WEBVTT

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- I'm Master Corporal Kate Jamieson
from Halifax, Nova Scotia,

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a firefighter currently serving
at 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec.

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(narrator): Fire safety is a 24/7 responsibility
that never takes a day off

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on base, or in the field.

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In the Canadian Armed Forces,
Firefighters provide around-the-clock

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fire protection by working in teams
that rotate responsibilities and shifts,

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and are supported by day staff
that includes the Fire Chief,

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Deputy Fire Chief and Inspectors.

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- Being a firefighter
in the Canadian Armed Forces

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is different than being a civilian firefighter,

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primarily because we provide the support
for the airfield

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as well as the structural support for the base.

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We have the opportunities to deploy,

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we go to the field, we attend exercises
and airshows across the country,

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as well as we get posted. So we have opportunities
to see different parts of the country.

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This is my second posting
and it's my first posting in a second language.

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So now I have the opportunity to learn French

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as well as broaden my skills in firefighting
with the different aircraft here in Bagotville.

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(narrator): Although members of the Air Force,

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Firefighters may work to support Canadian Army,

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Royal Canadian Navy,
or Royal Canadian Air Force operations.

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- Day to day, we come in, we do
our turnover with the crew that is off going.

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We want to know if there was any calls,
if there was any equipment used,

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if the trucks were used in any capacity.

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And then we start our shift. So we would do
our daily inspections on our vehicles.

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We do vehicle maintenance,
something that we call a weekly inspection.

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So every day there's a different truck
that we run up from top to bottom

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to make sure that every piece
of equipment is working.

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We do a lot of physical training as well.

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We do sprinkler inspections,
we do fire alarm testing,

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fire extinguisher testing, teach people
on the base how to use fire extinguishers.

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And then we wait for when the emergency
is happening and we respond accordingly.

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(narrator): Firefighters are also trained
for confined space and technical rescue

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as well as Emergency Medical Response.

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Opportunities for travel exist
for all Firefighters.

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Postings and domestic operations
can take them across the country,

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including to Canadian Forces Station Alert
in the high Arctic,

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while overseas deployments can take them
to every corner of the globe.

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(Jamieson): When the bells go, it's game time.
We know that it's time for us to perform our job.

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It's a very serious moment for us.

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We get dressed and we're out the door
in about 60 seconds or less.

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It's full of adrenaline,
especially if those bells go during the night

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and maybe you're not expecting it as much.

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During the day, we hear the jets flying.

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We know they're up there and we know
that we're going to be ready if they need us.

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Being a firefighter, I joke that I have
six brothers that I never asked for.

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The friendships that you build
are second to none. There's nothing like it.

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We live together, we eat our meals together,

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we work out together, we train together.

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I always say that firefighting is a team sport.

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You cannot do this job alone and we really rely
on each other for those moments.

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I've built some great friendships,
lasting friendships through this career

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that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

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(narrator): On completion
of their apprentice-level training,

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new Firefighters are assigned
to their first military fire department,

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where they'll put their newly-learned skills
to the test

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working under the supervision
of their more experienced colleagues.

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- As an apprentice-firefighter, starting off,
you are expected to perform.

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You are expected to be the first
one up in the morning,

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the last one to go to sleep,
the first one that is offering help

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when a job needs to be done.

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It's filled with training.
And it's really important

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that you find a good mentor
and you ask for them to help you learn.

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Basically, it's just filled with learning.

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(narrator): Being a Firefighter
in the Canadian Armed Forces

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offers great opportunities for promotion
and advancement.

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Within a reasonable time,
members can work their way

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up to Platoon Chief or Deputy Fire Chief.

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(Jamieson): Something I really love about my job
is that it changes every single day

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and that's really encouraged within us as well,
as soldiers and as firefighters,

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to constantly evolve, constantly progress
within our careers,

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to grow from firefighters to supervisors
to real leaders within the trade.

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The highlight of my career so far,

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when I drive a fire truck around
and I see little girls screaming,

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"Mommy, Mommy, it's a girl driving a fire truck!"

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Those moments are so special to me,

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and they really make it feel like
I'm doing the right thing

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and that I have a great career
that I can be proud of.