Had a friend of mine that reads this blog suggest adding something to my "Why do we train so much?" blog. For the record, I hate the term "blog", but oh well, it is what it is, and here I am "blogging."
Anyways, My "article" on why we train so much could better have been entitled "Tacit Knowledge", because that's where I was focused, and didn't delve into the many other aspects of why we train so much. So a Brutha pipes up about an experience he had recently. He was called on to perform a task he hasn't actually done on a fire scene in years. But, because of his training, not only did he perform the task, he was also able to teach a FNG about what he was doing. He said it was because of Muscle Memory, a VERY valid point. I say it happened because of his training, which muscle memory is the direct result of.
Muscle memory is defined by Wikipedia as:
Muscle memory, also known as motor learning, is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, playing a melody or phrase on a musical instrument, playing video games,[1] or even solving a puzzle cube.
In a nut shell, your muscles also have a sort of Tacit Knowledge. The more tasks you perform over and over again, the more your physical self "remembers" how to do that particular task. Much the same way your brain remembers everything you've ever seen and done, your muscles and nerves become accustomed to doing a task that is repeated. Muscle memory is a very important part of Situational Awareness for a number of reasons, that contradict one another. Let me explain.
On one hand, when muscle memory kicks in, and you don't have to actually THINK about the task at hand, that frees up some brain power to focus on Perceive/Comprehend/Predict, the three acts of Situational Awareness. Great news! You know how that nozzle is going to react when you open it, you've done it a zillion times. Your body automatically adjusts it's position to make itself ready for the nozzle reaction. You know to shut the nozzle off slowly, and you automatically do it without a conscious thought, it just happens. Muscle memory! What a fantastic thing!
However, the fact that you aren't consciously thinking about the task at hand detracts from your SA. That task is a huge part of your 360* "bubble" and you have to be consciously aware of what's going on. If you rely on your muscle memory to the point that you aren't thinking about the task at all, well then your bubble gets popped, and your SA is deteriorating. But that goes with every aspect of SA, let one of them go, the bubble pops, and SA starts deteriorating, and it takes all the other aspects of your bubble with it. Blow up a balloon, your 360* SA, and add one pinhole, and what happens? It ALL goes away.
Muscle memory is a fantastic thing, and I rely on it all the time, without even thinking about it. Mainly because that's what it is, it let's you perform tasks without thinking about them! Frees up some brain power to build your bubble, and P/C/P!
I'm just asking that when you're not thinking about that task, at least pay attention to it! Write that down.
Stay safe gang, It's a jungle out there!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Mutts as teachers
Short one this time gang. Can't and don't really want to get into much detail, but I wanted to share something I learned yesterday.
Worked another 32 hour shift yesterday. Started at 23:00 Sunday, left work at 07:20 this morning. Quiet night on Sunday. However, IMMEDIATELY Monday morning the mutts started getting me down, and I let them. Snide little comments really get under my skin. Started getting myself into a really piss poor mood, which doesn't do anyone any good. Went outside to blow off a little steam, and be alone for a few minutes, and got to thinking. Instead of today being a dog pile on Lucky day, like the Mutts wanted to do, I turned it into a learning session. A learning session for ME.
For the rest of the shift, I looked at things a little differently. Instead of listening to people bitch at me and blame me for things I have no control over, and other things that happened months ago, I started thinking like a Warrior and used it to learn what NOT to do, when and if, I'm in their position.
Ya know what? It worked! I was in a much better mood. Even when I was getting yelled at, I pictured myself in "This is what NOT to do when you lead these guys later in life, school." It was a HUGE lesson, one I will never forget. I know how I felt being berated, and that is so not the way to motivate, lead, or influence others. I heard what was being said, but I wasn't listening, and I couldn't care less about the topic, BECAUSE of the way it was being dealt to me. So, I added to my "What NOT to do" list, cuz it for damn sure wasn't working on me. Once I'm on the other side of that conversation, I'll remember that, and will not treat my guys that way.
Yeah, the Mutts can and will get you down. That's what they do, their sole purpose in life is to make us miserable. Little joke in the aviation world about the FAA's slogan being "WE'RE not happy until YOU'RE not happy" can be applied here. But when they do start, remember there IS something you can learn from them. It's all perception. Twist it around to the positive Warrior way of thinking, and you're in a much better mood, and ya may have just learned something in the process.
Stay safe out there gang! It's a jungle!
