All Army bases have their own protection services, including fire departments. Army firefighters are responsible for protecting lives and property from fire. Firefighters control fires and help prevent them in buildings, aircraft and aboard ships. Firefighters supervise or performs firefighting, rescue, salvage and fire protection operations.

Some of your duties as a Firefighter may include:

• Perform rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crash incidents, vehicle emergencies and natural cover fires
• Perform emergency response duties during hazardous materials incidents
• Operate pumps, hoses and extinguishers
• Force entry into aircraft, vehicles and buildings in order to fight fires and rescue personnel
• Drive firefighting trucks and emergency rescue vehicles
• Give first aid to injured personnel
• Inspect aircraft, buildings and equipment for fire hazards
• Teach fire protection procedures
• Repair firefighting equipment and filling fire extinguishers

Job training for Firefighter requires nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 13 weeks, one day of Advanced Individual Training and on-the-job instruction, including practice in fighting fires. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. Some of the skills you'll learn about:

• Types of fires
• Firefighting equipment operations
• Firefighting procedures
• First aid procedures
• Rescue procedures

Helpful attributes include:

• An ability to remain calm under stress
• A willingness to risk injury to help others
• An ability to think and act decisively

Advanced level Firefighters provides guidance, supervises and trains other Soldiers within their discipline. As an advanced level Firefighter, you may be involved in:

• Direct rescue and firefighting operations during structural fires, aircraft crash incidents, vehicle emergencies and natural cover fires
• Direct emergency response crews during hazardous materials incidents
• Maintain records and reports on fire department operations

The skills you'll learn as a Firefighter will help prepare you for a future with city or county fire departments, other government agencies or industrial firms where you'll be responsible for supervising firefighters, protecting life, safeguarding property and conducting rescue efforts.

• Special Forces Communications Sergeant (18E)
• Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C)
• Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D)
• Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B)
• Diver (21D)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.