This morning I played hooky and joined a joint training exercise on search and rescue between the USCG Auxiliary and the Miami Fire Department. The fun part was that I got to see the MFD's new jet propelled rescue boat and all of its fantastic on board equipment. The interesting point, from a management perspective, was to meet the firemen that command and crew this boat and an equally impressive sister ship.
There are about eighteen officers and firemen assigned to the two rescue boats. Everyone of these individuals has the following qualifications:
- Trained fire fighter
- Trained marine firefighter
- Trained rescue and salvage diver
- Holder of a Six Pack license, which is a US Coast Guard license to operate a vessel with up to six passengers
- Many specialized qualifications, such as HAZMAT, EMT, etc.
These are very competent people based on any system of measurement. With all of this experience MFD sought out further training in specialized areas, such as search and rescue, from the USCG and the Auxiliary.
Lessons to be learned from this little story:
- Do not be afraid to set high standards for employees; they can be met
- Train employees constantly to improve skills and performance
- No matter how elite your organization, there is always somebody who you can learn from (and do not be afraid to ask)
As I have mentioned before, the more I learn about the U.S. military and the first responder community, the more impressed I am with their training methods and staff development programs.