Worked another 32 hour shift yesterday. Started at 23:00 Sunday, left work at 07:20 this morning. Quiet night on Sunday. However, IMMEDIATELY Monday morning the mutts started getting me down, and I let them. Snide little comments really get under my skin. Started getting myself into a really piss poor mood, which doesn't do anyone any good. Went outside to blow off a little steam, and be alone for a few minutes, and got to thinking. Instead of today being a dog pile on Lucky day, like the Mutts wanted to do, I turned it into a learning session. A learning session for ME.
For the rest of the shift, I looked at things a little differently. Instead of listening to people bitch at me and blame me for things I have no control over, and other things that happened months ago, I started thinking like a Warrior and used it to learn what NOT to do, when and if, I'm in their position.
Ya know what? It worked! I was in a much better mood. Even when I was getting yelled at, I pictured myself in "This is what NOT to do when you lead these guys later in life, school." It was a HUGE lesson, one I will never forget. I know how I felt being berated, and that is so not the way to motivate, lead, or influence others. I heard what was being said, but I wasn't listening, and I couldn't care less about the topic, BECAUSE of the way it was being dealt to me. So, I added to my "What NOT to do" list, cuz it for damn sure wasn't working on me. Once I'm on the other side of that conversation, I'll remember that, and will not treat my guys that way.
Yeah, the Mutts can and will get you down. That's what they do, their sole purpose in life is to make us miserable. Little joke in the aviation world about the FAA's slogan being "WE'RE not happy until YOU'RE not happy" can be applied here. But when they do start, remember there IS something you can learn from them. It's all perception. Twist it around to the positive Warrior way of thinking, and you're in a much better mood, and ya may have just learned something in the process.
Stay safe out there gang! It's a jungle!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Why do we train so much?
I honestly thought about deleting this whole blog, I didn't think people would want to read about what was on MY mind, so why bother. Then I read one of my own rules. Awesome is, as awesome does! On other non-firefighting websites, I've been told I'm a great story teller. In other venues of my life, I've been told I'm a great leader. So why delete this blog? If one person learns something from it, it's worth it. It's out there on the internet with millions of people that have access to it, but I write it for YOU. Yeah, I'm talking to YOU. I don't think about large crowds when I write, I try to connect to the reader. YOU!
So I sat down today to take an online course to help me along with my pilot's license. Holy cow, what a ton of information to absorb. So I figured the best way to understand that information is training, and I signed up and took the course. Passed the test with a 100%, thank you! Then I got to thinking about the process.
Train, train, train. Read, DO, read, listen to others, DO, read, train, train, learn.
Write that down! Does that sound familiar?
Sounds a lot like what we do in the fire service! Down time affords opportunity to train and hone skills!
If you want to be a Warrior, like I do, then you need to read and follow Chris' site, www.fireservicewarrior.com. I'm not gonna repeat what he says, just hopefully add to it. I honestly believe, accept, and live this way of thinking about my duty as a professional fireman. I can call myself a "fireman", but I do not consider myself a Warrior yet. YET. Read his blogs, you'll understand. But, if you want to be a Warrior, or at least a fireman, then the answer is TRAINING. I keep thinking about the Blackfoot song "TRAIN, TRAIN!", but in a different light.
So, why DO we train so much? There is no way in hell I'm going to remember all the things I've learned about in training over 20 years. I think of my brain as a hard drive on a computer, once it's full, I have to "forget" something in order to learn something new. I hope I never forget where I live, or something important!
The answer is super simple, but complicated at the same time. Your brain stores EVERYTHING you have ever seen and done! From the time you were born, to the time you started reading this blog, it's all stored in YOUR brain! How cool is that?!?!!! Not so fast....
Unfortunately your brain stores this information into areas that are not necessarily accessible on a moments notice. Did you ever "know" something, but not know WHY you knew it? Answering that double Jeopardy! question comes to mind! That's called Tacit Knowledge. And it's basically your brain recalling something you've seen or learned in the past, but your brain has stored it in an area that your conscious thoughts can't access, so you get a "gut" feeling about the correct answer. Ever taken a test in school, and discovered that your first "gut feeling" was right, but you changed the answer and got it wrong? Tacit Knowledge.
Let me explain this into a little more detail, an article I read in Fire Engineering is the best way to put it, so I'm quoting the author Richard Gasaway here. And guess what folks, this ALL falls into SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Write that down.
"Your judgement system becomes more intuitive when you are under stress. When you are under stress and making intuitive decisions, your brain (at the subconscious level) is scanning all the images you have stored there. Those images represent the connection of your life's experiences stored in your brain. Your brain searches these images, looking for a similar experience it can draw on to help you know what to do. If you have had this experience before (or one similar to it), your brain will identify a pattern match to the previous event, and you will either become consciously aware of what to do (recall), or you will get a gut feeling (intuition) that tells you what to do in ways that you may not be able to explain how you knew it-you just knew it."
