118 - Career vs. Volunteer; The Great Divide

At one of our recent seminars a student asked me, "Why do so many career firefighters hate volunteers?"  It's not the first time I've been asked this question, but it's a topic I have always chosen not to address on the show for various reasons.  After pondering my own personal feelings and beliefs along with the input of others, I feel like we've finally addressed the topic in a very respectful way.

Now here's the million dollar question.  Can you set your feelings aside and listen with an open mind, regardless of which side you sit on? 



About our hosts:

Brian Soller has been an active volunteer for the last 30+ years.  He currently serves as assistant chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department and for the past 17 years has been a New York state fire instructor assigned to Sullivan County, NY.  Soller also served as chief of the Rock Hill Fire Department from 2018 - 2020 and chief of the Monticello Fire Department from 2001-2002.

Soller has also been a New York State emergency medical technician for the last 25+ years. 

He speaks extensively on the promotion of professionalism in the volunteer fire service through his podcast and YouTube channel. 

• Follow us on social @professional.brotherhood @chiefsoller
• On the web at professionalbrotherhood.com
• Send future episode suggestions or comments on past episodes to professionalvff@gmail.com.
• Interested in being a guest on the show?  Please email professionalvff@gmail.com.

Kara Judd, is a six year member of the Cazenovia Fire Department where she currently serves as a Lieutenant and Emergency Medical Technician. Kara is also a certified Critical Incident Stress Debriefer as well as an AFAA certified fitness instructor and the owner of Saint Florian Fitness. 

Her full time career is at the Upstate Medical Hospital in Syracuse, NY where she is a Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention Specialist and Burn Prevention Outreach Educator.

On social @st.florianfitness