Hearts of Fire - The article that launched the column, providing personal stories from some military veterans who found success joining the fire service.
Military Vets In The Fire Service, by Branch
Airmen In The Fire Service - Listen to the stories of former Air Force personnel who found a new life in the Fire Service.
Marines In The Fire Service - Marines tell tales of how their former lives prepared them for a new career saving lives.
Sailors In The Fire Service - Naval veterans recount their sea stories, as well as what they've experienced fighting fires.
Soldiers In The Fire Service - GIs who wondered what they would do with themselves once they processed out of the military discuss the smart move into firefighting.
Benefits of Being a Military Veteran
Important 'Points' To Consider - Veterans' Points can be the ticket to a rewarding firefighting career, giving military vets a leg up on the competition.
Important Points To Consider - LACoFD Air Ops - Los Angeles County Fire Department's elite Air Ops branch finds vets to be uniquely qualified to fly with them.
Important Points To Consider - LACoFD - Los Angeles County Fire Department can provide gainful employment for vets looking for a new career.
Important Points To Consider - LAFD Air Ops - Los Angeles Fire Department hires vets to fly fires over a vast metropolis.
Important Points To Consider - LAFD - Los Angeles Fire Department is on the lookout for military vets who want a second career with great benefits.
Fire Departments, Agencies and Contractors
Exciting Job For Vets With Specialized Skills (Part 1) - The first installment in a 3-part series which looks at the unique skills vets bring to a firefighting career.
Exciting Job For Vets With Specialized Skills (Part 2) - The second installment in a 3-part series which looks at the unique skills vets bring to a firefighting career.
Exciting Job For Vets With Specialized Skills (Part 3) - The final installment in a 3-part series which looks at the unique skills vets bring to a firefighting career.
Air Tanker Contractor Looking For A Few Good Vets - Erickson Incorporated officials discussed what they're looking for in pilots and ground crew for their firefighting helicopter fleet.
CAL FIRE Looking for a Few Good Vets - CAL FIRE, the largest state firefighting agency, with thousands of personnel and a fleet of firefighting aircraft, is always looking to hire veterans.
Fire Departments Want And Need Vets - Fire departments have a special affinity for military veterans due to the maturity, respect for chain of command, and other things they bring to the job.
Firefighting Opportunities In The OC - Orange County Fire Authority is eager to bring veterans into the fold, and this article shows what vets can expect when they get there.
Military Training Helpful for SDFD Air Ops - San Diego Fire Department's Air Operations branch is always on the lookout for former military pilots, crew members and mechanics.
SBCoFD - No Boring Desk Job - For those who want a bit of excitement in their jobs, San Bernardino County Fire Department offers a variety of jobs to veterans.
Firefighting Not Easy - An Air Force veteran provides some tips on how veterans can land a lucrative job with Ventura County Fire Department in one of the most picturesque parts of California.
USFS - Vets Battle Blazes Nationwide (Part 1) - The first installment of a 3-part series which looks at what the U.S. Forest Service has to offer to veterans when they finish their military hitch.
USFS - Vets Battle Blazes Nationwide (Part 2) - The second installment of a 3-part series which looks at what the U.S. Forest Service has to offer to veterans when they finish their military hitch.
USFS - Vets Battle Blazes Nationwide (Part 3) - The final installment of a 3-part series which looks at what the U.S. Forest Service has to offer to veterans when they finish their military hitch.
Fire Academies
Getting Fit For Firefighting - For military vets who plan to pursue a career in firefighting, this article provides some background information on how to prepare to attend a fire academy.
A Fire Academy for Employed Veterans - Santa Ana College Basic Fire Academy, probably one of the largest, is also one of the best, offering a part-time program to vets who work full-time.
A Fire Academy That Makes House Calls - Victor Valley College Fire Technology program has a unique program which can bring the academy to a military base to train active-duty cadets.
Fire Academy Seeks Vets As Cadets - Crafton Hills Academy offers courses which not only train vets to be firefighters, but which also convey college credit to cadets.
Getting Into Mt. SAC Fire Academy - Mount San Antonio College, located in the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, covers all the bases in their wildland firefighting program.
Getting Into San Diego Fire Academy - For those vets interested in working in San Diego County, San Diego Fire Academy offers a program which gets cadets ready for the Fire Service.
LAFD Academy - Los Angeles Fire Department, one of the largest departments in the U.S., has a fire academy which prepares cadets for everything they can expect to encounter working in LA.
The SBRETC Training The Best Firefighters - The San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center boasts a state-of-the-art Aircraft Rescue FireFighting (ARFF) program second to none.
Train to be a Firefighter at Rio Hondo Fire Academy - The Rio Hondo Fire Academy offers not only a wildland firefighter program, but also administers an Emergency Medical Technician program.
Verdugo Fire Academy - For vets who want to work in upscale SoCal communities like Glendale, San Marino, or Sierra Madre, Verdugo Fire Academy can be their ticket to a job in those areas.
Veterans Succeed at LACOFD Academy - As one of the largest fire departments in the world, Los Angeles County Fire Department also conducts one of the most diversified fire academies.
Vets Wanted to Train at OC Firefighting Academy - The head of the Orange County Fire Academy discusses their five-part program for cranking out top firefighters who want to work in the OC.
Vets in Demand for Seasonal Firefighting - Riverside Community College's Ben Clark Training Center offers a pathway to a good-paying job with great benefits for military vets.
Training First Line of Defense for Firefighters - Long Beach Fire Academy emphasizes the importance of training as a means to protect firefighters: "We train like we fight, we fight like we train."
How the Military has Helped the Fire Service
Martin Mars Military.com Article - The story of the venerable Martin Mars, from World War II bomber, to transport plane, to legendary aerial firefighter, comes to life in this article.
Military Connection To Firefighting - Integrity. Maturity. Teamwork. Chain of Command. These are the qualities which are prized by fire agencies, and which military veterans bring to the job.
Military Technology Fighting Fires - The crossover military technologies which are helping fire agencies do their job better are highlighted in this article.
Marine Amphibious Assault Catalina Pic + Article - And finally, a bit of whimsy showing how Assault Craft Unit 5 (Swift Invaders) helped firefighters get to Catalina Island quickly during a wildfire in 2007.
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