THAT my friends, is Tacit Knowledge! Have you ever had your life "flash before your eyes"? That is your brain searching all the images you have stored over the years, looking for a similar situation to give you the answer! If your brain finds a pattern match, it automatically puts it into your conscious brain, and you have the answer. If it can't find a match, you think about Grandma's 3rd wedding, and a visual of that is put into your conscious brain.
SO, why do we train so much? This is the simple part! Your brain doesn't know the difference between real life experiences, and training scenarios!
Anything, and everything you see, learn, and do in training is ALSO stored in your brain! Filed away for future use. The more times you train on a certain subject, the more pattern matches on that subject your brain has an opportunity to match with when it really counts. Tired of ladder drills? So am I. But when it gets right down to it with a citizens life on the line, don't you want to know everything you can about that ladder? Yup! So do I!
Like I said before, Situational Awareness is paramount. This blog falls into that theory, but maybe put a thought or two in your head that gets you over to our way of thinking. I could go on for days about this, but this is a blog, not a cable TV show. Think about it, and go train! Tie some knots, put your SCBA on, know that thing inside-outside-upside down. Look at the nozzle settings, read your pump manual. It's ALL good!
STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY BRUTHAS! It's a jungle!
So I sat down today to take an online course to help me along with my pilot's license. Holy cow, what a ton of information to absorb. So I figured the best way to understand that information is training, and I signed up and took the course. Passed the test with a 100%, thank you! Then I got to thinking about the process.
Train, train, train. Read, DO, read, listen to others, DO, read, train, train, learn.
Write that down! Does that sound familiar?
Sounds a lot like what we do in the fire service! Down time affords opportunity to train and hone skills!
If you want to be a Warrior, like I do, then you need to read and follow Chris' site, www.fireservicewarrior.com. I'm not gonna repeat what he says, just hopefully add to it. I honestly believe, accept, and live this way of thinking about my duty as a professional fireman. I can call myself a "fireman", but I do not consider myself a Warrior yet. YET. Read his blogs, you'll understand. But, if you want to be a Warrior, or at least a fireman, then the answer is TRAINING. I keep thinking about the Blackfoot song "TRAIN, TRAIN!", but in a different light.
So, why DO we train so much? There is no way in hell I'm going to remember all the things I've learned about in training over 20 years. I think of my brain as a hard drive on a computer, once it's full, I have to "forget" something in order to learn something new. I hope I never forget where I live, or something important!
The answer is super simple, but complicated at the same time. Your brain stores EVERYTHING you have ever seen and done! From the time you were born, to the time you started reading this blog, it's all stored in YOUR brain! How cool is that?!?!!! Not so fast....
Unfortunately your brain stores this information into areas that are not necessarily accessible on a moments notice. Did you ever "know" something, but not know WHY you knew it? Answering that double Jeopardy! question comes to mind! That's called Tacit Knowledge. And it's basically your brain recalling something you've seen or learned in the past, but your brain has stored it in an area that your conscious thoughts can't access, so you get a "gut" feeling about the correct answer. Ever taken a test in school, and discovered that your first "gut feeling" was right, but you changed the answer and got it wrong? Tacit Knowledge.
Let me explain this into a little more detail, an article I read in Fire Engineering is the best way to put it, so I'm quoting the author Richard Gasaway here. And guess what folks, this ALL falls into SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Write that down.
"Your judgement system becomes more intuitive when you are under stress. When you are under stress and making intuitive decisions, your brain (at the subconscious level) is scanning all the images you have stored there. Those images represent the connection of your life's experiences stored in your brain. Your brain searches these images, looking for a similar experience it can draw on to help you know what to do. If you have had this experience before (or one similar to it), your brain will identify a pattern match to the previous event, and you will either become consciously aware of what to do (recall), or you will get a gut feeling (intuition) that tells you what to do in ways that you may not be able to explain how you knew it-you just knew it."
THAT my friends, is Tacit Knowledge! Have you ever had your life "flash before your eyes"? That is your brain searching all the images you have stored over the years, looking for a similar situation to give you the answer! If your brain finds a pattern match, it automatically puts it into your conscious brain, and you have the answer. If it can't find a match, you think about Grandma's 3rd wedding, and a visual of that is put into your conscious brain.
SO, why do we train so much? This is the simple part! Your brain doesn't know the difference between real life experiences, and training scenarios!
Anything, and everything you see, learn, and do in training is ALSO stored in your brain! Filed away for future use. The more times you train on a certain subject, the more pattern matches on that subject your brain has an opportunity to match with when it really counts. Tired of ladder drills? So am I. But when it gets right down to it with a citizens life on the line, don't you want to know everything you can about that ladder? Yup! So do I!
