Hey Folks,

I am struggling with making a major decision and thought I would ask you kind folks (especially those in Fire/Rescue/EMS-both career and volunteer and retired LEOs/Military) for some thoughts on the matter.

I have been involved with Fire/Rescue/EMS since 1978 when I became an EMT-A, but became inactive couple of years latter when I got married and started a family. During the first Gulf War (around 1991), there was a shortage of Fire/Rescue/EMS providers and decided to reactivate my EMT status, I also completed Firefighter III and got involved with Technical Rescue (rope, trench, confined space and swift/flood water), which has become my passion. I became an ALS Provider in 1995 so I have been involved on that side for 12 years. Over the last several years our ALS Service has gone from 100% volunteer ALS Providers to 97% career ALS Providers and while I still ride occasionally, it is nothing like what I used to ride years ago.

I am just finishing up the FEMA Structural Collapse Technician class – 86 hours/plus (final written and practical tomorrow night and Saturday), which has been every weekend (with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend) for the past month-plus. As you can imagine this has placed great strain on the family, trying to get household chores completed during the week and still have some family time. During this same time period, my Paramedic Refresher Class was held and I ended up missing it for the Structural Collapse Class. My National Registry and State license come due this March/April and if I decide to maintain my ALS status, I need to find (if I can) a 48 hour Paramedic Refresher Class plus 16 hour ACLS Class before the end of February.

If I down grade my EMS level to EMT-B, I know I will never have the energy or desire to re-sit for the National Registry and State Licensing exams again. So my question is this: How do/have you deal/dealt, emotionally and mentally with retiring (giving up) from something that you worked so hard to get and has been part of your life for such a long time?


Pete