u/Warm_Charity_6465

Hello I’m sure this is a long shot and I will probably end up just getting a hotel or something but I will be attending a hybrid fire academy at Texas A&M starting in 4 months. There is 1 month of in person courses so I am looking to rent a room for 1 month sometime around January 2027 or February 2027. I will not be brining any pets or any furniture with me. Just a bag of clothes, my books, and my truck.

I hear rumors that fire protection is extremely difficult to get into in the air force and that there is extremely long waitlists. Is this true? I want to become a career firefighter on the civilian side for a local county and feel this would help me get my foot in the door.

Hey y’all I’m looking for some solid advice from anyone who is willing to give it. After being a mechanic for almost 8 years I decided to make a huge career change and get out of my comfort zone. I am looking to become a firefighter.

I took the first step by enrolling in a EMS academy and I am set to complete in late July of this year. I am also in the hiring process for two local departments however it’s mostly been a waiting game since the departments had over 300 applicants come to test.

This is the part where I need advise on what to do next, within a 2 hour driving radius of me there is 3 different self paid fire academies to get my certs. One doesn’t start till spring 2027, one doesn’t have their dates posted and hasn’t answered my calls or emails, and one starts in November.

What should I do in the meantime until I can get into an academy or get hired by a department and that department puts me through the academy.

Option A: use my EMT license and work for a private ambulance company to gain medical field experience until I can get into a fire academy or hired by a department

Option B: similar to option A however I wound join either the army reserve as a combat medic or Air Force reserve

Option C: work in a hospital setting like a patient care technician until I can get into a fire academy or department

Option D: stay working as a mechanic until I can get into a fire academy or hired by a department

Option E: you tell me what you think

I know this post is dragging so my very last question is, for the hiring process to join the fire service would reserve military experience help me at all stand out to other candidates or is active duty more preferred? The 2 departments I applied for I see it says you get 2 extra points in the hiring process for having military experience. So would reserve experience count?

Thank you!! If you read all of this then I very much appreciate you and owe you a beer if you are in Texas

Hey new to the group and been in Austin for almost 3 years, can someone point in the direction of some Austin car culture subreddits. Looking to meet some car guys and maybe find some lowkey meet ups. Thanks!