Like I said before, Situational Awareness is paramount. This blog falls into that theory, but maybe put a thought or two in your head that gets you over to our way of thinking. I could go on for days about this, but this is a blog, not a cable TV show. Think about it, and go train! Tie some knots, put your SCBA on, know that thing inside-outside-upside down. Look at the nozzle settings, read your pump manual. It's ALL good!
STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY BRUTHAS! It's a jungle!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Bad day gone GOOD!
Long story short, today I spent an extra 8 hours at the station, not my shift.
I got a text about 16 hrs into my shift that I "MIGHT" have to work over time tomorrow. Tomorrow rolls around, noone from A turn shows up. My C turn partner lets me leave for 10 minutes to get my kids to school, and get my shyt together for Monday. Haven't seen my wife/kids in over 24 hours, but that's OK. My partner has to be at work at his part time job. It's all good, we've done this before!
Here's the kicker! I SHOULD have been upset, pissed off, mad at the world! 32 hours instead of 24.
NOPE! Took PRIDE in my job instead! Went and got fuel, washed the rig, did weekly stuff like is expected, even though I just did it last week!
This 8 hrs FLEW past! Because of a good mood, a mood that motivates my whole station.
What a GREAT DAY at the FD!
I want you to remember 2 things for now.
#1 GIDDY UP! All that means is that when someone who has NEVER called 911 before in their life, chose to do so today. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGH PERFORMANCE people are on the way. Your job is to GIDDY UP, and be there for them!
#2 AWESOME! YOU chose this profession, YOU chose to BE that person they rely on for help. YOU are supposed to have, and expected to have, ALL the answers! "Do something AWESOME today!"
If you THINK awesome, and TRAIN awesome, what the hell ya think is gonna happen when they have NO idea what to do, except call YOU? You're gonna show up, and BE awesome!
"Awesome is as awesome does!" Write that down too!
I got a text about 16 hrs into my shift that I "MIGHT" have to work over time tomorrow. Tomorrow rolls around, noone from A turn shows up. My C turn partner lets me leave for 10 minutes to get my kids to school, and get my shyt together for Monday. Haven't seen my wife/kids in over 24 hours, but that's OK. My partner has to be at work at his part time job. It's all good, we've done this before!
Here's the kicker! I SHOULD have been upset, pissed off, mad at the world! 32 hours instead of 24.
NOPE! Took PRIDE in my job instead! Went and got fuel, washed the rig, did weekly stuff like is expected, even though I just did it last week!
This 8 hrs FLEW past! Because of a good mood, a mood that motivates my whole station.
What a GREAT DAY at the FD!
I want you to remember 2 things for now.
#1 GIDDY UP! All that means is that when someone who has NEVER called 911 before in their life, chose to do so today. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGH PERFORMANCE people are on the way. Your job is to GIDDY UP, and be there for them!
#2 AWESOME! YOU chose this profession, YOU chose to BE that person they rely on for help. YOU are supposed to have, and expected to have, ALL the answers! "Do something AWESOME today!"
If you THINK awesome, and TRAIN awesome, what the hell ya think is gonna happen when they have NO idea what to do, except call YOU? You're gonna show up, and BE awesome!
"Awesome is as awesome does!" Write that down too!
Second Blog
We'll get into this SOOO much further, but I wanted you all to know who I am, and where I'm coming from.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS is HUGE with me, and being THERE is different from being "there." You know what I mean? Here's an excerpt from an email I sent to Chris. He felt is was good enough to post on his site, so what a better way to start our site off? Notice I said "OUR" site! I'm the one writing, but what I have in mind is way bigger than myself.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS is HUGE with me, and being THERE is different from being "there." You know what I mean? Here's an excerpt from an email I sent to Chris. He felt is was good enough to post on his site, so what a better way to start our site off? Notice I said "OUR" site! I'm the one writing, but what I have in mind is way bigger than myself.
"Had a thought a few weeks ago, about differentiating the mutts from the Warriors. Most of the "kids" today are putting in applications at any department in the area, and would do our job for free if asked to. A lot of them are volunteers at multiple departments. Young kids, new to the job, have no clue. You know the type. Not enough time on the job to consider them Mutts, but how about Pups? One of them (newly hired on my department) said something to the affect of "That if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow, I would still do this." I got to thinking about that, and learned something in the process that I thought I would share with you, and ask you to do the same, and see the feedback you get.
