SUMAC

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:23 am

Just got the results back and you'll all be glad to hear I passed :D

I know of one other who has so congrats to all who have.

1 Year left till I can come back out to a station :lol:

Rob

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:07 pm

What is SUMAC???? is that the replacement for exams, endless temporary, experiance and an interview?
just being me sorry.
congratulations

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:45 pm

Its still exams, but not as many brigade ones. There also interviews, a presentation and practical tests.

Worked for me as I'm crap at sitting down and doing loads of written exams, lot better at presentations and practical tests.

I also earning mine be putting up with all the politics and crap at STC for two years :(

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:09 am

If you think you have put up with a lot of politics and crap just wait till you get back to a station!! what will you becoming to a station as? What ranks apply for SUMAC ?

Learner User Online: Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 96

Well done mate, I'm not sure about the SUMAC's either, but if ther are exams involved then it must take a bit of work :wink:

Am I right in saying that it's basically the Stn.O's exams?

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:33 am

I am just old fashioned; there was the leading fireman’s exam both written and practical, then the sub officer’s exam written and practical and then the station officer’s exam, and of course an interview between all of the different ranks.
I just do not understand how a leading fireman (Crew Manager) at a One appliance station who has spent his time sitting on the back, can get promoted to Watch Manager B in charge of a two pump station and 12 people, I really think its a recipe for disaster in the long run and feel sure that there will be many more situations were firefighters are injured or worse because of lack of command and control due to inexperience.

From my perspective there appears to be alack of technical knowledge, and therefore the knowledge base of those in charge is weak. If I think of all the different subjects I covered whilst studying for all my exams and the knowledge gained, I do not see that in this current system.

Learner User Online: Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 96

Well said. I think it seriously needs to be addressed. As you say, there is going to be more Firemen hurt/killed because of these inexperienced people in charge.

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:59 pm

I agree on few parts but not others, I would have liked to have seen more operational stuff more basics and drills.

Unfortunately due to my age and the fact that there isn't the jobs around that there may have been when you guys joined I have to get my experience through drills and training.

The SUMAC I believe is for the CM and WM tests so they just rolled the two old ones together. You still have to do a course which is split into modules before you can go out to a station.

I've done it slightly differently, I have come into training. You don't act up anymore, your promoted into a role (WM) and then you spend a year or so gaining competency, in that time you do your trainer modules. You have to apply, have interviews, exams and do a presentation before you even get here.

It may not be the best way to do things but when I get out of here :D my core FRU skills be far higher than someone who has ridden the FRU for the same amount of time, (I did time at an FRU station and want to get back to one).

Just wait until they finalize the fast track graduates, 1 year out of training and they'll be running a station or worse big job.

So come on ladies, let me hve it :lol:

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:45 pm

How does that graduate course work? From what i understand they apply normally but fast track to officer role because of educational merit??? Seems a bit mad to me, surely making decisions that could make or break at a considerable incident should come from experience in the job rather than your grades at uni!?!?! Im sure that would put a few peoples noses out of joint who have managed to get there the proper way, sweat, hard work and stress? Im new to the brigade and im actually looking forward to working my way up the proper way gaining as much experience and respect as I can along the way. Dont get me wrong though, im not saying people who do enter on the graduate scheme dont deserve a chance but I dont think it would be for me

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:35 pm

Matt,

You might be new to the Brigade but your sentiments are echoed widely among many of your new colleagues.

I served in the armed forces before joining the brigade and as much as I am a traditionalist I was never completely comfortable with the two-tier entry scheme. It seemed odd that a 19 year-old troop leader could arrive from Sandhurst to command a troop of experienced, salty blokes with time in and scars and tattooes to prove. The Fire Brigade 'join at the bottom and work your way to the top' system seemed a fair and sensible way to run an organisation where most of the risk critical decisions are often successfully influenced by experience.

Now, the Targeted Development Programme identified individuals that had the potential for leadership at the senior ranks, or within the senior roles now, and 'fast-tracked' them through the system. My experience of this is having a Station Manager arrive as monitoring officer on a job I was in charge of a couple of months ago who I remember arriving in the brigade only a few years ago as a probationer. In my opinion, and it is only that, she was a nuisance and behaved in a rather embarrassing way. I forced myself to suspend a nagging voice in my head that told me 'you have never been where I am and have never made the decisions I am making whilst under real stress so how can you monitor this incident with any depth of knowledge or experience.' Instead I smiled at the comments made and got on with the job regardless.

As for the Graduate Entry scheme, if it happens, which I think it is about to, this is a step further. How it works and why anyone with any sense believes it is a good step forward, I don't know. I have my suspicions that there is a political motive and the scheme will solve a number of recruitment and representation issues out- just as the Targeted Development Programme has.

My approach to this job has always been to learn your existing job until you can do it well, but remember that the learning never ends. Then, if you feel it's right, seek promotion to the next level and prove yourself there. This approach has been based on the fact that I considered all the people I really respected as professionals in our organisation and realised that all of them had spent time at their rank, or within their role, and could do their job well. Unfortunately there are some in our job who continually seek the next step up without proving themselves within their current role, eventually finding they are promoted at least a rank above their ability.

Of course, these are my opinions and as I've stated before in this forum, I'm aware some senior staff look in here so I've been careful with my thoughts.

Dave