Firefighters should encourage each other
Marc D. Greenwood
Lieutenant
Akron (OH) Fire Department
I recently revisited Mike Staley`s “The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword: Putting Praise into Writing” (One-Minute Motivator, October 1996). I appreciate his candor in revealing how important written encouragement was to him. The fire service is in the Dark Ages with respect to people skills and human development. Staley noted the importance of creating an environment in which individuals are encouraged to be all they can be.
The fire service needs some new words added to its lexicon (e.g., nurture, edification, tact, and compassion). These words aren`t antithetical to masculinity–they are a part of masculinity, strength, and confidence. Keep up the good work.
I am a 19-year veteran of the fire service and am becoming acutely aware of what the great need is in the fire service. I recently worked with a rookie firefighter, and he complimented me on how good a teacher I was. He really appreciated how I treated him with respect and courtesy–something he isn`t accustomed to in his brief career.
