Training/Education

EDUCATION PREPARATION SUSTAINMENT ADVANCEMENT RETIREMENT

Career Path

Click on a career stage above to get more information

EDUCATION

If we were to prioritize the areas on the IABPFF website, Training and Education would be among the top. We strongly value professionalism and excellence in our profession and strive for this attitude to permeate throughout our membership. Below are a few links to Fire Service education related site:

We value and promote training and education for our membership and the community as a whole. See our Community Relations page for more community related education and efforts. Public education is important because education ties into prevention and preparation for the Fire Service as well.

PREPARATION

Preparation is a must for any profession. The International Association of Black Professional Firefighters strived to prepare interested individuals for the Fire Service career. Our chapters have have had a key role in many of the high school and youth fire academy programs across the country. Below are a few programs that are helping introduce and prepare our youth for the Fire Service career.

http://futureconnections.org/ Cleveland, Ohio     High Tech Academy  Cleveland, Ohio         Vantage Point Scholarship  Public Employee Memorial Scholarship information

LBJ Fire Academy Austin, Texas     Montgomery County High School Fire Service Program Maryland     Bound Tree Medical     - Legacy Scholarship information

Preparation for transition from part-time or volunteer to professional Firefighting can be challenging. Below are a few link to help in this are as well. Also see our Recruitment Page for more information on employment opportunities.

SUSTAINMENT

Continuing education is associated with any professional career. IABPFF has worked with and supported the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute (EDI) for several years now. IABPFF also communicates classes and opportunities available at the National Fire Academy (NFA) as well.

At our conferences and conventions, there will always be an education and training component included to in the itinerary that speaks to our dedication to professional development.

ADVANCEMENT

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The need for diversity throughout the ranks of a department is a must; for this to take place, promotions should take place. Career advancement take initiative, hard work, and determination.  The IABPFF has been and is committed to encouraging professionalism and a healthy career path. The Black Chief Officer's Committee has been instrumental in mentoring fire professionals in a upwardly Mobil direction. Read more about this committee and visit their website for more information.

The Black Chief Officer's Committee Association of Black Professional Fire

The Black Chief Officers Committee of the international Association of Black Professional Firefighters was formed as a conduit to pool and coordinate the resources of Black Chief Officers for the expressed purpose of improving relationships, both locally and nationally, by supporting organization's events and activities, and the IABPFF's goals and objectives through networking and written communications that improves educational awareness and enhances employment and upward mobility opportunities for Black Chief Officers and firefighters.

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A healthy Retirement is a goal for most people. The IABPFF believes strongly that once a fire professional reaches retirement mentoring should be a part of his or her life. In fact The motto of the Executive Development Institute, which has it's roots with the IABPFF, is " To All I Am, I Owe. I live Eternally In The Red". This mindset will help pass the torch of professionalism from one generation to the next.

Our retirees are highly respected and valued. These pioneers paved the way for many black professionals in the Fire Service today. Knowledge of self and culture are vital parts of the black professional. In retirement, time, knowledge and experience places one in an advisory position. The IABPFF believes in education even at this stage of the career path is important. A balanced healthy lifestyle is a huge part of this education. The links below speak to these areas of education:

Executive Development Institute History

In 1991 the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (I.A.B.P.F.F.) held its annual problem solving retreat in Washington, D. C.

 

One of the current problems facing the I.A.B.P.F.F. dealt with the lack of upward mobility of its membership in their local Fire Departments.  Carl Holmes, a retired Deputy Fire Chief of the Oklahoma City Fire Department and now a consultant, was the facilitator of this problem-solving meeting.

 

As many ideas were presented to solve the addressed issues, it became evident that our membership's inability to enroll in critical classes at the National Fire Academy as being one obstacle.

 

After much discussion, the idea was offered that our organization should develop its own Executive Development Institute.  Chief Holmes was to develop a plan of action to attain this goal.  The board also decided that our Institute should be held each year at an African American University.

 

The focus of course content was to be the development of future Fire Department Officers and that the course content should cover those unique conceptual, diagnostic, and human skills so overlooked in most Fire Department management-training programs.

 

Chief Holmes was to develop the course content and select nationally known African American Fire Officials from around the country as instructors.  The final design of the Institute was that the courses offered were to be of one-week duration offered in five phases.

 

The concept proved to be a great success, with many of our participants being promoted to higher positions, too many to name.  Many of our students have become Chiefs of their Departments.

 

Florida A & M University, Dillard University, and Clark University have all hosted the Executive Development Program. Visit their website today by clicking the image below.

 

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