From 1980 to 1999 I was director of Dallas’ Civil Service Department responsible for selection testing for municipal employment During that period there was tremendous legal pressure to assure employment opportunities for women in public safety occupations. The physical ability evaluation was a huge obstacle in hiring for firefighters. We had staff embedded in fire stations meticulously documenting tasks routinely performed on the job. The result was the design of a physical ability exam that was fully job related. We went so far as to have only female staff members administer the exam. Lots of men but most women could not qualify. The few women who did qualify ultimately transferred out by their request. The stamina, strength and overall physical demands of the job place firefighting near the top of all occupations in this regard. There are other occupations which demand extreme physical strength basically all shift (oil drilling platforms, e.g.) but firefighting demands jumping from bed to intense work at the sound of an unpredictable alarm which is an added stressor. I should add our selection process survived several federal court challenges. Having retired in 1999, I have no idea what has transpired since.
As a mother of a Green Beret, my answer to this question is the same to people (my bonehead sister) who asked why weren’t women in my son’s induction ceremony. - Women are not excluded they just, more times than not, are not able to pass the grueling tests of strength and stamina my son achieved. Nothing should be dumbed down or made softer because the challenges are not discriminating. The people who ask don’t understand the job and to be honest I was angry at my sister for being so ignorant and self righteous. Men and women are not equal in perspective and strength and that is nature’s beautiful design. I work in the horse industry and when force based training was the norm it was more male dominated but now because we seek to engage the horse’s brain looking for that willing partner/student you see both women and men flourish.
Good points. My town's volunteer fire department has had only one female firefighter in the last 20 years. She was exceptionally strong, fit, qualified (EMT certificate) and dedicated, and she went on to accept a full-time professional job at an urban fire department. Since she left, it's been all men.
She's the exception that proves the rule: Firefighting is a tough job for women, and the rare women who pursue it and excel at it are exactly the types of firefighters we want.
I'd say don't impose quotas, don't relax your standards, give men and women an equal shot, and respect the heck out of the women who can clear that high bar.
Along the same lines, the New Yorker had a great article a few weeks ago about America's military recruiting challenges. Sobering stuff that deserves frank conversation among our leaders, without all the woke/anti-woke posturing.
Thanks Mr. LaCorte. I so appreciate articles like this one where the author does not lean on outrage or shaming to make their point. It's my experience that we accomplish more by --connecting before correcting --folks.
From 1980 to 1999 I was director of Dallas’ Civil Service Department responsible for selection testing for municipal employment During that period there was tremendous legal pressure to assure employment opportunities for women in public safety occupations. The physical ability evaluation was a huge obstacle in hiring for firefighters. We had staff embedded in fire stations meticulously documenting tasks routinely performed on the job. The result was the design of a physical ability exam that was fully job related. We went so far as to have only female staff members administer the exam. Lots of men but most women could not qualify. The few women who did qualify ultimately transferred out by their request. The stamina, strength and overall physical demands of the job place firefighting near the top of all occupations in this regard. There are other occupations which demand extreme physical strength basically all shift (oil drilling platforms, e.g.) but firefighting demands jumping from bed to intense work at the sound of an unpredictable alarm which is an added stressor. I should add our selection process survived several federal court challenges. Having retired in 1999, I have no idea what has transpired since.
IF women want to fight fires then Yes if fit for the job
NOT for DEI
As a mother of a Green Beret, my answer to this question is the same to people (my bonehead sister) who asked why weren’t women in my son’s induction ceremony. - Women are not excluded they just, more times than not, are not able to pass the grueling tests of strength and stamina my son achieved. Nothing should be dumbed down or made softer because the challenges are not discriminating. The people who ask don’t understand the job and to be honest I was angry at my sister for being so ignorant and self righteous. Men and women are not equal in perspective and strength and that is nature’s beautiful design. I work in the horse industry and when force based training was the norm it was more male dominated but now because we seek to engage the horse’s brain looking for that willing partner/student you see both women and men flourish.
Good points. My town's volunteer fire department has had only one female firefighter in the last 20 years. She was exceptionally strong, fit, qualified (EMT certificate) and dedicated, and she went on to accept a full-time professional job at an urban fire department. Since she left, it's been all men.
She's the exception that proves the rule: Firefighting is a tough job for women, and the rare women who pursue it and excel at it are exactly the types of firefighters we want.
I'd say don't impose quotas, don't relax your standards, give men and women an equal shot, and respect the heck out of the women who can clear that high bar.
Along the same lines, the New Yorker had a great article a few weeks ago about America's military recruiting challenges. Sobering stuff that deserves frank conversation among our leaders, without all the woke/anti-woke posturing.
Thanks Mr. LaCorte. I so appreciate articles like this one where the author does not lean on outrage or shaming to make their point. It's my experience that we accomplish more by --connecting before correcting --folks.