Indian River Pursues Professional Development Strategies

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company is pleased to announce that many of its volunteers have been pursuing various levels of professional development courses via the United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Institute (FEMA) Independent Study Program (ISP) in order to fine tune and hone on necessary knowledge and skills.

Indian River believes that the primary purposes of these independent study programs for our organization is to develop an environment that increases effectiveness of all who are engaged in the learning process as well as enhancing the cohesiveness of our volunteers.

It was stated by Michael Fullan that “The purpose of staff development is not just to implement instructional innovations; its central purpose is to build strong collaborative work cultures that will develop the long term capacity for change.”

Indian River contents that these processes, as well as, monthly internal drills, training nights, and other events with our internal organizational cohorts will enhance the overall effectiveness of our operational objectives. Over the past few years, Indian River has been attending various conferences and trainings coordinated by internal and external company personnel to accomplish this objective. Indian River has attended FDIC, FirePrograms, EXPOs, Delaware State Fire School courses, and other symposiums, workshops, etc.

Professional development is referred to as acquiring the knowledge, skills, and abilities desired for personal development and career advancement. Professional development can encompass all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences, fire school classes, membership drills and exercises, and informal learning opportunities situated in practice. Professional development has been described as intensive and collaborative while incorporating hands-on, technological and other innovative measures.

Accordingly to Wikipedia, the following information is highlighted...

Who participates and why?

A wide variety of people, such as firefighters, paramedics, teachers, military officers and non-commissioned officers, health care professionals, lawyers, accountants and engineers engage in professional development. Individuals may participate in professional development because of an interest in lifelong learning, a sense of moral obligation, to maintain and improve professional competence, enhance career progression, keep abreast of new technology and practice, or to comply with professional regulatory organizations.

Illustrated herewith is a link to the aforementioned FEMA website as well as other links for professional development venues that has been extremely and productive for our organization.

(1) http://training.fema.gov/IS

(2) http://www.fdic.com/index.html

Examples of professional development within the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company are identified via the following web page commentary:

Company Training Evolutions:

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=875

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=862

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=780

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=713

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=697

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=678

Stand-by coverage assignments and tasks:

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=927

Equipment & apparatus operational familiarization tasks:

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=905

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=687