James1018 wrote:Yeah man. I really can't take much credit. I the guys that have lived and learned it have a lot to do with the times changing. I remember hearing my first Captain tell me "Before you get used to the money coming in, take at least 10% and put it in your TSP". Obviously me at 18, my face was like *whats a tsp??*. Glad I listened to those guys though. Only took 9 yrs to ask the right questions though. Better late than never I guess.
Where did you end up transferring to? FD is an awesome, fun job and I'm super happy but I always get caught up on the money side of things. A FF here caps out at a 7. Captains at an 8. If I go any higher than that then I wont be riding fire trucks and well....that would suck because that's all the fun! Not a better job imo but the pay isn't there .
I'm still with the VA working as a GS14 computer geek - it was a interesting path here.
I left the FD as a GS6 after 8 years to take a GS7 \ 9 position in Occupational Safety and Health - my plan was that the main OSH Specialist would be retiring in a few years and it was my path to a GS 11 position (OSH is what my degree is in). Unfortunately he was offered an early retirement, and I didn't have time in grade to fill his position. I then took a voluntary reduction in grade to take a Computer Assistant position knowing that IT offered a lot of upward mobility which I took full advantage of, landing in the GS14 Supervisory IT Specialist position I'm in now.
The FD never left my blood - been a volunteer for 30 years, and 5 years ago when I got the 14, I stepped down from 16 years as chief in my department.