• Home
  • About FFTB
    • The Mission
    • Start Here
    • Disclaimer
  • The Team
    • Contributors
    • Photo Contributors
    • Guest Contributors
    • The Original Crew
  • Contact
facebook
twitter
youtube
google_plus
email
  • Start Here
  • PODCAST
    • About The Podcast
    • Podcast Episode Pages
    • Podcast on iTunes
    • Podcast Official Sponsors
    • Podcast Sponsorship
  • 5 Min Clinics
    • 5 Minute Engine Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Truck Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Officer Clinic
    • 5 Minute Clinic Series
  • Product Reviews
  • Articles
    • Eng Co
    • Truck Co
    • Co Officer
    • Safety & FF Rescue
    • General
      • Social Media/ Public Relations
      • FF Communications
      • Art & Science of Firefighting
      • Life Skills
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Rescue Operations
      • Special Operations
        • Marine Operations
        • Airport Fire & Rescue Operations
  • Health & Fitness
  • FF Mindset
BREAKING NEWS
3 Rule Outs of the Medical Patient
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1
Keys to Conducting Comprehensive Feedback to Firefighters
3 Keys to Truck Check Success
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3
PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2
3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1
Practice How You Play
How to Execute the Proper Kettlebell Swing
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About NFPA 1583
5 Exercises to Improve Grip Strength for Firefighters
6 Ways Firefighters can Use Exercise Progressions and Regressions
3 Workout Tips for the Volunteer Firefighter
074 – Introduction to Firefighter Functional Fitness
Firefighter Functional Fitness – 7 Tips for Planning Weekly Workouts
The 3 Cornerstones of Firefighter Fitness Success
8 Must-Do Exercises for Serious Firefighter Functional Fitness

Who’s Picture Is in Your Locker?

Posted On 15 Jan 2016
By : Jeremy K. Rhode
Comments: 6
Tag: brotherhood

Firefighter_Toolbox_Rhode-P001a-Locker

The job is not always peaches and cream.  Sometimes we need help to remind us that fighting fire is the most rewarding job in the world.  By nature, I am the type of person that needs reminders to stay on track and get back to the basics of the job.  Below are some of the simple items I have at work to help keep me grounded during the tough times:

Rhode-P001c-LockerLocker

   Like many fathers in the firehouse, I have a family photo of my wife and three kids in my locker.  Often times they are the first smiling faces I see in the morning when getting on shift.  They set the tone to work hard and get home safe.

   Next to that photo is a Father’s Day
card my 5-year old daughter made at school last year.  A stick figure drawing of me with, “He’s a great guy.  He’s a firefighter.”  No matter how bad my day is going, this card hits the reset button and reminds me that I have the best job in the world and my kids view me as their hero.  What more could a man want in life?

Rhode-P001b-LockerHelmet

   The inside of my helmet has “ST3”stenciled in it as another reminder of my kids (named Stormy, Stiles and Stone).  Any question of whether I should tighten up my chinstrap on a call is quickly answered when I see this marking. 

Radio Strap

   I wear a radio strap given to me by my older brother.  Eric is a 20-year veteran of the fire service and a recent graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program.  Any time I have personal or professional questions to ask I turn to him for advice.

   The strap still has his initials “ER” marked on it.  He went to bad calls and made life-changing decisions with it around his shoulder.  His initials remind me that I am cut from the same mold as he is and any tough call is manageable.

Belt buckle

   My father gave me his old Federal Fire Department belt buckle when I graduated from recruit school.  He didn’t think much more of this gesture than, “I’m not going to use it now that I am retired.  You might as well make use of it.”  To this day, I don’t think he is aware of just how much this belt buckle means to me.

   The second “F” in “FFD” has long since fell off and the buckle has seen better days but it has survived on the job since the 1980’s.  This buckle is a direct link to my father and his generation of old school, smoke-eating firefighters.

Key To Remember

   Sometimes the little things in life have the most lasting impact.  We should use any opportunity to be the best version of ourselves each day.  There is no magic recipe that inspires us to get motivated and do the right thing, however, we do have empty space on our locker door. 

Now the most important question:

  Who’s picture is in your locker? Let me know in the comments.

About the Author
Jeremy K. Rhode currently serves as Captain for USAG Italy Fire and Emergency Services, Italy. He served as Training and Operations Chief for the U.S. Air Force Fire Protection for 9 years prior to being selected to attend Officer Training School in 2010. As an Air Force officer, Jeremy directs worldwide logistics support. In addition, Captain Rhode is a Lecturer for Honolulu Community College's Fire and Environmental Emergency Services (FEER) program. Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Management as well as a Master of Arts degree in Emergency and Disaster Management.
  • google-share
Previous Story

4 Ways to be the Incident Commander of Your Fire Service Career

Next Story

Firefighters: Why Are We Bad Communicators on The Radio?

Related Posts

053 Walt Lewis
1

053- Surround Yourself with Great Firefighters

Posted On 03 Mar 2015
, By David J Soler
6

Iron Sharpens Iron

Posted On 03 Oct 2014
, By Jim Moss
2

Brotherhood

Posted On 29 Jun 2013
, By Michael R. Rehfeld

6 Comments

  1. R. Sabin January 15, 2016 at 9:15 am

    My family photos are in my personal locker, my gear locker, and inside my helmet!

    #EveryoneGoesHome

  2. Bill Gillespie January 16, 2016 at 11:43 pm

    Great article Jeremy! My wife and kids were in my locker when I was on the floor. Now they are on my desk in my office, and on the way out the door when responding with duty chief coverage from home. Great reference in each item for always trying to do your best. Nice reference to your brother Eric; we attended class #2 of 4 of the Executive Fire Officer Program together. Be safe Jeremy!

  3. Jeremy K. Rhode January 19, 2016 at 5:00 am

    Bill, what a small world and even smaller fire service. Thanks for the kind words. Stay safe!

  4. JOHNLEO FEDORKA January 20, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Yep, the family picture was there as was the “Fathers Day cards from the kids” SEVERAL of those Fathers Day cards ! The thing that struck me was the Federal Fire Department belt buckle, as I am a retired Federal Firefighter !

  5. Jeremy K. Rhode January 20, 2016 at 11:14 am

    Johnleo, sounds like we think alike. Thank you for your service!

  6. Chris Wilcox January 22, 2016 at 11:44 pm

    Thanks for your article Jeremy. My family also hangs on my locker door. When we give station tours and have to close some of the other guys’ lockers to hide “Miss December”, I feel proud that I can leave mine wide open for everyone to see. Right above that is the name tag from the back of my father’s turnouts from when he was a volunteer many years ago. I love looking at those two things. They remind me of where I come from and what’s important in my life which in turn makes me try harder to be a better spouse, father, and firefighter.

Search Site

Archives

DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT

Popular Posts

FirefighterToolbox Podcast

FireFighterToolbox Podcast (Internet Radio Interview Show)

48 Comments

Top 6 Reasons To Use A 2-1/2" Handline

29 Comments

The Role Of The Second Due Engine - Part 2

18 Comments
Copyright 2013-2017 FirefighterToolbox.com All Rights Reserved.