I was never of big fan of playing golf. I’ve played in the past but I find it kind of boring and frustrating to take part in. The main reason though that my trips to the links are currently at naught is the pressure I feel teeing off on the first hole.
Nothing beats the sweaty palms prospect of placing your ball on the tee, looking behind you, and seeing a sea of golf carts with cigar chomping duffers impatiently waiting to play.
Every eye is fixed on you as you get ready to drive. This is more personal pressure then playing in the Masters. You shank the ball and hear a collective irate sigh. A position I don’t need to place myself in.
I bring this up to relate to you a scene I witnessed last night during probationary training. No one did anything wrong, but the collective gathering I observed made me think of playing golf.
This is not a PIO tale but a general fire service observation.
In addition to my PIO responsibilities I am one of the department’s fire instructors. We had two Probies using SCBA for the first time. We do this training in the truck bays. We pull an engine out, and train in the bay which gives us plenty of room.
In our fire house the truck room is a crossroads. A side entrance from the parking lot takes you into the truck room to enter the building.
The Probie training bay became a gathering point of members who were in the building last night. Before you knew it the bay resembled the gallery at a golf tournament with the Probies as the players. A bunch of guys watching their every move has to be a little disconcerting for the new members. It’s disconcerting enough putting on SCBA for the first time.
Like I said there was no one to blame, just a bunch of guys hanging out, but I felt that the added pressure these two Probies felt might have been a little distracting for them.
Just an observation. Everyone wants to see Probies succeed and join the team, but when it comes to training less is definitely more regarding member scrutiny.
Also on The Fire PIO…
- Sleazoid PR for Sleazoid Clients – September 10, 2010
- PowerPoint not needed to make the Point – September 22, 2010
- Superb Public Information from the Chile Mine Rescue – October 13, 2010
- My Vacation – Being a Line Officer – September 23, 2010
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