LOCAL 975

Austin Fire Department

&

Travis County ESD Merger Training Model

Training Program Recommendation

These recommendations are based on 975 Member Survey

These recommendations reflect current AFD Training standards

These recommendations mirror current AFD Training Program Models

Training Survey Question 1

If AFD were to merge with a Travis County ESD, do you feel those ESD firefighters should pass the AFD Initial and Probationary skills?

Result / 92 % yes

Cadet / PFF Skills

Cadet 29 Fire skillsMedical skills are

the skills required for the National Registry EMT and would not be applicable to “Laterals”

PFF14 Fire skills6 Medical skills

Training Survey Question 2

The Local 975 ESD Merger Training Committee is looking at the following: The ESD firefighters wouldattend a modified "lateral" academy. This would include a time-frame of three to four months ofprep work involving SOGs; wildland certs and skills prep at their ESD . They would then attend anAFD academy (approximately 10 weeks) and be required to meet AFD academic and performancerequirements (skills must be passed at mastery level; performance-based evaluations). All AFD Initial andProbationary skills must be passed in the Academy.

Result / 85 % agree

Recommendation

Travis County firefighters merging into AFD will be required to attend a “Modified Academy” tailored for firefighters who possess Austin/Travis County OMD system credentialing and 130/190 certification upon entry

Merging firefighters of Travis County will be required to attain the minimum passing scores outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement

AFD/ESD Merger Academy

Minimum hours of instruction for each discipline listed shall be:SCBA 16PPE 2Communications 2Apparatus Familiarization 4Ropes/Knots 4Ladders 24Water Rescue 24

Continued Hose/Water Supply 24Fire Streams 8Salvage/Overhaul 12Ventilation 12Forcible Entry 16Search 24RIC/SOO (FGS) 32Vehicle Rescue 16Live Fire 40

Continued EMT Training 40Time allotted for skills practice 28Time allotted for skills testing 24Time allotted for written exams 8

○ There will be very little lecture in the “Modified Academy” written exams administered to satisfy the cognitive component will be derived from reading assignments

Not Listed/Not Omitted

Disciplines not listed included but are not limited to:

Fire Science HazMat

Fire Cause Building Construction

IMS Portable Extinguisher

Fire Protection Systems These disciplines are included in the

cognitive evaluations

Minimum “Modified Academy” term for Merging ESD’s

The minimum 360 hours of instruction, practice and evaluation; plus forty hours of City of Austin HR in processing (10) weeks

This term is considered the minimum to evaluate a candidates work ethic and the nature of organizational citizenship they will bring to AFD

Ten weeks is considered a minimum to determine, address and document a pattern of poor preformed should one exist

Training Survey Question 3

If the ESD firefighters meet all AFD academic and performance requirements, they will have passed all

Initial and Probationary skills in the Academy. The 975 ESD Merger Training Committee is proposing

that the ESD firefighters' Probationary period encompass maps; resources (station locations/units, etc);

target hazards; and relief driver.

Result / 82 % agree

I feel the merging ESD firefighters should pass the Initial and Probationary skills while in the Academy.

Then practice a certain number of selected Probationary skills while on Probation but not test these skills at the end of Probation.

The accomplishment of the skills, including how the probie performed, would be placed in RMS by the Officers and could be utilized for final evaluation of the probie.

There would not be, however, testing of the skills at the end of probation.

Conclusion The Training Subcommittee recommends a

“Modified Academy” such as described above

The Subcommittee recommends a modified PFF program such as described above.