Going backwards to move forwards?

[TheBigCountry]

In the relation to jobs/careers, has anyone gone backwards to go forwards? To sum it up, im currently a certified wildland firefighter who makes sh*t pay in the state and having to work two jobs to make ends meet. I have aspirations to get into EMT/Paramedic school, but to do so I would have to give up wildland. I found a gig driving for a local ambulance company, but it would make less then I am now. The upside is it would allow me to go for EMT/Paramedic. Its a tough choice; I love wildland and getting to deploy on fed assignments is awesome, but back home the pay/politics/down-time between seasons drives me nuts. Hence the go backwards to move forwards idea? Just a random question for those whove ever done it...

 

[Maggot]

For methawould be toughchoice. Better pay is nice but means you've almost got to be in a fairly large city. personally, I couldnt live that way. Wildlands soundsmore pleasant. Have you considered smokejumpers. I visited the training facility when I was cutting timber in Montana. Those gys are tough. Dont know about the pay but Id guess its pretty good fro jumping out of an airplane into a forest fire.

Ask yourself, would I be happy in a city?
[h=3]Missoula Smokejumper Recruitment[/h] https://www.fs.fed.us/fire/people/smokejumpers/missoula/recruitment/recruit.html

Feb 17, 2017 - Missoula Smokejumpers - Aerial Wildland Firefighters. ... Employment Information ... rookie training. Image of the Missoula Smokejumper logo.

 

[QuickNDirty]

I've made some weird career decisions that have worked out pretty well. I just do what my grandmother told me, 'follow your heart'.

Keeps things interesting.

 

[WaltHer]

Lots of guys in my department started wildland and went structural for the consistency, pay, benefits. They still fight wildland during the summer through MOU's with DNRC, BLM. Best of both worlds. One of the keys to a structural department is being a paramedic. It opens more doors than you may imagine. I highly, highly recommend it. Two-ish years of eating s#it, but when you're done you have a special set of skills that differentiate yourself from other applicants at municipal departments and other jobs. If you're young, and you/family can suck up the temporary loss of wages it is a great opportunity. That all being said, have a plan for your future! There aren't many 50/60 year old street medics. Paramedic school is a means to an end, it IS NOT a final destination.

 

[WATERWALKER]

What you’’’re giving up monetarily you’’’ll make up in experience. There was a time I took a huge pay cut while transitioning from a JOB I hated to a CAREER I really wanted. The job I despised was stable, secure & I was paid well. I just couldn’t stand the job anymore. I wanted more from life.

So, I went to college to build a foundation for the career I wanted until I retired. I received college credits for my troubles & I spent more money on tutoring in order to ahead of the power curve. I did very well in college & my time was well spent.

I was hired for a position in my chosen field if expertise. The time I spent going to school / training was worth every second in the long run. I still work for this employer & I have no complaints. Even after beginning my career, I was taking a pay cut for the first two years. I make a bunch more in the long run than I ever did in my former career.

For me & my family it was worth it to quit a job that paid well that I just didn’t want to continue doing. I took all of a $40,000+ annual pay cut initially. You’ll have to ask yourself (& possibly your family) if the initial hardship is worth h it to you & yours. As Caesar said “Let the dice fly!”

Good luck.

 

[oneshot86]

if you have to go backwards to go foward, do it...

 

[Maggot]

I've made some weird career decisions that have worked out pretty well. I just do what my grandmother told me, 'follow your heart'.

Keeps things interesting.

What Granny said.

 

[1J04]

Whatever is gonna make you happy do it. Period. It doesn't matter how you get there as far as I'm concerned, but get there. Been back n forth from from firefighting for the State (DNR), have shipboard and aircraft firefighting years of training and experience, commercial fishing, 10yrs Naval Service (most of those yrs dealing with discipline), worked for the labor minister of Japan for awhile where my wife worked for 8 yrs when I met her, then a couple trading companies connected to the Congressman, then a ceramic paver outfit also connected, then transferred to the PI to support an electronics factory also connected for 3 yrs, back to conus and 20+ in corrections. Wild ass ride and wouldn't change one damn thing. Am I really happy? Yes. Is the job getting harder? Yes.

Follow your dream brother. You only do this one time. NO REGERTS.

 

[Maggot]

You only do this one time.

I surely hope that is the case. Once has been far more than enough.

 

[Veer_G]

Maybe Maser can get the OP a hook-up third-shift at the Pump-'n-Go?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fFtGfyruroU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[TheBigCountry]

Maybe Maser can get the OP a hook-up third-shift at the Pump-'n-Go?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fFtGfyruroU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you don’t have anything beneficial to add, how about staying out of it?

 

[Veer_G]

If you don’t have anything beneficial to add, how about staying out of it?

Okay. Having done that gig many moons ago, I'd tell you to take it. If you have a steady schedule, you can make a little extra bank elsewhere, but just so long as the hours are firm. Training and extra certs are never bad in public service, and if the company you might work for catches back-up 911 work, it can get really interesting. Seems to me that you might answer this to yourself, if you could see beyond the immediate adrenaline of working call-outs now.

 

[TheBigCountry]

Okay. Having done that gig many moons ago, I'd tell you to take it. If you have a steady schedule, you can make a little extra bank elsewhere, but just so long as the hours are firm. Training and extra certs are never bad in public service, and if the company you might work for catches back-up 911 work, it can get really interesting. Seems to me that you might answer this to yourself, if you could see beyond the immediate adrenaline of working call-outs now.

Thanks for the positive insight. I have a strong passion for helping people, and don’t mind a little adrenaline rush. I excelled in EMR when I went through it, and Want to expand it more with EMT and Paramedic. It’s a tough call to make

 

[packratt]

Try to get on with a fire department that provides EMS service. A lot of departments have agreements where they send personnel to help with wild fire season. I've got a couple friends that used to do that they would respond out west from VA.