Firefighter Combat Challenge and The Fireman That Compete.

Let me start by saying that, my love for the job and anything associated with the job is stronger than my love for anything else in the world. Also, let it be known that I have meet some of the most coolest, friendly, and best people in the world from the fire service. Most of my friends are or was a part of the fire service at one point of time, and I’m pretty sure that as I get older and more experienced that I will meet new and more wonderful, unique and nice people from the fire service.
I felt it was necessary to let that be known, because most of what I have left to say will probably upset some people, especially the brothers of mine that participates in the famous Scott's Firefighter Combat Challenge. Now as we know this event is like the competitive sport specifically for firefighters, that simulates some of the everyday skills and maneuvers that we have to perform. Most people that compete are firefighters or have some kind of relation with the fire service. I compete in my first ever event couple months ago, I did O.K. for a first timer and so did my team.
The event in itself is fun, I had a blast, but it’s not the event that poses as the problem to me, it is the people that participate, yes that mean the firemen. I love my brothers to death and have the utmost respect for anybody who do this job, pursuit the job, or have any ambition to do this job. Some people that compete and do the challenge are some of the most cockiness, arrogant, and big ego possessed SOB’s I’ve ever meet in my life. I may come of a little judgmental and stereotypical but I don’t care this is my blog and I’m say whatever the hell I want, however I want to say it, you don’t like there is a X in the right hand corner, go click that.
I guess I give the guys in this profession too much credit. I view them like some of public do, as these most wonderful, heroic, night & shine & armor type guys. Completely for getting that they’re human beings like your local mailman, or your family attorney, they put they pants on the same way everybody else and yes they shit stank like everyone else as well. Let most of these guys tell or show it should I say, they shit don’t stank, and they are a different breed of human than everybody else. These guys walk around with their chest out, muscle man shirts on, eating their fruit and veggie sandwiches with their jug of protein mix; making protein shakes every 5 min.
When it comes to working out, MAN! Totally different ballpark. They have to be the fast, have to be the strongest, have to have the most top finishes, and have to possess the most awards. Put crazy amounts of weight on a bar and MAX OUT. I never understood maxing out, never will. I mean how much are you really doing lifting one rep of anything? SERIOUSLY?? They have to be in the mainly clubs and group, and when inside that group they have to be the best in that group.
If you must be Mr. strong man, and that wannabe onyx of guy, that’s fine. What really gets to me and really hit me the wrong way is, when these guys feel they’re better than somebody else, when they look down at someone as if they a giant and people should bow down to them. (I tried not to use this is as case and point but it’s an perfect example so here it is) I’m currently and a Firefighter agility class. I guess you can call it “the place where combat soldiers are created” Some of the people that participate in class are guys that been around a while, already did most of the stuff we do and already have at least a year of firefighter combat experience under their belt. If I took you to a workout one day, I bet a week’s pay you could point out the area inside the facility where these guys are. No, it’s not cause they’re a lot bigger and stronger, or cause they look any different than anybody else except me (only African American) but it’s because every morning they come in and run to they lil corner where all guys like them go and talk and speak among each other as if they the only ones in the room. I mean you can literally feel the vibe and body language waves that said “I’m the shit” coming off their body as they walk pass you. They walk right pass don’t speak to you, if they look at you it’s a look as if to say, “What are you waiting for, you better acknowledge me.”
I’m just now getting in to this Firefighter Combat sport, but I’m starting to believe that it taught to be this way, like it a club that you must work your way into, and once you graduate or get accept to this club you get your ASS-HOLE card. The instructor gave these guys instructor T-Shirts so I guess that gives them the right to be different to be better than me and my classmates. Even during workouts, they yell and scream at the students as they workout, I guess they call it encouraging them, but nothing they saying is usually positive. I try to tell them, if you really trying to encourage someone, its call constructive criticism, yell and scream but make sure what’s coming out your mouth is positive.
I could go on all day about this but I’m not. I’ve had a total wakeup call in the last few weeks, I use you to be that guy that couldn’t get combat challenge off my mind, who couldn’t stop thinking about the next time I was gone, who wanted to be fast rookie ever, who lost sleep thinking about Lexington and worlds in Myrtle Beach at the end of the year, that WAS me. Now, I can careless rather I ever compete again, I can careless if I ever get a top ten finish, I can careless if I make the 5 man time I’ll be trying out for in the next month or so. It just not that important as it was a couple months ago when I was getting ready for my first event. A good friend of mine that’s a lil older, compete as a Cincinnati state student before and was pretty successful he told me “Dunn, as I got older in the combat world, I learned that most people, the challenge defines them, it makes them who they are. Whatever you do don’t get so deep into it that it defines you.” If it turns me into what I have been witness to the last few weeks I not be around it much longer. I can’t be that guy who better than a brother who isolate myself and my team from the rest of the fireman family. People it is a brotherhood, you see the outside but just like brothers and families, when you get inside access, It’s no different, there are serious issues within as well.

Days Teach Me.....

Days teach me
To always dream
However it may never come true
But that's the best way
To live life through

Days teach me
To dream so high
Never give up and always try
Never let go or say goodbye

Days teach me
That when there is darkness
For sure dawn is the next
And when everything is so tiring
For sure there would be time to rest

Days teach me
To always care for a friend
Always be true and never pretend
Always love with no end
And the broken hearts try to mend

Days teach me
Never to feel the hate
Always be confident and never hesitate
Always believe in fate

Days teach me
That lovers meet & stay together
And others are apart
So if you are one who have been left behind
Don't cry and suffer
Just search for a new start

Days teach me
The past I must forget
And nothing needs my regret

Days teach me
To open my heart and forgive
Cause that will help me to survive and live

Days teach me
To always offer my helping hand
And never doubt in people when there is no proof
And always try to understand

Days teach me
Not to be shy
If I have done something wrong
But to admit it and be proud that I have learned
A lesson that will help me to be strong