Jumpline MAG_Spring 2026 - Flipbook - Page 50
50
Michael Vallone, Ret.
Jumpline Editor
Editor’s Page
The word blessed has many meanings: divine
fortune, favored, happy, content, or fortunate; the
fire service journey is filled with those.
A Series
of Providential Events
For some it is a volunteer
endeavor, others a career.
But for all who walk through
that door, it is a consuming,
gargantuan path. The path
of time, effort, mind, body,
heart, and soul. Even for the
minimalist, the 昀椀re service is
昀椀lling of oneself. Each person entering through that door has a
story, of in昀椀nite stories, some fascinating, some not so. But, thus,
each a story. It is a metamorphical event; civilian to 昀椀re昀椀ghter.
As one looks back upon their own 昀椀re service path, a series of
events can be discerned as to how those steps came to the 昀椀re
service door. They may be random events or seemingly random
unrelated events, or argonauts moving with distinct purpose.
Most people seek some kind of self-awareness, answers to
deeply profound and personal questions asked of themselves or
divinity. One of the greatest personal self-questions is why? Why
am I here? Why was I put here? What am I to do? What is my
purpose? Why? The truly blessed can answer those questions;
the partially blessed may answer some or one of those questions;
other blessings may provide a glimmer of an answer to some
of those questions; or one may never have any answers. Either
way, those opening the 昀椀re service door, are blessed. The word
blessed has many meanings: divine fortune, favored, happy, content, or fortunate; the 昀椀re service journey is 昀椀lled with those.
With age comes many things, good and not so good. But some
of the good things are: experience, wisdom, knowledge, clarity,
and answers. Looking back is a good thing; it can provide cherishment to one’s life, and the appreciation of life experiences. My
昀椀re service story abounds with profundity, twists, and events that
I describe as providential. Others may view their journey, particularly their 昀椀re service journey in the same way. Paths can often
be divided into time or events. At the moment of occurrence, the
signi昀椀cance of these events may not be apparent. But upon re昀氀ection, their magnitude as it relates to one’s journey becomes
visible.
My 昀椀re service journey began even before I knew
I was on a journey. It started on high school prom night. It
was late, dark, and foggy, in 1981. My 昀椀rst event was when I was
driving home and saw a car stopped in the middle of the road,
and near that car was a human body. The car 昀氀ed fast as I ap-
proached. I pulled up to the body and panicked, I had never seen
anything like it. I didn’t know what to do since cell phones weren’t
even a vision back then, so I concluded I must drive to the police
station and report the body. Shaking, I sped off toward the police
station, about one mile away. When I arrived, I saw the car that I
had just seen next to the body. They had come to the same conclusion I had. It turned out the person had been hit by a car and
died. I did not like the way I reacted- I panicked and wondered if
I could have offered some kind of 昀椀rst-aid or comfort. This event
took place in New Jersey. In my town, as in most in NJ, there
was a rescue squad which provided volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) to the community. My thought was to join,
and get medical training so I’d never feel panicked like I had. I
turned in my application to join. The rescue squad had a large
“volunteers needed” sign at the front of their building, but after
a couple of months I had not heard back from them. One day,
my next event occurred, and after hearing of my conundrum, a
friend of mine suggested I join the volunteer 昀椀re department. He
said, “We have a lot of fun.” All I knew of the 昀椀re department was
they all had red 昀椀re trucks (yes red!). So, I joined. I loved the 昀椀re
service, we did have a lot of fun, and it was exciting. Back then,
昀椀re昀椀ghters actually rode on the tailboard and used pressure/demand SCBAs, 昀椀reball gloves, and three-quarter boots.
I was a youth meandering through life without a clue as to where
I’d go. I worked part-time, went to college part-time, and was a
volunteer 昀椀re昀椀ghter. The next event occurred at the 昀椀re station
one evening after a drill. A fellow 昀椀re昀椀ghter was talking to someone, and I overheard him say he was applying for a 昀椀re昀椀ghting job. My usually mellow demeanor exploded, and I literally
grabbed him and said, “You can get paid to be a 昀椀re昀椀ghter?” He
af昀椀rmed that there were actually paid 昀椀re昀椀ghters. To my dismay
I discovered mostly all paid departments had residency requirements. I wasn’t ready to leave mom and dad’s house, yet. Soon
afterward, I braved the application process and took the Richmond, Virginia Fire Department’s written test -passed it, then the
agility test-passed it, but was not hired.
During my volunteer career, I advanced to lieutenant and captain. My next event happened when
I was reading Firehouse Magazine at the 昀椀re station. I discovered the U.S. Air Force had 昀椀re昀椀ghters
and learned there was an Air Force base in New
Jersey! I eventually enlisted in the guaranteed job program and
became an Air Force 昀椀re昀椀ghter; duty station at McGuire Air Force
Spring 2026 | JUMPLINE Magazine
