands of anonymous posters seems pretty crazy.

There are thousands of posts here that support such a diagnosis. DCUM is one big looney toon manifesto.

Yes, you must have gotten your psychiatric degree at Trump University. Enjoy diagnosing people you can't see.

There are so many other posters you should be nitpicking on DCUM. Pop on over to the Politics forum. Brew a fresh pot of coffee because you’re in for a long night over there. It will become your full time quest.

[Anonymous]

John Butler is the Fire Chief for Fairfax County.

He is a retired U.S. Marine with 20 years of active and reserve service, including two combat tours. Young people need to realize the benefits of military service.

He is a paramedic and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and certificates from Harvard University, the National Fire Academy (NFA) Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), and the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI).

Chief Butler served as the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) President in 2023-2024, holds the Chief Fire Officer, Chief EMS Officer, Chief Training Officer, and Fire Marshal designations from the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). He is chairman of the NFA Board of Visitors; and is a board member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

It all started in the military. Which parent would allow their child to enroll at the University of Baltimore? It has an 85.5% acceptance rate. In state tuition is under $10,000. There are tens of thousands of less accomplished UVA grads than this U of B grad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have high school age children that say they don’t want to work a desk job then firefighting and police work may be the perfect avenue for them.

If your children seek variety in their day these two professions scratch that itch.

Most importantly, if your child wants a stable, good paying profession that offers excellent health and retirement benefits, AND is shielded from the upcoming AI-pocalypse, firefighter and police officer check those boxes.

The benefit of PSLF should also not be overlooked.

They can study whatever subject interests them and still apply to be a firefighter or police officer. They can attend a state school, save money, get an excellent education, and earn more than many graduates from private schools.

Maybe. Until they turn 25 and come down with an incurable cancer that will kill them in next year from toxins related to firefighting and their health insurance refuses to cover further expenses related to cancer treatment. This story in the New York Times today broke my heart...
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/us/wildfire-firefighter-cancer.html

‘If I Live to 25, I’ve Lived a Good Life’
He started fighting wildfires as a teenager. After inhaling smoke on the front lines for six seasons, he faced an impossible choice[/quote

I saw that too and it was incredibly sad. Firefighting is such an important job, but the aftermath of 9/11 where so many died from exposure to chemicals makes it clear that it can really curtail your lifespan.

[Anonymous]

Trisha L. Wolford is the Fire Chief of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department in Maryland, one of the largest combination fire departments in the country.

She is the 12th Fire Chief in the history of the Department. Anne Arundel County is 580 square miles, covered by 31 fire stations, which serves a population of over 600,000 community members. Chief Wolford is responsible for over 1000 career firefighters, approximately 500 operational volunteer firefighters, 950 administrative volunteers, 34 fire communications operators, and 58 civilian support staff.

Chief Wolford was hired as an entry level firefighter by the Anne Arundel County Fire Department on January 26, 2006. She operated as a firefighter/paramedic until her assignment to the Fire Marshal’s Office in 2011. She spent seven months training at the Anne Arundel County Police Academy and was sworn in as a law enforcement officer in May 2012. She was then assigned to the Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit where she promoted to Lieutenant in 2014. With her law enforcement and paramedic background, Chief Wolford was a member of the Anne Arundel County Tactical Medic SWAT program for four years.

In December 2015, she accepted the position of Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal with the Bozeman Fire Department in Bozeman, Montana. She was responsible for administrative services, public education, code enforcement, fire investigation, fire inspections, company inspections, and City Fire Marshal duties. In 2017, Chief Wolford joined the Spokane Fire Department (WA) as the Assistant Fire Chief overseeing full operations of the department. On January 28, 2019, she returned to Anne Arundel County to fulfill her dream of becoming Fire Chief in her home department.

Her journey started at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV. Tuition, room, board and fees in state are less than $21,000. Out of state is less than $31,000. It has a 96% acceptance rate.

Chief Wolford received her Paramedic certification from Anne Arundel Community College in 2009.

She received a Master’s Degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from Western Governors University in 2020 and her MBA in 2022.

Chief Wolford is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy and a graduate of the IAFC’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) and holds a CFO and CFM designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Chief Wolford is the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Vice President for the IAFC’s Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association Executive Board and an Executive Board member for the FirstNet Authority. In 2025, she was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the State EMS Advisory Council.

That’s an impressive CV for a person coming out of little Shepherd University. You don’t need to attend a top 25 to succeed at a high level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But they'll push their kids into finance/tech/MBB to literally chew up and spit out companies, sell them for parts, and destroy the middle class.

It’s obvious DCUM is very “me-me”. It’s about the test prep space race, academic prestige shopping and IB or bust. I’d call them shallow, but that would give them too much credit. Volunteering for them is a box check for the application process. These personality traits are a mental illness.

Well put

Right now anyone wanting their kid to do any of these jobs is an idiot.

Project 2025 removes Overtime pay. That means cops, firefighters, EMTS, Nurses etc will not longer be receiveing those after 2026.

Jesus people learn to read cognitively

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right now anyone wanting their kid to do any of these jobs is an idiot.

Project 2025 removes Overtime pay. That means cops, firefighters, EMTS, Nurses etc will not longer be receiveing those after 2026.

Jesus people learn to read cognitively

The recently passed OBBB created an overtime tax credit of up to $25,000 for overtime pay through 2028.

Are you the same uninformed poster that keeps responding with this nonsense?

Workers that earn overtime received an unexpected little financial windfall. Keep pumping out that overtime people.