I honestly thought about that question. What if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow? Would I be at the station the day after, with 20 years on the job? My first thought was HELL NO. But then I really thought about it. I decided yes. Yes I would be. The people of my community depend on me and my brothers to protect them. That is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. They pay taxes, that are my salary, so that I am available on the worst day of their life. I run into burning buildings for them, I let them puke, pee and bleed on me. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that help is on the way. Highly trained, High Performance, problem solvers will be here soon. When the firetruck shows up, they expect, and deserve the best people to solve their problem. Being a union firefighter is obviously not about the money. Some guy throws a football for a living and makes $2 million for 18 GAMES.
What we do is not a game.
If the Dolphins lose, no one dies. If you or I lose, someone may. If we let fear take over, and forget about situational awareness, WE may die. Yet we do that for comparable salary to a school bus driver.
So I started asking "older" guys, firefighters that have been on the job for a while, that very same question. I got a TON of "Hell No's." But I did get a few Yes's!
And then I got to thinking about the careers of the firefighters I asked. Most of the people I asked that answered "NO", knew the SOP's, were waiting for the promotional test, looking for other avenues to stay in the job but not DO the job, inspector, dispatch etc. Booksmart, but didn't spend much time at all thinking about the beast, or how to kill it. Knew their first due area, but kinda of foggy on their second, and no clue on their third due. A general knowledge of fireground basics, and also a general idea of what their immediate superior's job was. Basically, just about how to advance their own careers. Which is understandable, it's a dog eat dog world! Warriors NEED dispatchers and inspectors too! And good ones! I'm NOT putting these people down in the least little bit. Just sharing something I learned.
The firefighters I asked that same question to that answered YES, I would be at the station next shift after winning $10 Million, had peculiar personality similarities. They also knew the SOP's and protocols, some better than others. This group also told me where actual hydrants were located in their first due area. They know sprinkler connections on their SECOND due locations. They know their rig, they know their neighborhood demographics, they know the water supply systems, they know what the FIREMAN in the other seat is expected to do, and if he doesn't, they know how to pick up the slack. The fundamental fireground operations are down pat. Throw a curve ball at them, they also have that covered. Pump failure, pump operator has health issues, whatever. They have THOUGHT about it, and have it covered. They also seem to take great pride in their particular shift/station's response time. To them down time affords an opportunity to train. To the Warrior, you can never know the job good enough, and this group thrives on that fact. This group is on the road, in my opinion, to becoming THE FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR. I can best describe them as highly trained, high performance firemen.
First Blog
Just so you all know, this is my first blog. OBVIOUS from the title. You'll get to know me here if you follow us. But if this is your first trip here (DUH! It's my first blog, so why wouldn't it be your first trip?) You obviously know me! Some of you better than others. I said "US" on purpose, write that down!
What you can hopefully expect from this blog is my own personal incite into firefighting. Adding my brothers incites, my past experiences, and my thoughts and views on the way the fire service is headed.
A little bit of background on me first. You won't want to read this if you have no idea who I am.
First and foremost, I am a 41 year old that has been an IAFF member for 20 years. Been doing this literally half of my life. I have also been married for half of my life! She is a B-E-A-UTIFUL blonde girl, about a foot shorter than me, intelligent like you wouldn't believe! But DO NOT make her mad! She's a pistol! And I am SO in love with her!
Basically, I'm following in line with a friend of mine that has the FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR website.
http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/
Chris runs that site, he's a brilliant person, a LOT to be learned from him.
20 years into a VERY interesting and diversified, sometimes confusing career. I've been asked about what got me to the position I'm in, and I'm willing to share, if you're willing to follow!
Climb on board! It's gonna be a fun ride! Stories from the past, predictions to the future! But rest assured, it's all about me, "LUCKY" and FIREFIGHTING!
What you can hopefully expect from this blog is my own personal incite into firefighting. Adding my brothers incites, my past experiences, and my thoughts and views on the way the fire service is headed.
A little bit of background on me first. You won't want to read this if you have no idea who I am.
First and foremost, I am a 41 year old that has been an IAFF member for 20 years. Been doing this literally half of my life. I have also been married for half of my life! She is a B-E-A-UTIFUL blonde girl, about a foot shorter than me, intelligent like you wouldn't believe! But DO NOT make her mad! She's a pistol! And I am SO in love with her!
Basically, I'm following in line with a friend of mine that has the FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR website.
http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/
Chris runs that site, he's a brilliant person, a LOT to be learned from him.
20 years into a VERY interesting and diversified, sometimes confusing career. I've been asked about what got me to the position I'm in, and I'm willing to share, if you're willing to follow!
Climb on board! It's gonna be a fun ride! Stories from the past, predictions to the future! But rest assured, it's all about me, "LUCKY" and FIREFIGHTING!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)